Which Linux?

[AtomicFuse]

Hi, I want to put Linux on a seperate partition on my HDD. I have no idea which one to choose, I idealy want something that is closest to Windows as possible to avoid confusion! I tried Linspire a long time ago when it was named Lindows, wasn't too impressed. Anyway any help would be great, thanks
Atomic

[directhex]

If you want something similar to Windows... why not use Windows?

Part of the point of linux is that it's not Windows - and as part of that, the user experience is different. That's not to say there aren't easy GUI-based linuxes, but nothing will be as Windowsy as Windows, if that's what you're after. If you're not prepared to try something *different*, give up now. Otherwise, carry on.

Ubuntu's a popular choice on the forums, and these days I'd agree. The next version of Ubuntu, 6.06, releases tomorrow. Also known for being friendly are Suse and Fedora. Unless you want to learn what "init" is, avoid Gentoo or Slackware.

[vaio]

I was impressed with Ubuntu.........the only distro I ever tried that recognised all my hardware, including network,without any fuss..... nice first-timers distro.
The only reason I don't exclusively run Linux is beacause many of the distributed computing projects I run won't run under it.

[UKMuFFiN]

If only playing games on linux was as easy, i'd be lost in using windows

[directhex]

I was impressed with Ubuntu.........the only distro I ever tried that recognised all my hardware, including network,without any fuss..... nice first-timers distro.
The only reason I don't exclusively run Linux is beacause many of the distributed computing projects I run won't run under it.

mildly ironic given most supercomputing clusters run linux. oh, and is http://packages.ubuntu.com/dapper/net/boinc-client relevant to you?

[vaio]

Quite a few projects are windows only at the moment but it'll change.
Oh well, at least my main one, Folding, is covered

[ikonia]

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...ghlight=distro
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...ghlight=distro
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=59937
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...ghlight=distro

maybe worth a quick read to get some detailed discussions

[pukeater]

Ubuntu is superb!

[AtomicFuse]

Thanks and noo I didn't mean I want Linux-osoft XP Pro, I meant just an easier interface Looks like Ubuntu it is then. It looks great, does the Live CD mean I can just run Ubuntu in a window

[mike_w]

A LiveCD means you restart your computer, LiveCD in drive, and it will boot up the OS without touching your hard drive.

[peterb]

Knoppix is pretty good too! Also available as a live CD to you can try before you install (although it is possible to have the working directory and configuration files on a USB stick so you can use it without using the hard drive at all!

[AtomicFuse]

Yay got Kubuntu running on a Live CD. The version I just downloded was released today Good timing, erm I want to install it now, I was thinking about using PartitionMagic to just 'slice' my HDD in two. Would that work as a Dual Boot? I have an old IDE HDD (20GB) which I could hook up. I don't know what would work and be the better option heh if anyone could help me I would be v.grateful!

[UKMuFFiN]

You can use the partitioner in the Kubuntu install. I've got bad experiances with partition magic, if you use it, make sure you use it properly! You have been warned.

[Xaneden]

Hate to 'invade' the thread, but I wonder if someone could give me some guidance too.

I am looking for preferably something very 'clean', in that it doesn't have any bundled software with it (I like to choose what to install, something which annoys me about Windows, even though I use nLite.)

So ideally, I'm looking for a Linux distro with good hardware compatability, but with as little software clutter as possible. Any ideas?

[directhex]

Hate to 'invade' the thread, but I wonder if someone could give me some guidance too.

I am looking for preferably something very 'clean', in that it doesn't have any bundled software with it (I like to choose what to install, something which annoys me about Windows, even though I use nLite.)

So ideally, I'm looking for a Linux distro with good hardware compatability, but with as little software clutter as possible. Any ideas?

server version of ubuntu.

[AtomicFuse]

You can use the partitioner in the Kubuntu install. I've got bad experiances with partition magic, if you use it, make sure you use it properly! You have been warned.

Yeh only just saw that you can use the 'partioner' in Kubuntu itself, PartitionMagic is annoying, you have to create an allocated space then partition into dos etc....bad past experiences when trying to dual boot previously. Forget using crappy IDE HDD's