Re: Which Distro

On Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:45:41 -0800, Tim Greer <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Jimw wrote:

Ubuntu seems to be popular, and was recommended several times, so that
will be one. (I think), because I took an online quiz to determine
which distro is suited for me, and it said Ubuntu may not work on my
hardware !!!!

Interesting that this quiz helped out. I think Ubuntu should work with
your hardware, but I suppose it depends on what the specific issue is.
I've used Ubuntu enough with work on people's systems that needed admin
or help or just general stuff and everything felt the same on a server
install (runlevel 3), so I don't have anything against it. I wasn't
aware what it was really geared toward, but a lot of people say it's
great for people starting out, so it sounds like you've found the
perfect dist. Unfortunately, I don't know what CD to suggest to get
from that list, but someone surely will reply and let you know (and you
can always ask the place you'd be ordering it from, too). Anyway, if
that doesn't work (it's only a few dollars to find out), then maybe go
for OpenSuSe, like it suggested.


That was a speedy reply !!!!!

Glad you trimmed this post, I should have done that in my last one.

I could read about it forever, but I guess I just need to get one
version. Ubuntu seems to have a free cd available too, so I cant go
wrong there. I'll probably order at least 4 more. For the $2 or $3
they cost, I may as well try a few. I'd still like to try CentOS too.
Why dont they make a CD version? Is it that huge?

I did notice that CentOS is more for servers according to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Linux_distributions
I do no networking at all, although I would consider networking my
Laptop with Win2k to the desktop. (I could not get this to work with
Win98). It's not a top priority of mine though, since I rarely ever
use that laptop, except to take it to friends houses to show them some
of my dig. camera photos.

But I suppose there are other things besides networking stuff.

I'm curious what programs come with all of these distros. I know some
have Open Office, Firefox, Opera, Gimp, and others.

Yes, to answer my own earlier question, Opera does have a Linux
version. Even though I prefer Firefox. I have both installed.

I'm sure all these Linux distros have other software that comes with
them. Unfortunately I dont know how to find what they include and
dont know what they all do......


I've not used SuSe much in the last few years, but it seems decent. I
don't know what Linux Mint is, I've never liked Mandriva and don't know
a whole lot about it, I don't recommend Fedora to people unless they
need a default cutting edge system and don't mind the frequent updates,
and I've never heard of Zenwalk, Puppy, Xandros, Cedega or MEPISLite,
but I'd stay away from anything that was a MS collaboration (I don't
mean to seem unfairly bitter, but you want Linux for a reason, and
resorting to and settling for something closer to Windows is not a good
idea, as there's really no need for it for most people, I'd think). I
think Ubuntu/Kubuntu would be fine for you. Good luck.

While I get the feeling you dont care much for Windows, I am curious
why it's a bad thing to get something that has the look and feel of
Windows. After all, it's not windows. I want to get the look and
feel of Linux, but if it looked and worked more like Windows, I think
that would make the transition easier. Besides that, I do not dislike
the look and feel of Windows 98, and even 2K is tolerable. I could
get used to XP, because I know it can be setup with a Win98 look, but
there are other reasons I hate XP.

I could continue using Win98 for the rest of my life and would be OK
with it. Sure, it tends to lock up at times and pisses me off, but I
have no real problems with it. Personally I think 98 was the best OS
Microsoft made, but that's just my opinion, and I am well aware of
it's instability and it's security issues. But aside from that, I
really do like it.

My biggest reason for wanting to go to Linux is because the point has
come where I cant use Win98 for anything new anymore. Not that I am
into the latest software, but I bought a digital camera and the
software REQUIRES XP. Same for new printers. and other hardware.
Lately I can not even view certain videos because they require the
latest Flash player and that flash player requires XP or higher.

Microsoft has everyone by the balls for all versions after Win2K. You
cant install XP without calling MS for some sort of code, and like a
friend of mine, he built a new computer by replacing the motherboard,
video card, memory and other stuff from his old one. MS would not
allow him to use his XP cd because they said he could not use it on 2
computers, even though it's the same computer.
And waht happens when MS abandons XP like they have with 95, 98, ME,
and 2K. I can still install and use any of these, but when they
abandon XP, and no longer offer this phone in code number, everyone
using XP will be FORCED to upgrade to Vista, or the next Windows. And
everytime MS makes a new OS, the user has to get a new computer in
recent years. The thing is this, I did not buy a computer to add to
the junk in a landfill, and I surely do not need all the power
required for XP and up. After all, what has changed? The latest
computers do the same thing the older ones do, but with lots more
bloat and useless trash. MS is out to make money for themselves and
for the hardware manufacturers. They are not out there to make it
better for the end user. Computer hardware keeps getting faster and
MS keeps slowing it down with bloat.

I am no longer willing to play the MS game, and I dont like their new
OSs. At the same time, a Linux distro that looks and works similar to
Windows would be welcome and easier to learn than something totally
foreign. I could always change after I get my feet wet. I will keep
my Win98 installed too, so I can use both, but I dont want something
that is so foreign that I am totally lost. In some ways I can be very
patient, but in others I can get very frustrated and when I get there,
I ususally quit.

Thanks for the help

Jim

.

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