Re: Which linux for a newb?

On Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:49:00 +0000, Chuck wrote:

I'm looking for a linux distro to run on my Dell D610 laptop. I tried
ubuntu 6.10 but it doesn't work while the laptop is in the docking
station. Apparently it cant detect the external monitor properly. Sound
doesn't work in the docking station either. I guess because the speakers
are in the monitor which it can't detect. Wifi which is another must
doesn't work at all with my Intel 2915abg card. Is there a distro
preferably with gnome desktop that will work with my hardware? Maybe
something where I can just download a live-cd to try it first? Thanks.

Did you try actually installing Ubuntu or did you just run it as a Live
CD? Things sometimes work better on an install.

It's unfortunate that you're having these difficulties - Ubuntu is one of
the best distros for a newbie (IMHO). I'd steer clear of SUSE because of
setup difficulties. You might try Mandriva or one of the offshoots -
Mepis, etc. Have a look at distrowatch.com

Is the wireless card built in? There are some cards which are easier to
get working than others. Mostly the ones with Atheros chipset 'just work'.
Anything you have to use ndiswrapper with is going to be problematic. I
have a Belkin WNA2330 with Atheros chipset which worked 'out of the box'
with Ubuntu - and most other distros I've tried.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Which linux for a newb?
    ... doesn't work in the docking station either. ... Without going into any research on your particular laptop, ... or a proper Xfree config for my docking station working in ubuntu. ...
    (alt.os.linux)
  • Re: ubuntu/kubuntu is sloooooooow!
    ... than a slow disk, for example. ... Do all the distros use the same HD format? ... In my experience ubuntu is a tad more sluggish than other distros ... 'straight from the box' especially in machines with <512 RAM but, ...
    (Ubuntu)
  • Re: Not quite happy with Ubuntu... What should I try now?
    ... Couple of things that bug me about Ubuntu. ... First, and this may be true of Linux in general, I don't like the file ... to be root to use, but since there is no root, you have to jump through ... replace ones I didn't like with other distros as I went. ...
    (alt.os.linux)
  • Re: Why Ubuntu?
    ... What makes it more popular than some of the others? ... I don't see any reason for me to change, yet I have to wonder what it is about Ubuntu that inspires the popularity it's been receiving. ... When I tried to use other distros I never really could get it working as well. ... I fell in love with the Debian package management system and like having a large number of packages on the server. ...
    (alt.os.linux)
  • Re: Newbie query: Errors during Live CD boot?
    ... Ubuntu will eventually boot, but only after a lengthy delay in which many error messages scroll by about I/O errors. ... it scrolls about 15 minutes worth of error messages with lots of hard disk activity, which doesn't cease even after full boot. ... I ran the Win 2K disk repair utility on my Hard Drive and it checked out okay - I thought maybe the distros were complaining about bad blocks on the drive or something? ...
    (alt.os.linux)