Comments on: Which Linux Desktop Distribution is the best for me?

By: jim

jim — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:28:43 +0000

i strongly recommend ubuntu. before you decide to completely wipe / forget about xp start playing with a live cd. most importantly have patience … there will be tons of attemps to go back.

By: easy

easy — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:59:09 +0000

The best distro gives you 2 desktops, one is the native linux desktop (LXDE or KDE based), the other is a pure Windows XP desktop. Applications launch seamlessless, according to the OS they are installed on. The XP desktop runs in a sandbox like VirtualBox, it is essentially a disposable OS, sharing only the desktop folder with the host OS. The host can fully access the sandboxed Windows filesystem, but Windows apps can’t see the host filesystem. That’s the future and I’m sure it’s what everybody needs. This is how and where Windows can slowly fade into oblivion.

Hell, a good developer can make the OSes paint their windows on the same desktop.

But Linux fools are stubborn as hell. They prefer to have 4 desktops just to show their machine _can_ run the stuff they’ll never use. In doing so their tabbed browser gets cheated out of the essential Ctrl+TAB next tab shortcut.

Fools, damned fools and Linux developers.
But they don’t lock you into their foolishness.
Now if they would only not lock themselves into it. That and C++.

By: vermiman

vermiman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:39:51 +0000

I’ve tried many distros and settled for Ubuntu. Linux Mint comes in a close second.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:16:31 +0000

I was trying Debian, Kubuntu, Ubuntu, OpenSuse, mandriva. For purely personal reasons I like Fedora.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:14:22 +0000

I personally prefer Fedora, but if you aren’t sure, try LinuxJazz sets from UNIX Academy, they contain practically all popular/major distros. For merely $20 you can try them all and it also come with some training. I like it to try from time to me.

By: raj

raj — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:46:33 +0000

my dear friend ,
One thing that every one forgot is that you should use ubuntu
.They will send you a free cd with latest update and enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurry

By: jargoman

jargoman — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:33:40 +0000

I’ve distro hopped for a few years. I always ended up coming back to ubuntu untill I came across Arch linux.

I really must say once you go Arch, if you can manage to get a graphics environment up and running, you will never go to anything ever again. Although it’s for more advanced users it is quite simple once set up. It’s basically a mesh between linux from scratch, debian, gentoo and slackware.

By: Jim Brown

Jim Brown — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:39:49 +0000

I’ve been running Ubuntu Studio for 2 years and it ROCKS!

By: JD

JD — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:46:19 +0000

I’m new to linux myself. I tried several distros, and settled on LinuxMint… Out of the box, it’s great!

Everybody has different opinions, but mint is beginner friendly!

By: Dennis G

Dennis G — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:42:19 +0000

I have played around with a few Linux distro packages such as freespire etc..
My personal favorite is UBUNTU Linux, this is totally free and includes Openoffice, Gimp and many other great peices of software and let me say it again, its FREE.
Its all set up to use your internet setup and even includes VPN very nice, and also setup to use your bluetooth dongle and connects through USB with software for your palm.
It also sets you up for dual boot, I still use xp for some things but plan to go full linux in the next few years, Linux has fewer virus and mailware threats actually I have yet to see any virus’s or maleware with linux.

By: Ellan

Ellan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:54:44 +0000

I completely agree with X2683. I’m new to Linux Distros and Ubuntu was my first try at Linux. Found it extremely user-friendly to me. Will definitely suggest it to anybody who wantsto try Linux. I haven’t however tried any other linux distros.

By: vivek

vivek — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:11:42 +0000

Nice review. Thanks!

By: X2683

X2683 — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:53:29 +0000

My Review of certain Linux Distributions: For those that are looking into linux, especially those coming from any version of Windows or Macintosh, Ubuntu is a good option. It is one of the most user friendly and stable systems, just like Windows 2000 and newer, it keeps system files hidden so that if you have a child that gets on, they cannot delete anything relative to the system, thats important. I never got sick of having that system. Its a community project and is supported continuously. You are notified about any new distribution that Canocial releases so that you have the option to upgrade to them (it keeps your settings exactly the same and you do not lose anything when upgrading). A couple of other systems that would be: PCLinuxOS (resembles XP in a way), and if you are willing to shell out $50.00 +go with Xandros Home Edition (MAKE SURE IT IS HOME EDITION or HOME EDITION PREMUIM!!)unless you are running a business, then go with the Business Edition. If you get the Business Edition, it is lacking on personal entertainment such as media players and is geared more toward word documents and spreadsheets under Star Office. Also Xandros comes with its own Security Suite included in the CD. Although you really don't need it unless you are planning to use CrossOver Office (An application that helps run Windows Applications under Xandros - NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ALL PROGRAMS. But in conclusion, there are 3 that you need to consider. All of which are from Canocial, are free, and are based on simplicity. Those would include: Ubuntu (resembles hybrid Mac/Win), Kubuntu (resembles Windows), and Xubuntu (resembles Macintosh, but is extremely lightweight and doens't run as many programs). For teachers and educational purposes, get Edubuntu (best for computer labs). My choice is Ubuntu - GO UBUNTU

By: dslmel

dslmel — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:16:34 +0000

I don’t believe there is a best distro, I agree with what works for you. I have used Xandros a few years back and was the first distro that worked properly for me being a newb and since then I have tried pretty much every mainstream distro and as of today, can’t stand xandros but since it was the first that worked for me i have alwyas leaned toward debian based packages for that fact.

Point is I think any on the “newbie” base distros would be the first shot and your needs and skills will change with time and so will your choice of distro possibly.

By: Mistron

Mistron — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:49:14 +0000

Those last comments 9 & 11 were pretty much useless. As said above linux is about choice and freedom. PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu aren’t the only choice. I at the moment are trying to get started in Linux. I want to use it for programming etc. and I believe that it might not be the best every where it will eventually will be, or any other Open/free OS, because it’s open source and people can add and do with it what they want. Something is not there? Make it, request it. It will get there if more people find it useful. Though choosing is so hard. Surely for people like me who already have massive problems with choosing practically everything in life. Searching for months now, not even installed anything starting with it now. Will be Gigs of data just to try out what is for me.

Greetings Mistron.

By: Jack Longtower

Jack Longtower — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:57:03 +0000

You want to switch to Linux?..then go to http://ubuntu.com !

By: John

John — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:41:28 +0000

my choice is Pardus.

By: manmath sahu

manmath sahu — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:27:30 +0000

Hats off to PCLinuxOS! This is the only OS that beats windows XP on a face blow. To know more visit http://pclinuxos2007.blogspot.com

By: CC

CC — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:01:31 +0000

Ubuntu is just another Debian spinoff that has gained it’s popularity IMHO due to the “marketing” of it as a universal distro, it’s focus on humanitarian projects, it’s appeal with bundling it’s stuff together making for an easier install and
easier operation.
It also appeals to younger children which is great and yet, if you install Ubuntu, take away it’s desktop, it becomes Debian just as many of the live cds do–i.e. Knoppix who freely admits this.
For anyone coming from Windoze, Ubuntu is a great choice–and it’s focus on continually providing new files and auto updates gives a newbie a sense of security, plus there is a ton of documentation that is written in lay terms—best of all, it has
a huge community that is very open and generous with help.
I think it’s a very good way for someone to break into GNU-Linux.
With all it’s simplicity, it totally supports much more complicated use if a person chooses to use it
in that way.
I’m a Debian nut who is constantly adding unstable
files to my machine and breaking my installation, fixing or reinstalling it.
That’s the advantage of using Ubuntu–a person can let it do the adding or updating. And unlike Debian, Ubuntu doesn’t let you log in as root.
Thinking about Fedora, I find that it doesn’t seem to operate as well on older equipment since Core4.
Slackware is great, Gentoo as well as are
the various BSD installs yet you’d better be ready (especially with BSD which incidentally is not Linux) to suffer if you are a total newbie.
Trying the live cds is the best way, I agree, with finding out what appeals to a person.
Everything from Scientific Linux to Studio64 (which is filled with tons of multimedia etc apps) is available to check out on live cds.
There is no limit to Linux and that’s the beauty of it–if you want something, you’re gonna find it with Linux.

By: Joe Klemmer

Joe Klemmer — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:07:57 +0000

It can’t be stressed strongly enough that figuring out the needs of the user is critical. Your #1 is exactly the thing that people need to get right first.

It’s good that you pointed this out.