Good Linux dist?

[BF]

I feel like sticking my hand into linux again. haven't messed with it in almost 8 yrs though. what is good dist just for a desktop workstation?..... I checked out the Mandriva One that runs standalone (doesn't install to hd) and it looks nice. don't need anything special, just an xp alternative.

[poetic_folly]

Ubuntu. By and far the easiest to ease into Linux with from Windows, plus its powerful and sexy enough to be something you stick with. I love it.

[Archer]

I've tried Ubuntu version 6... i almost got caught with it

[poetic_folly]

Good stuff. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[BF]

Good stuff. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

yea, ive got a dualboot going now, but need to work on getting linksys wireless-g card to work, then can build up dist

[poetic_folly]

yah that wireless support in ubuntu can kill ya. took me forever.

[asdfgfh]

Mandriva is good too...

[D4T4]

SuSe.

[BF]

I have abandoned my ubuntu thing.... i think i need mandriva 2007. im gonna work on getting that. i'll let you know

[neonspeed]

i agree with poetic ubuntu is very nice.

[BF]

i agree with poetic ubuntu is very nice.

when i ran the mandriva one disc it was able to detect my linksys-g through ndiswrapper. ubuntu couldn't. i don't have time to make ubuntu work for me. i want use debian, but am slow and lost on linux commands. need a friendly dist.

[poetic_folly]

Other than the wireless support, I never had a single issue with Ubuntu. After trying the other distros... Ubuntu all the way.

[s5vi]

Hi, on my site there is some Mandriva2007 topics also, and P2kCommander ofcourse :-)
I use mandriva2007 on my home PC

http://www.el-co.hu/smf

[BF]

alright, u got me. i don't feel like looking for files, and burning, and whatever. i have an ubuntu disk right here. but b4 i go off in that water again, is there a better ubuntu ver than the freely available one?

[BF]

s5vi.... you've got me good too.... i guess i just don't know. i have tried both cd-standalone vers and madriva was the only one to get me on the web..... i suppose i have narrowed it down to 2 dist.

[rasputin007]

Any Debian based Linux is worth trying. Ubuntu (Gnome desktop) or Kubuntu (KDE desktop) are the "bleeding" edge of Debian. As with all Debian based distros the update via net is superb, especially when it comes to dependencies, whereas the rpm distros (Fedora, Mandriva and SuSE) can struggle there, but dont have to.
I personally use a netinstall Debian 4.0 (Etch), Kanotix (Debian based with perfect NVIDIA driver installation), Kubuntu and SuSE Desktop Enterprise 10 (is actually free). But I also have 10 GB space for testing the odd new distro, like Mepis-Games.

[JedixJarf]

i hate ubuntu, its linux trying to be windows, why even use linux if its gonna have a windows like gui? lol

[rasputin007]

That is the difference between Linux and Windows, in Linux you can change nearly anything, in Windows you can nearly change nothing.
The "Windows" look and feel is there for a purpose, simply to make it easier for Windows users, who just about know how to switch a PC on and off, to change over to Linux because it looks and feels familiar.

[poetic_folly]

i hate ubuntu, its linux trying to be windows, why even use linux if its gonna have a windows like gui? lol

Maybe cause Windows is $200. And not open source.

[jignesh_jmp]

Nothing is like Arch Linux... Believe me...
Just give it a try.

[giany911]

Ubuntu fan here 2. It's very easy to use, and with a little google-ing you can get everything to work right. :biggthumpup:

[Digitol]

Ununtu edgy good. Anyone here know how to get better than 1024X768 resolution from an ATI card? That's my only hang up.

-Digitol-

[giany911]

Try the Ubuntu Forums (http://ubuntuforums.org/) maybe those guys can help you out. I have NVidia and it works by default at 1280x720.

[JRowe]

Check out ndiswrapper...runs windows drivers natively in linux. Have two wireless computers (one laptop) using it.

[JRowe]

I have used Mandrake/Mandriva distros for about 8 years. To me, it's the only way to go.

[jignesh_jmp]

If you need peformance, then there are only two distros Gentoo or Arch Linux. And Arch Linux has the superb package manager called packman which will take you alway up to date.

[MirandaSoft]

Hmmm, why didn't I see this thread until now???

I use, suggest, and promote, Ubuntu Linux. I strongly favor Ubuntu Linux. I use Ubuntu Linux 6.06.1 on my Mac under Virtual PC 7.02.

Since 1997, when I first learning Linux, and getting heavily involved with Linux projects between 2003 and 2006, I have learned how to work Linux in general.

In theory, if you want to enhance your Linux skills, STICK TO ONE (1) LINUX DISTRO.

Switching Linux distros and dumping a Linux distro because of some hardware/software problems will not let you learn anything. Having the Latest Linux Kernel or Distribution rarely means your fancy hardware will be supported. You may need to compile the Linux Kernel, and that can take several hours, depending on the speed of your computer.

The primary difference between Linux and Windows is who is the one responsible for configuring your hardware. Linux users have the ability to make the computer work for them, not the other way around.

On my wife's Compaq PC laptop, I know how to enable the WiFi in *any* Linux distribution. That is because I keep the WiFi hardware drivers, ndiswrapper source code, and instructions for setting up with modprobe, all stored on a CD. I figured, "Why re-invent the wheel?"

Last August 2006, I dumped SuSE 10 for Ubuntu Linux 6.06, for the reason SuSE's defective configuration prevented it from being updated. I could not wait for the SuSE patches, so I went to Ubuntu.

Fedora Core... I've used all of the versions, and had bad luck, even though I supported/promoted Red Hat Linux from Version 5.2 to 9.

Slackware Linux... This is an OK distro. In 1997, I installed this distro for a ton of floppies. I learned how to make a Linux system into a Proxy server for Windows 95 systems.

Mandrake/Mandriva Linux... Good for Linux Beginners. Bad for Linux Experts, such as myself. Any attempt to patch the Kernel or add my own software would break the distro itself.

Linspire, formerly Lindows... (Bad Microsoft sued Lindows!) Linspire is great for Linux Beginners and Comebacks. I used this distro from 2003-2004. I enjoyed Win4Lin which allowed Windows 98 (Only!) to run in Linspire. But, when I wanted to do my Linux programming and patches, the distro broke and could no longer update the system.

In April 2006, I purchased the Apple iBook G4... Not because of Mac OS X, but because of the UNIX foundation. I am able to work my Linux projects within Mac OS X... Added to that, I can run Ubuntu Linux 6.06.1 within Virtual PC 7.

Also, I own the Nokia 770 Linux-based Internet Terminal. I am able to flash this device in Mac OS X, Linux, and of course, Windows XP.

Once you are familiar with a Linux distribution, stick to it! Then, take it a day at a time to interface it to devices, such as a Motorola phone. Have Linux recognize that as an AT device, then have Linux switch it to P2K mode. Search the Moto4Lin site for assistance on that.

To me, when I get a Linux-exclusive system, in March or April, I think it will be easy to make Linux-based software to compete with the Windows-conterparts. I prefer a Non-GUI environment.

I've noticed in Flash&Backup3, it sends commands to the phone to send it's complete FlashROM to the computer. It appears to be a stream... And streams can be captured in Linux. There's even instructions on SHX files on the web.

So, to make things easier, to have a future in making Linux software for Motorola Modding, you must have the programming tools installed (ie: in Debian-like distros, "apt-get install build-essentials" will do the trick).

Whenever, I install a Linux distro, I make sure I install the programming tools, too. Then, your future of Motorola Modding goes from being a Dream to a Reality. Take Advantage of the Open-Source Linux. Modify the Linux Kernal. And be happy programming.

Have a Nice Day, Everybody!

[Charlie861i]

i hate ubuntu, its linux trying to be windows, why even use linux if its gonna have a windows like gui? lol

Dude, what about Windows wanting to be linux? :D No joke, this is my desktop currently:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t91/charlie861i/LinuxWannabeGUI.jpg

[dontpassthefence]

haha ^ that is a good Windows skin, did you do the utheme hack, or use one of the many windows skinning programs? (windowsblinds, etc?)

[Charlie861i]

Uxtheme.dll PATCH, not hack :) Windowblinds, desktopx and other skinnin programs i do NOT recommend due to messin up XP when uninstalled, uses a lot of CPU etc. just do the patcher and all u will be able to do is apply skins without crappy skinnin programs

[asdfgfh]

Charlie861i,i have parched uxtheme.dll too,can you tell me please where i can get this linux theme? :)
Thanks!
Edited:I found it :)
Nice theme...

[Charlie861i]

Charlie861i,i have parched uxtheme.dll too,can you tell me please where i can get this linux theme? :)
Thanks!
Edited:I found it :)
Nice theme...

glad you found it dude. sorry i aint replyed, i aint been able to get on my laptop. where u get urs? i found mine on Deviantart :corkysm21:

[asdfgfh]

I dont remember :D
Edited:I think I`ll trying Ubuntu tomorrow...I tried Ubuntu 6.05(maybe other)-but it wont install on my system...
Tomorrow...

[Charlie861i]

I dont remember :D
Edited:I think I`ll trying Ubuntu tomorrow...I tried Ubuntu 6.05(maybe other)-but it wont install on my system...
Tomorrow...

lol yesterday was my birthday and i spent the day 1) installing Fedora 6 on my old laptop. 2) didnt like so i tried SuSE 10.1. 3) too slow so today im installin Vector Linux 1.8 lol:crazy1: :crazy1: :crazy1:

[asdfgfh]

lol,i`m on Ubuntu now :D
But i have windows too for moto modding and for some gmes :D
I like it...
Screenshot :D
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/897/ekranattelsuy9.png

[Merath]

I would say that the most powerful Linux I've used is Gentoo, but it is in no way newbie friendly and I wouldn't recommend it to you. However, there is a very nice distribution of Gentoo that makes everything just work out of the box. Sabayon Linux (http://www.sabayonlinux.org/) is very much like Ubuntu in the user friendly aspect and at the same time has the power of Gentoo and portage under the hood. I would give it a try if your still having trouble finding whats right for you.

[Charlie861i]

I would say that the most powerful Linux I've used is Gentoo, but it is in no way newbie friendly and I wouldn't recommend it to you. However, there is a very nice distribution of Gentoo that makes everything just work out of the box. Sabayon Linux (http://www.sabayonlinux.org/) is very much like Ubuntu in the user friendly aspect and at the same time has the power of Gentoo and portage under the hood. I would give it a try if your still having trouble finding whats right for you.

SuSE 10.1 that im using, user-friendly sometimes and great h/w compatability and v. powerful. installed it for the 3rd time the other day. got XGL Workin finally too. its ausome. makes Vista look soooo ugly

[dirtsnake]

if you just want a user friendly version use ubuntu and check out info on Beryl. If you want to be gangster use BackTrack

[jasonp]

i use ubuntu and its great :D recommend to any linux users

[MgNate]

I highly reccomend Ubuntu. Currently i have 7.04 Fiesty on one of my computers and 6.10 Edgy on This computer(Just didn't get to upgrading yet)

I love it and i don't care if it looks likes windows(Which it barely does i don't know what the peeps that are posting screenshots are using!)
once you use it it barely feels like it and it runs much much much much better!

[marsmissions]

First of all I find the comment that ubuntu looks like windows an insult, ubuntu uses the gnome desktop environment which has some characteristics of windows, but does not resemble. (Since when is windows brown?) Also, all GUIs resemble one another in some way. Even fluxbox has some similarities to the windows GUI.

And on to the topic, I recommend ubuntu as well. Ubuntu is very user friendly, everything worked great for me on the first install, and despite the fact I prefer KDE, I am starting to like the gnome desktop environment. Lastly, I have had a few years of linux experience, starting with Mandrake, (mandriva), then on to fedora core (2, and 3) and then I used Slackware 10 and 11, I favor ubuntu over all of these. Slackware is good and stable and I still use it on my desktop, however ubuntu is my distro of choice for my laptop.

[JedixJarf]

i just dont like ubuntu because it takes all of the fun out of linux. just give me a terminal and i'm happy :)

[kn100]

Try knoppix 5.1.1, its good, but i use windows because of compatibility, not out of choise. it can be used as a live distro so you can 'try before you buy(its free, just a figure of speech)'

it resembles windows because (sorry for the history lesson)

1. Unix/linux and windows both took the gui of altair, as altair developed a gui for its 8800.

SEARCH FOR THE ALTAIR 8800, you will see what i mean. This may not be true, but is the oppinion of many people.



LINUX RULES
WINDOWS SUCK, GOTO MICROSUCK.COM

[JedixJarf]

yes, widows does suck, it is a known fact to most of the world.

[marsmissions]

i just dont like ubuntu because it takes all of the fun out of linux. just give me a terminal and i'm happy :)Ubuntu has a terminal. All linux distrobutions do, I use the terminal all the time, you can even change the run level at boot to make is start into the terminal and not into GDM.

Slackware by defualt started into the terminal, then running the startx command the X server would run. In ubuntu that step is not needed, unless the user wants it and they can then change the runlevel at boot. Also, the graphical boot image, to my knowledge, can also be disabled.

it resembles windows because (sorry for the history lesson)

1. Unix/linux and windows both took the gui of altair, as altair developed a gui for its 8800.
Unix/Linux did not copy anybodies GUI, linux by default is not an OS with a GUI, that is where gnome, and kde, and the rest came in, they were the ones who coppied the gui.

[PressureDrop]

Well, just to defer from all this uBuntu bickering...

SuSE 10.2 Linux all the way! It's my personal favorite distro, very easy to use for new-to-linux users, but still got everything us old Linux users are used to.

And personally, I think the Gnome desktop sucks.

KDE is where it's at.

[scotty1982]

This thread's sweet!!!

I used to use linux a little here and there, not long enough to learn how to use it, just to see what it was really.

used to use mandrake (before it was called mandriva)

didn't know what one to try now, so i did fedora 7 because i had that disc already, but now i think i'm gonna try out ubuntu. suse wouldn't load well after installation, and i dono how to fix linux at all so if i can't even get it to load the GUI i'm not gonna bother with it.

only problem i have with fedora really is that it comes with NO plugins for audio / video (i installed them now), does ubuntu come with all those? (don't wanna have to track them down again)

also, does anyone know how well i can dual-boot vista with ubuntu or fedora?

vista uses a TOTALLY different boot loader than other versions of windows, so i'm a little concerned there and would like to know if anyone else has tried it before i do.

[giany911]

I found a nice thread related to Vista and Ubuntu dual boot :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=319814
All you need to know: http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty
Especially multimedia codecs: http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty#How_to_install_Multimedia_Codecs
I love Ubuntu. It's clean fast and easy for a beginer. I completely gave up Windows for about a month. No problems so far, managed to do some nifty tricks like controlling the PC from my phone using bluetooth.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9539/dextopmu8.jpg A little SS to see what's up :D

[scotty1982]

Sweet! thanks!

::EDIT::

got it working. didn't do it exactly the same as in that thread, 'cuz my setup's a little different.

i also finally was able to get my video card working in suse.

now all i need to do is get my wireless lan card to work.

anyone know a way to get p2ktools3 or anything like that to work in openSuSE 10.2?

[Archer]

I've heard people mentioning SUSE being good for linux n00bs.. i'll be trying it soon

[PressureDrop]

Yeah, it is. But it's got everything the seasoned user needs too.

Of course the only real way to do it is to build your own from scratch... but I don't need have that kinda time. Nor the willpower.

[kn100]

knoppix

and heres what i do

use windows xp for modding, then plug in my external hd and use that for knoppix linux!

[rasmith3530]

I've recently returned to Linux after an extended absence, and I found a great distro for Linux newbies and pros alike. It is called PCLinuxOS 2007, it runs as a live CD, and it detects hardware really well. You can install to PC right from a shortcut on the user desktop. It is based on Mandrake, and can use Synaptic to upgrade and add new apps. When I tried it on a Compaq laptop, it did a bang up job of detecting the hardware. It also allowed me to set up my static IP during boot.

Rob