Linux - which flavour to use?

[ploddertom]

Thought it about time I had a dabble with Linux and thought would use it as a dual boot with a Vista desktop. Initially downloaded Ubuntu 12.04 LTS a month or three ago but never had time to give it a whirl. Over the last few days upgraded it to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, downloaded the ISO file and mounted on a DVD but it falls over each time with different problems. In the end gave up and have tried again with Linux Mint Cinnamon but again it falls over. Vista does freeze a lot so think it may be something to do with this.

 

Now I've bit the bullet and ordered a new harddrive for an unused P4 system as think it may run better as a standalone system. Or is there a better Linux to try?

[brassnecked]

I find Ubuntu Studio to be good, it has XFCE desktop so looks a bit like a Mac OS with a top bar, it also doesn't have the much debated Unity desktop. It is however a distro for media creators ;. as a curve ball solution Pardus Linux is worth a look, that uses the KDE desktop so looks a bit like Windows, it also has a neat installer and has a friendly community.

 

As you are using a P4 a good option would be a lightweight relatively speaking distro that can work well on older hardware so Xubuntu or Kubuntu are worth a look.

 

LXLE is another that might suit

 

http://lxle.net/

 

As is Elementary OS

 

http://elementaryos.org/

 

 

I might try the last two myself on an old Celeron Laptop to see what they are like.

 

I would look at the last two as serious contenders as they may well be considerably lighter on resources than any of the 'buntu's even Xubuntu and Kubuntu.

[Bandit127]

I am running a Raspberry Pi webserver. I grew up with DOS and then Windows, so Linux is new to me.

 

Rather than writing chapter and verse on your question, I will just pass on my top suggestion.

 

The different distros have differences in the way commands are built up and executed. For that reason I would stick to a distro that will do well in a Google search - you are more likely to find answers to your problems.

 

My Pi is running Raspbian, which is based on Debain. That does well on Google. So will Unbuntu.

[labrat]

personally i like kali linux...

[Ford]

personally i like kali linux...

 

 

that looks interesting, seems not a std desktop o/s though?

[Conniff]

You don't have to install them. You can run it off the disc so having a go before you install.

[labrat]

that looks interesting, seems not a std desktop o/s though?

 

not as such. i have it multibooting for a few differnt uses, works ok as a desktop o/s however as is based on one of the other linux so takes standered terminal commands (is it debian ive forgotten)

 

its a good one ot have fun and play with, so is deft - another one i multiboot

[ploddertom]

Thanks for all the responses & links, I'll give some of them whirl over the next few days and see what comes up.

[Conniff]

Well I had a great deal of fun playing with them, but it was on a second pc and not my main one.

 

 

Will look forward to your reports.

[brassnecked]

Yes PT enjoy your dabbling with Linux, as Conniff says you can try them as a Live OS booted from CD/DVD, or even a USB pen. Incidentally there are distros that can be used to check and clear viruses from a Windows Box. A good backup OS that is small and fast that runs from CD or pen is Puppy Linux, now that is something else entirely as it doesn't need a hard drive at all it runs in a RAMDisk That has a footprint as small as Windows 98

[WebMaster]

If installation is a problem, Ubuntu might be your best bet. It'll give you plenty of guidance during the installation process. If you wanted to describe the installation problems you're having I'm sure someone here could help.

[san_d]

Not strictly Linux, but have you considered FreeBsd? It's a very stable OS and can run some Linux application in direct emulation. It is the most user-friendly in the BSD family and 95% of applications available for Linux will be available for FreeBsd. No flavours, just one organization offering both kernel and user applications.

[p3t3r]

im unsure why ubuntu install fails for you

 

as in the words of Sheldon Cooper, "ahh, ubuntu, my favorite operating system"

[brassnecked]

For a complete beginner, Elementary OS is non too shabby, works out of the box.