Linux for noobs

[WitchBitch]

This question is following on the heels of fredpc's linux question (http://chattchitto.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 7&start=10) only a bit different. I played around a few months with linux about 10 yrs ago. I had downloaded RedHat, and Suse had just come out. But my then husband couldnt get the hang of it and begged me to put windows back on our computer. I still liked him then so I complied. I've not played around with it really since.

Since I put together this new Windows box a few months ago, I have had my old dinosaur sitting sadly on the table beside me, gathering dust. I'd like to wipe the drive and make her into a Linux box. However, all the versions of Linux I have contemplated seem to require that someone have a clue or modicum of knowledge about Linux, beyond the very minimum I remember from my few months play 10 yrs ago. So can someone recommend a version of Linux for the noob or a Linux for Dummies that I couldnt possibly eff up and learn from? The stats on the old dinosaur I am putting it on are Sempron 2400 1.6 Ghz over clocked to 2.1 Ghz single core, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB HDD, on board graphics and sound (I think the MOBO is an ASRock K7VT4A+)

[jt3]

WitchBitch,
Have a look at Pinguy. Your system should handle it. I am also a noob and everything worked without the need for tweaking.
Anyhow it's just a thought.

[WitchBitch]

WitchBitch,
Have a look at Pinguy. Your system should handle it. I am also a noob and everything worked without the need for tweaking.
Anyhow it's just a thought.

Cool I've not heard of it before. Looks very promising. Thank you for the tip!!!!

[LadyHawke]

Perfect timing! I was about to start a thread myself when I saw this!

[fredpc]

WitchBitch
Have a look at Zorin......It is a Linux Os but with the look and feel of windows .......It has the same start menu as windows and you can run it as a live cd ,to test the look and feel of it first ......If you like it you can then install directly from the desktop

Find screen shot of Zorin here http://www.chattchitto.com/forum/viewto ... &start=150

if you want a light weight Os ...WB then you may want to consider Bodhi ....it is only 470 meg on a cd and runs very quick

Find a screen shot here http://chattchitto.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 7&start=10

[LadyHawke]

Tell us more fred, im interested too

[fredpc]

Here are some screen shots of Zorin

Find them here http://www.thecodingstudio.com/opensour ... n_sm=Zorin OS 4

Here are screen shots for Bodhi

Find them here http://www.bodhilinux.com/forums/index. ... e-updates/

Btw Bodhi is still in the RC stage at the moment a full release is due soon

[MrNiitriiX]

i think the easiest linux distro to date is either ubuntu / debian or something based on these, such as pinguyOS (check my uploadlist for pinguy).

these are very easy, i put ubuntu on my mums laptop and she can use it with no problems and preferes it to windows now.

**Edit

sorry i should mention why . the install process with these is very similar to windows. Instead of having a .exe extantion for installers you would just have a .deb or for redhat .rpm and more for fedora (my favorite) these are called packet managers. This mean you wont have to compile your own installer from the source code.

one thing you should know about linux is that NO drivers are usually required as these are included in the kernal however some drivers, such as those for broadcom wireless cards, still need to be aded by compiling from sourcecode (many tuts out these if you have a missing driver).

**Edit
my brain aint working, i thought of what to writye but didnt write it...
some nice distrows for low end, older boxe's:

• unity (based on mandriva (similar to redhat) so little more tricky for the novice) [size
• DSL (damn small linux) this hase the basics and runs ULTRA fast !! [size around 50meg]
• ubuntu mini remix (best of both worlds, easy to use and fast [size 165meg]

just check out : distrowatch and search for these releases to get screen shots and download links


i hope this helps

[LadyHawke]

I'm gonna give this one a try
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=zorin

[avatar_24]

I'm sure someone here mention Toorox?!I think it is.

http://toorox.de/

Toorox is a Linux Live-DVD based on Gentoo that starts as a bootable media using KNOPPIX technology.

While the system is booting, all necessary drivers will be included automatically (lshwd).
Toorox is only using the memory and an existing swap partition at runtime, so your hard disks
won't be touched by default.

Saturday, 05 February 2011

Spoiler: show

A new version of the Toorox "GNOME" Edition has been finished
and you can get it from the download area as 32-bit and 64-bit
system. The kernel is the Linux 2.6.37-gentoo which was patched
with the famous "200 Lines Patch" from Mike Galbraith. It gives you
a significant performance boost if you start several processes at the
same time.
The GNOME desktop environment was updated to version 2.32.1
and Xorg-Server to version 1.9.2. This one now make use of udev
only. Grub2 is now the default boot loader, but Grub-Legacy is
there, too.
The Toorox-Installer can now identify operating systems, which were
already installed on your hard disk and make a menu entry for them.
If you want to keep your already installed grub, the installer can modify
your boot menu (Grub2 + Grub-Legacy).

Minimum equipment:

i686 CPU (Pentium II and faster) + 512MB RAM + DVD

Usefull link for Linux distributions:

http://www.ibiblio.org/software/distributions/