any easy to use linux out there?

[Hexane]

i've googled the webbie for a few days, i'm very impress with how much linux has changed:D, so far i seen most of the popular distro screenshots, and wow am i amazed! anyway all of the popular distro looks easy to use, but of course being a noob to linux, im not that sure about it, but im really confused, to me the defination of easy to use for noobs could be a second window.. i koe i sound like the typical average users out there, but i were just lke to use a easy to use linux for a while and learn about it.. den mayb i'll changed into other distro and see.. hehe

[Choozo]

Go to your favorite newsstand, and pick up the latest copy of "Linux FORMAT". You will find a CD/DVD with Mandrake 10.1 included in that issue, with install instructions inside.

Mandrake is probably the most user friendly distro to install and use.
Others will probably also suggest SuSE.

[Icarus]

I learned off of Red Hat, but also did a lot of reading along the way about linux in general and had a Unix background to help...

The the new people that have never touched Unix it is difficult, even Mandrake will have you scratching your head.

Lots of people will probably want to beat me, but I'd suggest Linspire for the true newbie as it has a lot of good hand holding and builtin demos (If you can afford it the Click N Run is a great app)

I'd also like the throw in SuSE and Fedora, even though they are not truely geared for the newbie they are very well polished

[infiniphunk]

Ubuntu? Download the ISO image of the liveCD and give that a try. All your basic computing needs are extremely easy; web browsing, e-mail, a few games, text-editing, word-processor, mp3 player...just boot from the disc.
VERY good hardware detection also. Plus there is also MEPIS, Knoppix, Kanotix....lots of liveCD linux distros. These are your best route in terms of getting some basic familiarity with linux distros. I highly recommend them.

[xlilo]

the easyest linux i have used (and currently still useing) is suse 9.1 pro, i think it is the easyest of linux os's

[psi42]

If by your definition of easy, you want a distro where everthing is point-and-clickable and you want to learn as little as possible, try ubuntu. No, not lindows, ubuntu.

On the other hand, if you want to learn something, SuSE would be a good choice.

(I would also suggest slackware, but I might get flamed :)).

~psi42

[blobaugh]

if you go for something 'easy' how much are you really going to learn? if you really want to get into linux dont start with mandrake. at the very least start with redhat/fedora, then move onto something else. i cant speak to ubuntu cause i havent tried it yet, but i think i will get it today. once you get comfortable in a distro you should try out gentoo. that will learn you tons of things about linux, and their handbook is really simple and easy to follow. theres me .02

[serz]

I recommend Red Hat or SuSE.

[Calipso]

Maybe check out Xandros.
I have never used it, but from what I have read, it seems like its a pretty easy distro.

Xandros (http://www.xandros.com)

[H2O-linux]

I will put the vote in for Slackware 10.0

its not point and click but with the full install its not bloated with to much that will cause dependency issues with most programs you might want to install down the road.

If you really want to learn linux then slackware will force you. It took me about 2 weeks to set up a server for apache, ftp and install all the programs I will need on a day to day usage.

[battalax]

I would reccomend suse 9.1 or mandrake 9.2 and up , as the easiest .. But if your up to it i would say debian net install would be a good choice
its up to you , you said you want it to be easy, id imagine you have some sort of computer insight to have heard something about linux s you be the judge and pick a distro www.linuxiso.org isnt a bad place to start looking or just search around the forums

[bigmac99]

I would suggest SuSe 9.1 pro....download the livecd and give it a whirl...

I would try several distro's that have livecd's available and look at each one to see which is the best fit for you.

Charles

[CaptainPinko]

never used anything easier than suse 9.1. it is easy ot install and use but it is full powered and you'll be playing wit samba and nfs and apache in no time. suse pro 9.2 is out and i think there is a torrent on www.TorrentSearch.org I think it is legal to download as long as it is not for profit. One of the perks of SuSE is that it comes with and sets up flashplayer and java. also it is easy to install the nvidia driver.

[ions]

Another vote for Ubuntu here. I've spent some time with it and find it pleasent and easy to use. I've installed it for some very entry level users and they've surviving fine. Granted I did do the install but they're still getting along fine.

[CoffeeMan]

Ubuntu; ( http://www.ubuntulinux.com/ ) because it is the easiest distro I have ever used. The installer is straightforward, and it is well laid out with a simple GNOME desktop, Mozilla Firefox browser, and OpenOffice Office Suite.

[CaptainPinko]

Appropriately this piece (http://desktopos.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=23) on Lycoris (http://www.lycoris.com/) was just posted on OSNews (http://osnews.com/comment.php?news_id=8863) . If ease of use is your main criteria you'd be hard to go wrong with Lycoris. I don't think it's beer free (still speech free obviously), but considering how much work they put into customising this distro they deserve a few bucks of profit if you like it. You can try an older version on LinuxISO.org (http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=26) to get a rough idea what the new version would be like if you bought it.

[Hexane]

:D tks everyone :D ok will try out em soon

[Ehwaz001]

A bit late with a reply, but what the heck...

I would recommend Suse 9.2 or Ubuntu. I liked Ubuntu, since it has all the programs regular users need right out of the box. But if you dislike the GNOME environment, you can choose Suse. Suse uses KDE instead of GNOME and comes with a lot of programs as well. Although I dislike it for not having a good GCC, which makes building from source a painfull process...

Greetings,
Ehwaz001
:cool:

[teeitup]

Libranet

Great installer! Familiar desktop look. Excellent admin tools. Very good support on their site and mailing list.

Libranet Web Site (http://www.libranet.com/)

Good Luck,

[Hexane]

i jus ordered Ubuntu.. so gonna test it out when it comes :D

[bensdomain]

suse 9.1 or 9.2 is very well polished and it detects most hardware very well. however, to get all the features, you may have to cough up some money

fedora core is free, polished and also has good hardware detection, but it's missing some apps like mp3 and movie players. but fedora is very good for a programmer since it has an option at setup to install all these compiler(gcc, g++) and interpreters(perl, python) for you, so you dont have to search for them later.

[XiaoKJ]

almost all live-cds...

[acid45]

Go to your favorite newsstand, and pick up the latest copy of "Linux FORMAT". You will find a CD/DVD with Mandrake 10.1 included in that issue, with install instructions inside.

Mmm good ol LXF.

Has anyone though about the fact that a lot of software that I've come across anyway, has it's own RPMs for distros like fedora and suse? If the user is any bit confused they could end up in downloading the wrong file and then bugging you guys as much as I do :P

Maybe that's a good thing since they will most likely call their OS MANDRAKE instead of linux since MANDRAKE is in their face every time they boot. There may be some money in converting computer newbies to linux :P Mwahaha that would be just evil...I like it.

Then again if they can't pick proper files maybe they should stick to windoze untill they learn a bit more about computers.

No worries with Live distros though.

This is my FINAL edit...I swear!

[mudra]

I would recommend MEPIS. Can test it out as a live CD before you for an install. You may also like to try Kanotix.

Mudra.

[andy_sp1ke]

I would recommened Ubuntu (or Mepis if you like KDE) as they are compact downloads but with pretty much everything an easy install processes away (including bit tornado, aMSN, Hotwayd etc).

If you dont like Gnome dont bother as KDE can be installed but its not very together with Ubuntu. Try Mepis in that case as I hear its pretty good.

andy

[mmills]

dont waste your time on the ubuntu order, I placed mine, and the order is slow, just DL it and burn the ISO to image. I suggest SUSE 9.2 but you have to purchase that, and redhat..well you might want to take a look at fedora.redhat.com or mepis, if you like mepis, you can install from the live cd.

[torontonewbie]

It really depends on what you want to do.

If you've got a broadband connection and plenty of hard drive space, download the ISO images of some of the major distros and burn them to CD.

Then make sure you've got a spare "test box" or two and test them out one by one until you find one that you like.

I've tested the Xandros open circulation edition and though the applications are a bit limited, its actually an easier install than Windoze and if you've got a home network it finds your Windoze shared files and printers easier than anything else I've tested.

You need to download the ISO through Bit Torrent.

I've done a test of Lycoris that I got with a Linux magazine and it was pretty easy too, but quite limited.

The problem as I understand with Linspire and Ubuntu is that they don't setup a "root" user by default...just my understanding, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway not setting up a "root" user is a definite "no no" in my books...its the Windoze way of doing things and is part of the problem.

Fedora, Suse and Mandrake are all pretty easy to setup too, and have many more apps built into the distros, but a bit more of a learning curve on things like Windoze shares and shared Windoze printers.

I understand the attraction that more technical users have to Debian, Slackware and Gentoo...and I guess that if you really want to get into the "guts" of Linux thats also a way to go...but be prepared for a much tougher learning curve.

You'll find fans of all of the different distributions and all of them have their good and bad points...just "play" and find out what works for you.

If you don't have broadband, then pick up copies of either "Linux Format" and/or "Linux User and Developer". Every month they come with either CD's or a DVD disk with a Linux distro or two. You can find these publications on some of the larger magazine racks.

[Hexane]

i dun think the area im in has those linux mag... think asia dun have so many linux publication like us or europr.

[Chess007]

When I was completely new to linux, I tried knoppix. Found it easy. Then I tried red hat but it ran slow and I didn't like it. Mandrake was ok but it was dumbed down to the point where i wanted to slam my head against something in frustration!

I now have Suse 9.1 personal and like it very much. :)

Live cd's put a heavy load on your cd drive...if you decide you like a particular one you should install it and NOT keep running it from cd.

If you have enough ram, run a live cd from ram its blazingly fast. :)

[saikee]

Don't know any easy way to "use" Linux but they are pretty easy to install and boot.

I didn't find one of my installed 32 distros easier than others to use. They are about the same.

Windows like distros of Lycoris and Xandros are nice but could waste users' time by shielding off the basic Linux features. For example Xandros doesn't show the Linux file system unless you log in as root. Who would be interested only in C, D and E drives used by Windows, and none of the hda, hdb, /home, /boot..., when running Linux? Afterall a Linux user needs to know the useful bits of Linux and able to navigate in other distros.

May be installing as many as one could find isn't all that nutty after all. Linux does not cost money anyway and a 5Gb is all that is required per distro.

I did not find them hard to use after installing a number of them.

[blackbelt_jones]

I like Debian, installed from the sarge-installer CD... what makes it easier than most distros is the fact that after you install it (a broadband connection is helpful) you're automatically hooked up to the massive apt-get software archive. Last time I looked, that meant 14762 up-to-the-minute software packages were available, anytime you're online, by just typing a simple command, with all dependencies automatically computed and resolved, no long intimidating liscensing agreement to ignore at your peril.

Always remember that Linux is really much easier to use than Windows-- it's just harder to learn. The more you learn about how to run Linux, the more running windows becomes an impractical pain in the *** that you avoid whenever possible. It only takes learning a few basic line commands to make linux suddenly seem so much more flexible and powerful than Windows ever dreamed of being.

[Hexane]

yea ok tks alot people... windows is really a pain in the *** these days.. so many spyware problems occur every now and den..

spybot + adware + firewal + firefox 1.0 block-up blocker = rather good protection

but didnt help at all.. spyware stil manged to sneak in.. now i got a few important system files tts corrupted( i suspect my spybot deleted it) and i cant figure out which files!!! argh!!!

hope linux dont have this kind of annoying problems..

Linux IS safer den windows xp pro even wif sp2 rite?

[hard candy]

Linux IS safer den windows xp pro even wif sp2 rite?

Only if you can spell and type the correct command.
:)

[bs_texas]

any easy to use linux out there?

HAAA... ha ha ha ha ha... ha ha ha.. haa...

hoooo....

(sorry 'bout that.... just couldn't help myself...):D

[PolteRGeisT]

Mandrake was very good to me when I was a newbie. It was a small challenge to get it running the way I wanted to, and for anything else I had these forums~ I think if you go with SuSe or Mandrake you'd be sitting pretty well as long as you fall back on these forums for extra guidance.

[compunauts]

As a newbie I could almost vote for Linspire (hey Icarus you listening) BUT
They )(%^()56 ME . I paid my $100 for lifetime member in CNR then they changed their name and I can not get in. Can't even call up the web site, it's like my user ID has been blackmarked or something.

I liked what I saw when I bought it but was never successfull in installing it then they went belly up and I have nothing.

[JSimmons]

I recommend that you buy a Mac and use OS-X...

[mrBen]

Originally posted by JSimmons
I recommend that you buy a Mac and use OS-X...

I think you'll find that MacOSX is not actually Linux, and thus not relevant for this question ;)

Take a look at Mepis and Ubuntu. (LiveCD available for both)

[Hexane]

Originally posted by JSimmons
I recommend that you buy a Mac and use OS-X...

heh abit OT though.. but anyway i'm planing to get a powerbook for my laptop...

but still gonna use Linux for my desktop.. and darn it ubuntu have not arrived yet.. boohoo...

[starush]

[JLC Mods]
Deleted, Q also posted (correctly) in this thread: http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137017
[/JLC Mods]

[GlennaclawZ]

Ha Ive been learning on slackware this whole time..
Damnit... Im either really dumb or really black...

Stupid stupid stupid stupid!!!

[fintan29]

Hi Hexana,
I can only agree with all of the above exept that the ubuntu installer really isn't all that straight forward, especially for a noob with a maybe strange grafic card.

I would try kanotix. It is variant of knoppix just a lot cleaner.
It comes as a live cd which means you can try it out first without installing. It see's practically every hardware configuration and if you like it is vertually a 4click install.

You can find out more under :
www.kanotix.com (http://www.kanotix.com)

Plus all of this it sports a great help forum where the poeple are qualified and freindly and the developer himself "kano" anwers the questions.

Try it out and have fun.

Greetings
Fintan

[rhema7]

Originally posted by Calipso
Maybe check out Xandros.
I have never used it, but from what I have read, it seems like its a pretty easy distro.

Xandros (http://www.xandros.com)

I currently use Xandros 3.0 and love it. I put Mandrake Behind me will neve go back.
Xandro Desktop is my choice for ease.

Xandros Open Circulation edition is free.

[fintan29]

Hi,
I just tried installing xandros 3.0 (again) and after getting the initial cd regognition screen my screen goes blank and stays that way.
Is that normal? I did'nt like it so i stopped.
Any ideas?

[rhema7]

Originally posted by fintan29
Hi,
I just tried installing xandros 3.0 (again) and after getting the initial cd regognition screen my screen goes blank and stays that way.
Is that normal? I did'nt like it so i stopped.
Any ideas?

Not normal. What are your specs? I can think of nothing to cause this I was up ad running duel booting XP in just 20min.

AMD XP 2200
1 gig ram
128mb ATI 9200 (not SE)
1 40gig WD HD
1 200gig WD HD

Where did you get your Copy? I hate to ask is it legit? If it was an ISO how did you burn it?
Have you tried the Open Circulation edition? I only ask because it is free and it may be worth it to see if it will install if so the other maybe a bad image.

Preston

[rhema7]

Originally posted by GlennaclawZ
Ha Ive been learning on slackware this whole time..
Damnit... Im either really dumb or really black...

Stupid stupid stupid stupid!!!

What does the comment about being really Black mean?
I'm really black and really hispanic...not stupid.
Clarify please I may not want to continue my association here.
Not being combative just want to know if this sand box has a color preference if so I'll quietly go find another to play in.

[fintan29]

Hi rhema7,
First off i agree with your response to GlennaclawZ, but then again maybe he should chang sandboxes.
To you question. The iso is from xandros (free download over bittorent).
My specs are about the same except for the PIV 2.6 Ghz.

It is wierd, but no worries i am happy with kanotix, dual install with winxpp in 20 min. But would like to try xandros.

[rhema7]

Originally posted by fintan29
Hi rhema7,
First off i agree with your response to GlennaclawZ, but then again maybe he should chang sandboxes.
To you question. The iso is from xandros (free download over bittorent).
My specs are about the same except for the PIV 2.6 Ghz.

It is wierd, but no worries i am happy with kanotix, dual install with winxpp in 20 min. But would like to try xandros.

Sorry it did not work for you and thanks for you admonishment concerning the sandbox. If I could I would send you a copy of 2.0 since I upgraded to 3.0
I really don't trust some of the torrent clients maybe it was a bad download.
I have a spymac.com account with my screen name if you would like to email me. You can call me Preston.

[GlennaclawZ]

Originally posted by rhema7
What does the comment about being really Black mean?
I'm really black and really hispanic...not stupid.
Clarify please I may not want to continue my association here.
Not being combative just want to know if this sand box has a color preference if so I'll quietly go find another to play in.

No color preference... I am just very comfortable with my race being that I am black myself. Just a joke... yall take me to seriously...

[rhema7]

Originally posted by GlennaclawZ
No color preference... I am just very comfortable with my race being that I am black myself. Just a joke... yall take me to seriously...

Thank you for your clarification.
Nice to meet you.

[psych-major]

It's not that hard to install, if you read the instuctions on their site. The only real trick is partitioning the drives, which you have to do in Windoze, too. (tip: use cfdisk, not fdisk)

I have also played with SuSE 9.1 and I would definitely recommend it for noobs.

But with Slack, you'll learn quickly, and you'll start understanding the "why" when solving problems. Then you can impress your noob friends when they blow up their "easy' distro installation and they don't know how to edit fstab with vi from the cli.

Don't forget to try some of the live cd distros like slax or knoppix, then you can kick the tires without blowing up your xp installation or buying a another hard drive.

Hope this helps.

Did I mention that I like Slack?

[davisfactor]

What makes one distro easier to use than another?

They all run the same kernel.
They all have the ability to run the same Desktop Environment / Window Manager.

The only differences is how you navigate the file system and install software, correct?

You've got yum, swaret, apt-get, emerge ...

The thing I find the hardest, is, for whatever reason, I've always been against Redhat. I don't know why, I just don't like them and never have. However, most companies, including where I am now, run Redhat. So with my background being with OpenBSD, Solaris, and Debian, I am lost when it comes to how Redhat operates. Installing software via RPM's was weird to get used to, and stopping and starting daemons using the service command and xinetd was also a bit off the path. I would get config errors using /etc/init.d/blah start, but service blah start worked fine ???

So again ... what makes one distro easy and another hard? Is it just what you're used to?

To me, Debian is the easist distro to use, but I've never tried Mandrake or Ubuntu or any of those. I ran Gentoo for a while so I have a little experience with that. How easy is it to update your entire system or install a single package using one command, apt-get? If you want OpenOffice, you apt-get install it. If you want to try Gnome or XFCE, you apt-get install it. No dependency issues or any of that. I believe yum offers the same ease of use and I know emerge does as well.

Does Suse or Mandrake offer a package management system?

It might also help to install whatever distro your peers use so you'll have someone local to call and ask for help.