I am Going Linux, but which one?

reply to post by BigBrotherBear


Is Mint a version of Ubuntu?

Do you have any favorite sites for Noobs?

reply to post by Tygart

Mint is a Debian distro running (usually) the KDE. There are literally dozens of sites for noobs on Linux.

Here's an article on Maximum PC
www.maximumpc.com...

reply to post by BigBrotherBear


So if I download Ubuntu with the KDE desktop, will it look like the Mint with KDE.

reply to post by Tygart

Ubuntu has it's own taskbar, but they are pretty much the same. My suggestion, as I've said is Ubuntu, it's a great little distro. I haven't tried mint myself, but I'm installing it to a VM now to check it out.

Click to enlarge



Like Ubunut, it has a package and software manager and a very clean interface. I'd say it's a good distro for you brother.

Click to enlarge



GIMP, OpenOffice, FireFox, Thunderbird, and VLC are included in the installation.

reply to post by BigBrotherBear


Which Mint is that? The task bar looks different?

I like the looks of all of this, but I am a little worried my graphics will not get any better. I am into photography.

Thanks for all the help!

www.linuxmint.com...

Use the Live DVD version (x64 if your processor supports it).

Uses the GNOME desktop instead of the KDE. That's why it looks different.

reply to post by BigBrotherBear


I have an AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile.Does that mean I can get the 64 DVD?

reply to post by Tygart


Perfect, and yes.

reply to post by Tygart


I suggest Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.
It runs perfectly fine on mostly everything (use Ubuntu 9.04 if you have a slow computer).
Ubuntu also runs fine inside VirtualBox.

Originally posted by Tygart
reply to post by BigBrotherBear

 

So if I download Ubuntu with the KDE desktop, will it look like the Mint with KDE.

Kind of, yes.
KUbuntu = with KDE
Ubuntu = with GNOME

Ubuntu 11 will have a new windows handler and stuff, so that one will look completely different.

Originally posted by Tygart
What is the KDE desktop or LXDE desktop?

edit on 20-4-2011 by Tygart because: (no reason given)

KDE is a heavy duty desktop.
LXDE is a small lightweight desktop handler.
GNOME is the golden middle way...

reply to post by tomten


Thanks Tom, I already made the switch, I am using Mint with the KDE desktop, this computer is so fast now its crazy.

From what I read Mint is apart of Ubuntu.

reply to post by Tygart


Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" is out for those who want the new "Unity" desktop.

Click to enlarge

reply to post by BigBrotherBear


Are you using Unity, BBB ? If so, how are you finding it ?

I upgraded to Natty Narwhal last night, the upgrade was pain free but I'm finding Unity a bit problematical. It's difficult to customise, that's my biggest gripe right now.

I upgraded Ubuntu a few days ago myself and don't like NN nearly as much as the previous version. On top of the lack of flexibility previously mentioned, it just doesn't do certain things as well (speed). I'm sure this will get ironed out eventually but still..

The launcher popping out all the time when your on the left side of the screen doing something is annoying too, yes there are ways to minimize it but not eliminate it.

Does anyone know of a fairly painless way to switch back? I looked just a little on the forums and it doesn't seem as easy as one might think.

Originally posted by beezwaxes
I upgraded Ubuntu a few days ago myself and don't like NN nearly as much as the previous version. On top of the lack of flexibility previously mentioned, it just doesn't do certain things as well (speed). I'm sure this will get ironed out eventually but still..

The launcher popping out all the time when your on the left side of the screen doing something is annoying too, yes there are ways to minimize it but not eliminate it.

Does anyone know of a fairly painless way to switch back? I looked just a little on the forums and it doesn't seem as easy as one might think.

edit on 5/2/2011 by beezwaxes because: hopefully, clarity

edit on 5/2/2011 by beezwaxes because: (no reason given)

Why not check out Mint KDE or Mint Gnome? With KDE you can make it anyway you want, you can disable just about anything annoying.

reply to post by Tygart


I think that's what I'm going to do, thanks. It's just that I had my old version of Ubuntu set up very comfortably and if there was a 'wayback button' I'd sure use it.

Additionally, if Ubuntu continues with the "we know what's best" programming, they are probably going to lose a lot of people.

Edit "Sorry I will repost later."

reply to post by Tygart


Just regarding running all these live distro's from a USB - I find using Unetbootin really straight forward to put them to USB, it works with almost all Linux distro's (I seem to remember I had a problem with one of them... can't remember the specifics but an earlier version of unetbootin got around that.

It's cool cos you can ise the ISO's you have already downloaded or you can just select the latest version from the drop down list and It'll go and download that one for you as the first step in making a bootable USB.

Should save you burning off a ton of disks

reply to post by beezwaxes


When your computer boots up & you get to the log in screen, you'll see at the bottom that it's logging you into Ubuntu. Click on that Ubuntu tab at the bottom and you'll be given more options ... one is Ubuntu Classic ... it's still NN but with a more "conventional" look to it (i.e. no Unity).