Linux

[Sexy Beast]

I'm planning on setting up a dual boot with linux and xp. I'm wondering which version of Linux to go with. As of right now in between Ubuntu and KDE.

 

[Beta]

ubuntu, theres kubuntu if you prefer the KDE side of things.

 

[Havegooda {A|R}]

Ubuntu, easiest to start with.

KDE isn't a distro, it's a desktop environment.

~Gooda~

 

[/dev/null]

kubuntu is ubuntu that defaults to KDE, a fork from the gnome based ubuntu.

Another option is Centos. (centos.org) Tis the RHEL/OEL 'commercial' distribution of Linux, built from the source RPMs and a 5 year life time. Free as in beer, and most of the commercial applications will deploy to it. If you want to do a base/router install and add X Windows (and gnome or kde) after the fact, using yum...

# yum groupinstall "X Window System"
# yum groupinstall "X Window System" "GNOME Desktop Environment"
# yum groupinstall "X Window System" "KDE (K Desktop Environment)"

What sort of hardware you installing on? Laptop, desktop?

 

[Die Geheimwaffe]

I'm a linux beginner and I find Fedora just as easy to use as Ubuntu. So if you don't like Ubuntu that is an alternative. I would stick with one of those two since they seem to be the most popular and easiest to find help for.

 

[xenophek]

I like Ubuntu because it's easy to use, and I prefer OpenSuse because it's dead sexy.

 

[KyanWan]

I like Slackware - I've been running a build of it for about 8 years now. It runs on a computer I heisted out of the trash.

For a main desktop - I like Debian. It's got a ton of precompiled stuff you can APT -GET into your system, and have all the functionality you could ever hope for. Plus it's got all the stuff of a Slack or Redhat build almost right out the box. Nice.

Ubuntu - if you're new, just go with that. Very friendly, very simple. Don't fear the console either - it's your friend - and the fastest way to administer your computer if you happen to be on the other side of the world ... or 40 miles away ... or just downstairs - and you're too lazy to get up.

 

[Morbid #2 - Banned]

Fedora or Ubuntu.... I prefer Fedora. <333

 

[HanoverFist]

If you're doing it to learn about Linux, use Gentoo. Do a stage 2 or 3 install (1 if you're feeling ballsy). You'll learn plenty. If not then...you should probably go with Fedora or just stick to Windows.

 

[CrankCantankerous]

If you're doing it to learn about Linux, use Gentoo. Do a stage 2 or 3 install (1 if you're feeling ballsy). You'll learn plenty. If not then...you should probably go with Fedora or just stick to Windows.

Or Slack, which still forces you in a lot of cases to do custom compiles for things and modify the default configs to get what you want, pushing you in to understanding the way things work a bit more.

I used to use Slack exclusively, but now that I work for a big company, they use Red Hat on our servers and I use FC9 on my laptops and desktop, though I think if I weren't going for consistency I'd probably be using ubuntu.

 

[KyanWan]

I started off on Slack and got a good strong understanding of linux out of it. I stand by what you just said - if you want to learn linux good - try slack. There's even disc builds (zipslack) that you can boot off a portable disc - you can try it without installing it. Learn at your own pace. It'll be a bit hard to start, but if you stick with it other builds will be that much easier later.

Our business runs redhat too.

 

[DarkShadow]

Ubuntu was good for me but no replace for Windows.
Because I was concerned for speed and boot time, I went from Vista to XP.

I would say try out Ubuntu. Possibly Fedora9 (haven't tried yet).

EDIT: If your new to Linux, you may wanna try out Damn Small Linux (DSL). I think it is like 56mb and you will get used to the Linux commands and what you need to do to get things to work.

 

[Deacon]

I used BSD and Centos, but for starters I would recommend Ubuntu. Nice and easy.

Gentoo and Debian are great OSs, but they require more exp than "just starting".

Download ubuntu... you won't regret it.