| Easy to use Linux/Unix for a newbie I would like to know what version of Linux/Unix is best for a total newbie?
Also which is the most simple 'Package Manager' to use and offers the most supported and 3rd party software? Something with a GUI would be nice. 
I'm thinking of reinstalling Windows 7 anyway but I would like an opinion of a secondary O/S for a dual boot system. For hardware support the kernel would have to be 64 bit because I have 12GB of ram. For graphics something that should look really fancy and nice so it can put my 4850 to work. 
The kernel should support an multi core CPU because of my i7 920.
The gaming would be done in Windows anyway and the secondary O/S would just be for a learning experience mostly. |
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 graysonfPremium,MVM
join:1999-07-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Ubuntu or Mint might be at the top of the list. |
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| said by graysonf:Ubuntu or Mint might be at the top of the list.
Which version? I know for Ubuntu there is the default GNOME, KUbuntu KDE desktop, XUbuntu XFCE desktop, LUbuntu LXDE desktop. Not sure what flavors Mint will come in though. |
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graysonfPremium,MVM
join:1999-07-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL | You'll have to pick one depending on how well you like or dislike any particular desktop environment. |
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| reply to robman50
Install Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS either 32 or 64 bit according to your hardware. |
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| reply to graysonf
said by graysonf:You'll have to pick one depending on how well you like or dislike any particular desktop environment.
Well I think Lubuntu and Xubuntu are aimed at low-end systems so they are out.  |
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| reply to Derspankster
said by Derspankster:Install Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS either 32 or 64 bit according to your hardware.
Dumb question but wouldn't 11.10 be better? |
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graysonfPremium,MVM
join:1999-07-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL | reply to robman50
No, they are also aimed at those who like lightweight desktop environments that are significantly more responsive regardless of the hardware they are running on. |
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| reply to robman50
I have seen a few other systems out there that are aimed for home desktop users. How would PC-BSD be for me?
And really, Ubuntu 11.10 is aimed as a lightweight desktop? I did not know that. Maybe it's designed not to use as much RAM as 10.04?
Also for installing, I would have to install Windows first and then Ubuntu correct? |
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| Ubuntu hasn't come with a proper GNOME implementation since 10.10. 11.04 and on is better for tablets an smartphones than "desktop" computers (laptops included). They keep moving in that direction. Yes, there is a market for that, but not if you want a proper desktop computer.
If your comp is relatively new (2-3 years or less), you can also run Linux Mint 12. It runs GNOME Shell, but with some of their extensions, it feels pretty much like old GNOME and even uses some new GNOME features that can be useful to the advanced user as well as a newb.
My computer is a little too old for that so GNOME Shell wasn't running smoothly, so I ended up running XFCE on my Mint 12 box. First time around it took me a while to tweak in order to function/feel like GNOME 2.x but now it does and it's a lot easier on the resources than GNOME Shell.
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grunze510
join:2009-02-14
Cote Saint-Luc, QC
kudos:1 | reply to robman50
said by robman50:I have seen a few other systems out there that are aimed for home desktop users. How would PC-BSD be for me?
And really, Ubuntu 11.10 is aimed as a lightweight desktop? I did not know that. Maybe it's designed not to use as much RAM as 10.04?
Also for installing, I would have to install Windows first and then Ubuntu correct?
No, I think graysonf was saying that Xubuntu and Lubuntu are lightweight.
Ubuntu main 11.10 says that it needs 384MB of RAM to install (it's in the release notes), but I think it would probably be crazy slow, not to mention that anyone with that little RAM probably has a 10 year old processor as well. I think Unity would probably run fine with 1GB of RAM. But as you said, your hardware is overkill.
And yes, install Windows first. |
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 firephotoKDEPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA
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| reply to robman50
»www.kubuntu.org/news/11.10-release
It has all the software that Ubuntu has just the different desktop. It has all the knobs, all the bells, all the whistles (or none if choose).
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| reply to robman50
said by robman50:I have seen a few other systems out there that are aimed for home desktop users. How would PC-BSD be for me?
PC-BSD is not Linux. It's FreeBSD. I have not installed that in many years but I was going to do that this week, coincidentally, to see what it was like cause I was reading a forum where people were talking about how good it's become. |
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 J E F FWhatta Ya Think About Dat?Premium
join:2004-04-01
Kitchener, ON | reply to robman50
Re: Easy to use Linux/Unix for a newbie I'll raise my hand for Mint. While you're at it, try installing WINE. |
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| said by J E F F:I'll raise my hand for Mint. While you're at it, try installing WINE.
Don't install WINE unless you absolutely need to run certain Windows programs. If there are GNU/Linux alternatives that will work well for you, use them instead.
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 SnakeoilIgnore Button. The coward's feature.Premium
join:2000-08-05
Mentor, OH
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| reply to robman50
Never mind, I over looked the part where you wanted to dual boot. The following doesn't apply.
I have a PC that has nothing but ubuntu on it. I never use windows on that machine, unless i can get it to run under Ubuntu using playonlinux and wine.
So far the only one program I wanted to run, runs well. That is world of warcraft.
The second program was for grins, and that was steam. Steam runs fine, but I have yet to get any of the games to run.
But no big deal.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?. |
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| reply to robman50
So I installed Ubuntu 64 bit of 11.10 and took all the updates after Windows 7 64 bit was up and running. My next question is how do I configure GRUB to boot in to Windows by default instead of automaticly booting Ubuntu?
And just in case I get tired of Ubuntu, how do I remove it and still keep the existing Windows installation? |
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 MaxoYour tax dollars at work.Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL | reply to FiReSTaRT
said by FiReSTaRT:Ubuntu hasn't come with a proper GNOME implementation since 10.10. Ubuntu 11.10 ships with Gnome3 libraries and Gnome Shell installed by default. |
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MaxoYour tax dollars at work.Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL | reply to robman50
said by robman50:So I installed Ubuntu 64 bit of 11.10 and took all the updates after Windows 7 64 bit was up and running. My next question is how do I configure GRUB to boot in to Windows by default instead of automaticly booting Ubuntu?
And just in case I get tired of Ubuntu, how do I remove it and still keep the existing Windows installation?
If you already had Windows installed when you installed Ubuntu then it should already be listed in the Grub list.
To change what boots by default, change /etc/default/grub and point GRUB-DEFAULT= to the number that is Windows.
After you do that run update-grub:
sudo gedit /etc/default/grub
sudo update-grub
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