Topic: Battle of the Linux Distros

[sam]

In theory, any computer running Linux can be custom-built and tweaked down to the very last bit. In reality, a first-time Linux user wants to grab an install CD, get a working desktop, and do their own thing from there. Lots of Linux distributions make claims about being easy to use, fast, or stable, but what does that mean for a non-programmer trying out a Linux system for the first time? Today we're taking a look at the real differences between three popular distributions of open-source software, and offering our readers their chance to weigh in on why they like their own particular open-source OS.

http://lifehacker.com/5054510/battle-of-the-linux-distros

[Simon]

That will be interesting for when I get home.  Presumably, I could use any flavour of Linux on this litte EeePC thing?  Or not?

[sam]

yep.... just ubuntu has a nice guide... but then again I think quite a few of them have now

[Simon]

The guide didn't bloody help me!  What I want is a Windows-like UI, and not have to learn a new language.  I can handle a package manager, but that's about it. 

[sam]

I don't understand - Ubuntu does. And even with windows you occasionally have to get your hands dirty.

[Simon]

I suppose it does, Sam, but you still have to know all this 'sudo' stuff.  Or perhaps I've got that impression from mixing in Linux circles?  I don't like the Eee PC anyway.  The keyboard is too small, for some reason I find the mousepad hard to use, and the thing keeps freezing on me for a few seconds, more often than not, when using it here on Pals.  I'm guessing it needs more RAM, but I wouldn't spend any more money on it.

[Reno]

I couldn't even install ubuntu on this machine. It gave me a crapload of errors at the shell prompt when I tried. Stuck in the windows cd and it went on through. I intended to put linux on this one, but I didn't feel like fighting the linux install for several days just to use it.

[GillE]

Linux in all its forms is still too geeky for general use.  Which is really sad.

[sam]

I suppose it does, Sam, but you still have to know all this 'sudo' stuff.  Or perhaps I've got that impression from mixing in Linux circles? 

well I can't argue with you that you need to do some commandline stuff... and sudo is just superuser, for security you as the normal user can't do certain tasks.

I couldn't even install ubuntu on this machine. It gave me a crapload of errors at the shell prompt when I tried. Stuck in the windows cd and it went on through. I intended to put linux on this one, but I didn't feel like fighting the linux install for several days just to use it.

New machine? If so that's odd... I wonder if your download / burn was correct?

Linux in all its forms is still too geeky for general use.  Which is really sad.

I'm not so sure (but I'm a big geek so...  ) - I think its just everyone is locked in this Microsoft mentality of things. People are hard to change to something new. If I gave you a machine that was boxed with Linux on it, now you could just use it without having todo anything fancy. Hell Mac OS X is just a prettier version (though built from BSB and not Unix)... but then again my gnome desktop looks fairly swish.