first installation of linux which one should i opt

V

hi guys this is the first time i have decided to install linux on my computer.i am not able to decide which distro should i install .i am comfortable with computers but still i want to install a distro which is easy . i have most of the distro provided by digit . sorry if there is any thread on this topic already.
thanks.

Ubuntu is the one

you want

.... Fedora is a second choice.

Ubuntu Feisty Fawn 7.04 or Simply Mepis.or if your sure-get Debian Lenny.

Ubuntu

The Difference

There are many different operating systems based on Linux:
Debian, SuSE, Gentoo, RedHat, and Mandriva are examples.
Ubuntu is yet another contender in what
is already a highly competitive world. So what makes
Ubuntu different?

Based on Debian, one of the most widely acclaimed,
technologically advanced, and well-supported
distributions, Ubuntu
aims to create a distribution that provides
an up-to-date and coherent Linux system for desktop and
server computing. Ubuntu includes a number of carefully
selected packages from the Debian distribution and
retains its powerful package management system which
allows easy installation and clean removal of programs. Unlike most
distributions that ship with a large amount of software
that may or may not be of use, Ubuntu's list of packages
is reduced to a number of important applications of high
quality.

By focusing on quality, Ubuntu produces a robust and
feature-rich computing environment that is suitable for
use in both home and commercial environments. The
project takes the time required to focus on finer
details and is able to release a version featuring the
latest and greatest of today's software once every 6
months.

Install either Ubuntu 7.4 Feisty Fawn or Mandriva.

as i tooo installed the linux first time i wud sugg u mandriva linux

guyz which distro for me ?? i hv 196 MB Ram.......installing ubuntu via live CD is impossible......upgrade in jan 08...so plzz dont say upgrade !!

If you are a newbie to Linux, you are going to have a TON of problems on your very first go. Therefore, you will need a helluva lot of community support and documentation to help you get through your teething troubles. So, for that reason ONLY, I feel a newbie should choose Ubuntu.

Otherwise, if anything goes wrong with it, Ubuntu is a bloody pain in the ass to configure. An excellent alternative is Linux Mint (*www.linuxmint.com)...its MUCH more user friendly, has a lot more functionality out of the box, and is fully compatible with all Ubuntu software.

Meri baat maan yaar, Ubuntu is gaand mein dum...I tried it like 3-4 times before I got the hang of it. WAY too much stuff to download and configure after every install...NONE of that needed with Linux Mint.

@aks_win: For your configuration, I would suggest PuppyLinux or even Damn Small Linux...the Live CD should boot fine with 192 MB as the total size of these two distros is less than 100 MB!!

If you are an advanced user, install Debian Lenny with a minimal netinstal...then add programs as you go along for a minimal, lean system. Also, check out ZenWalk...excellent distro, light on memory requirements...

^^^ ok thanks....i will try DSL....am in VTU i need music and internet and C prog and Unix and shell prog.......and also chat !!

if i can do all this i will stick to DSL...i will also try Linspire !!

i just need linux for my learning purposes for VTU that is !! i think u must too be in VTU....we hv this unix shell prog right in 3rd Sem

@aks_win

Xubuntu to ur rescue

yup.. Go xubuntu.. Xfce is very light

@aks_win, now different people will tell u to install different distro.... then at d end u would get confused which one to install.

by chane if u get confused only then look at this thread.... other wise dont look at it.

*www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63401

if ur talking about ur college Distro,,, then in labs they'll use Fedora core for programmin. But same programming can be done on other distro also if u have g++, c , c++ compiler and u'll need lex and yacc also in ur college... lex and yacc is not available in other distros... so u'll have to download and install them. But by default it comes along with Fedora core.

but FC7 or even FC6 will be a killer for this hardware. ubuntu and fc are good distros. u can't haf fc so the next best option is ubuntu. but even thats heavy. so xubuntu is the best distro for him

he won't haf any problem, i'm sure. atleast basic things like c compiler come installed.... so no hunting required

ok am now really getting confused !! looks like i will now try the following

1. xubuntu
2. dsl
3. linspire.........they say it works on my comp
4. fedcore last !!

aks_win said:
ok am now really getting confused !! looks like i will now try the following

1. xubuntu
2. dsl
3. linspire.........they say it works on my comp
4. fedcore last !!

dont try anything and waste ur time... just install xubuntu... thats all. Listen to me... It will run much faster, like others suggested. xubuntu is perfect for u.

^^^^ ok done thanks ! will do that as soon as i get it !

@aks_win

i second vish's suggestion. chuck everything and jus install xubuntu. light and fast.. and gets everything done

for the thread starter: linux mint is the answer

Linspire,xandros-dont try these-both are like trial version time bomb

get real distros like other ppl here answered.

thnx infra and vish......xubuntu is underdownload...jus waiting for it !!

^ I wouldve suggested Zenwalk

. Running great on 128MB RAM.

had problem with ubuntu installation ....
1. ubuntu runs live cd/dvd first then installs some problem with graphics and lot of time
ubuntu is like windows
2. so i have installed fedora ..... easy install with large package .... red hat stuff ......
ps both ubuntu and fedora from digit dvd

zenwalk ok !! but then when i get xubuntu why that 1 ?? i hv to download that too now..bad

don't bother downloading that unless you run into serious problems which i don't think will happen. xubuntu will run jus fine on ur system. if some distro doesn't work on ur system, u haf 2 options:

1) troubleshoot the problem and make sure that it never occurs again.

2) try out other distros which work out of the box

ps: i'd got wid option 1 anyday!

Hey guys, i am thinking of installin ubuntu 64bit on my athlon 3200+ 2.0GHz

Is it ideal as this is the first time i will be installing linux. I have a friend who will be helping me out with this. My primary requirement is connecting to the internet via airtel gprs as that is the only connection i am having.

Any suggestions?

^^^ go ahead wid it

@pushkaraj: Don't...if you are getting vanilla 64 bit Ubuntu, you will have to download almost 300 MB of stuff in updates, build-essential packages, third party applications (like Amarok for instance...I always get this) and third party closed-sources multimedia codecs...

If you are on a GPRS connection, take my advice...either get Linux Mint (which includes all the stuff you would otherwise have to download on that painfully slow and unreliable GPRS connection) or get some other out of the box distro like Sabayon which includes proprietary drivers, codecs, loads of applications etc etc...in fact, just get Sabayon...the new 3.4 edition is out and it lets you choose which packages to install...you can customise which packages you want, you can have Gnome running (like Ubuntu) and you don't have to mess about with updates and things like that for a bit...

PS: Get the 3.4e edition...its more recent and incorporates updates.

Here's a link:
*mirror.internode.on.net/pub/sabayonlinux/SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.4e.iso

@infra_red_dude, thanx for your go-ahead-signal.

@faraaz, thanx for your suggestion bro. Actually i had told one of my friends(who is on an unlimited internet connection), to download the ubuntu distro as someone had suggested me before i posted in this topic. Anyways as my friend is going to help me with the installation, i would give ubuntu a try. And if things really don't work out as expected(especially the airtel gprs thing), then there is always this link that you have provided. Faraaz ,mate, don't misunderstand me. I really appreciate your effort of guiding me and posting the download link.

Ubuntu or Saboyan

or Mandriva for Uber n00bs

like me ;

infra_red_dude said:
don't bother downloading that unless you run into serious problems which i don't think will happen. xubuntu will run jus fine on ur system. if some distro doesn't work on ur system, u haf 2 options:

1) troubleshoot the problem and make sure that it never occurs again.

2) try out other distros which work out of the box

ps: i'd got wid option 1 anyday!

@aks_win...
same here... what infra said..... i too would opt for 1st options.....

if ur installing ubuntu then go for ubuntu 32 bit... coz since ur newbie u will have prob for installing softwares..... ubuntu 32 bit and 64 bit work with same speed if ram is low.

if ur goin for Linux Mint... 32 bit and 64 bit is not an issue then.

Dunno why but the only live distro that can detect my TV Tuner(Pinnacle) + Sound Card (Realtec AC'97) + Partitions (FAT32) (Yes even partition) is Dyne;bolic.
So I suggest that...to anyone who want a multimedia capable live linux.

M

infra_red_dude said:
but FC7 or even FC6 will be a killer for this hardware. ubuntu and fc are good distros. u can't haf fc so the next best option is ubuntu. but even thats heavy. so xubuntu is the best distro for him he won't haf any problem, i'm sure. atleast basic things like c compiler come installed.... so no hunting required

Why not F7 + xfce?
If I remember right, fedora DVD does come with xfce.
So, ones with lower RAM can always install xfce without having to go online.

i'm not sure abt it mehul, so didn't suggest that. also personally i feel fedora is bloated.

M

infra_red_dude said:
i'm not sure abt it mehul, so didn't suggest that. also personally i feel fedora is bloated.

It's mostly the unnecessary services usually. And somewhat the extra processes that KDE/GNOME run. You don't usually find them under XFCE.
So, F7 + XFCE - all unneeded services = no bloat

mehulved said:
It's mostly the unnecessary services usually. And somewhat the extra processes that KDE/GNOME run. You don't usually find them under XFCE.
So, F7 + XFCE - all unneeded services = no bloat

True, also you can go the sevices menu & disable those

^^^ thats ok for someone who's used linux befotr. for a first timer, imho, it'll only scare him/her away!!!