Which Linux?

[andyhui01]

I've decided I am going to install Linux on the spare computer I have lying around, my question is which has the best GUI, I'm not into programming so I don't need it to be able to edit the code in the OS, I just want to use it for fun and try out Linux.
I have basically narrowed it down to SUse, Mandrake and RedHat.
could one of you techies put down the pros and cons of each one and tell me which has the best software compatibility and GUI as well?... thx alot

[MXM]

RedHat is now Fedora Core, latest version is 3 I think.
And that's the choise I made, basicly because of huge amount of users -> easier to find solutions for problems (and there is ALWAYS problems for the first time ) and almost any program is available as RPM -> easy to install. But basicly all linuxes are compatible, and most programs are open source, so if you have no problem constantly reading manuals, you will be fine.
I've managed to install FC3, P2P programs , web server, vnc (it's on the box with no monitor/input, only LAN) with only 2 reinstalls and no previous experience in installing linux. Works like a clock, I used to have win2000 on that box, and had to reboot it once in couple of weeks maybe, and linux has been up 4 months with no problems

Anyway, that's just a newbie's opinion, I'm sure there are some more experienced people around in the forum

[andyhui01]

Originally Posted by MXM

I used to have win2000 on that box, and had to reboot it once in couple of weeks maybe

my old windows 2000 box had to be re-booted exactly every 29 days ..... but how is the GUI on Redhat, because i recently tried a friends SusE linux and the GUI was amazing, almost mancintosh standards

[MXM]

GUI is very user-friendly. You don't even have to use console, almost everything can be done through menus. I used KDE, but now I switched some much lighter GUI (I don't remember which one, but it sux ), because there's a 266MHz PII CPU in the box and I don't have to use it that much..

[fnorre]

I'd also recommend Fedora Core (www.fedora.redhat.com), you can choose from FC3 (release) or FC4 Test 1 (latest beta). Simply because it's totally free, and very easy to get support due to huge userbase. See www.fedoraforum.org , www.fedoranews.org , www.fedoratracker.org , and so on. Freshrpms (www.freshrpms.net) is a good place to get all the extra stuff you'd need for playing your movies/music.

Torrents for FC3/FC4:
http://torrent.dulug.duke.edu/

You can choose between Gnome and KDE as your GUI (i.e. window manager), or the ligher/faster/better(?) but simpler Xfce4. If you like it pretty and looking like Windows/Mac, you probably want KDE. This is also the same as SUSE and Mandrake use as default.

Cons and Pros... they're all the same!

SUSE is kind of nice, but kind of commercial, so you won't get everything for free. Also, there's a lot of Germans using it, so a lot of support info on the web might be in German... Don't have much experience with Mandrake.

[swek]

I've gave Linux about tone chance so far and it let me down. Don't misunderstand me. I don't want to flame Linux. In fact I think it is the best solution, if you know what you're doing.

I consider myself an advanced PC user, I grew up with DOS, I build my own PC's and have no problem maintaining it, but Linux was too much. The version I gave a chance was Red Hat 9. I got it because I was so annoyed by the constant security risks under XP that I decided to switch.

The installation process itself went pretty smooth. You're guided through a neat graphical interface, that provides you with all the information you need. I thought to myself: "Hey, this is pretty convenient to use. It might be the best alternative afte all"
After everythin has been installed, I've booted my machine for the first time. It took a little longer than XP, but that might have been caused by missing optimization on my side.

What really turned me away was the fussiness of the software. My first task was to install Firefox on my machine. Pretty easy you say, well not exactly. You can download little packages for the OS. They basicly work like .exe files. Just clink on it and you should be ready.
I downloaded the file, klicked on it and....nothing happened. I don't know why, and I've never found out, because I've somehow managed to install it manually.

I saved the files in the right folder (This is very important as far as I understood it). The file to start was there, I could click it and it started. Fine then you say ?, no ! not at all.
I wanted FF to be accessible through the task bar, where all the Internet stuff is located, but Red Hat didn't liked the idea. I simply couldn't find a way to do it, and to this day I don't know you create folders there. You dont get a hint anywhere how to do it. Every time I wanted to start FF I had to navigate through the folders.

While this sounds not so bad and might have been resolved by some research on my side, it is the following problem that made me switch back to XP. I have a D-Link network card, which is pretty common around here.The problem was that Red Hat wasn't able to recognize it. Therefor I couldn't access the Internet. I've read in a forum that you have to download alternative drivers and integrate them into the system. I gave it a try and I failed miserably.

To sum it up, here's what I've learned:
Don't expect it to be a walk in the Park. You need to familiarize yourself with Linux.
Problems will arise, you will be faced with programs/methods you've never seen before.
You will realize that it is Open source. No focus groups worked on it to make it convenient for the average user.

I've left with an insight into the way my father must see PC's. I felt incapable and unable to execute the things I've wanted my machine to do.