Distribution for newbie (not for me)
 

Hello!

I'm looking for a good distribution that can be used by newbie/non-power-user. Distribution isn't for me (I'm slackware 12 user, not newbie (a lot of programming/computer experience), and although I'm happy with slackware, that system won't be suitable for anyone), I'm looking for something to replace slackware 12 on one of family member's computer (user don't like slackware much, and won't learn it). I've installed ubuntu 8.04 here, but I've run into several troubles (which I didn't like) during installation, so now I'm thinking about something better/something else.

The only thing I can think about right now is Debian (I've heard about it, but never used it). Are there some other alternatives?

System configuration:
AMD Athlon 900 mhz "Thunderbird" CPU.
DFI AD75 Motherboard (Via chipset).
512 mb DDR1 RAM.
GeForce 5200FX.
40Gb IDE HDD (Barracuda ST4300** or something).
Optiarc (?) DVD-RW.
128kbit/sec ADSL internet access (some "local" resources of my ISP are available at speed about 8Mbit/sec, and some of them offer repositories - mostly gentoo, maybe debian/ubuntu, no slackware.) Traffic is unlimited.

Machine is used for:
1) Internet Surfing.
2) Watching Videos (DVD, sometimes avi - no x264 1280x1024 videos, DivX/XVID at most)
3) Listening to music (Mp3).

Typically used software:
Amarok (something simpler (that just can play directory and nothing more) will do, since user have trouble operating library when need to play audio CD's and such), Web-browser(Opera, but I think firefox will do), Kaffeine (since "play on disk insert" is required), Mplayer, K3b (rarely)

Distribution requirements:
1) Free of price.
2) Available for download (bittorrent, http, ftp - anything that can provide above 128kbit/sec (13.8kB/s) downloading speed))
3) Support for mp3's and proprietary must be available. Either in distribution on in repositories.
4) Should use package manager with dependency checking/automatic software download. (User won't be able to compile software from source, at least now. And I don't want to do this on not my own system.) Something like apt-get should be fine.
5) Localized in russian. (I prefer english, but that won't be my system).
6) Low internet connection requirements. Current 128kbit/s link is shared by two computers, so I don't want other pc to eat all available banwidth downloading updates (currently second PC is connected to my system, which acts at proxy, but I'm planning to install unmanaged(?) switch between ADSL modem and two machines, so traffic shaping/balancing won't be possible).
7) Doesn't require much maintenance/attention from me (since I'm "kind of" system administrator). I can spend some time compiling packages(solving awkaward problems, etc) for my own system, but I don't want to do this for someone else.
8) Doesn't require much computer experience to operate/install software. I can spend a day installing system, but after that I'd like to get something where "normal"(i.e. novice with "windows" some experience) user can work (ideally this includes installing his own software) without asking many questions.

what can you recommend? It's certainly not slackware or gentoo(those are not for newbies), mandriva or opensuse(not free of price). I've tried redhat, mandrake some time ago, but they are too old and not for newbies. What else can be used?

P.S. I'd like to hear from people who have experience installing Linux systems for novices, and not "try 100 distributions and use the one which suits you" replies, since I've already found "my own" distribution (slackware), it just isn't suitable for everyone else.

ubuntu is my distro suggestion of choice for anyone that doesnt care for a CLI. and 8.04 is top notch. being that you mentioned ubuntu and some issues with the install, I guess you may want to try something else. so look at DSL or puppy. both run from CD and have GUI installers.

PClinuxOS. I've installed this for 5 newbies so far and no problems reported. Easy to use. Uses apt-get, and it just works :) Check it out here: http://www.pclinuxos.com (It's a fork of Mandriva).

BTW: What do you mean by "Mandriva not free of price"

I currently think one of the best looking distros is OpenSuSe (don't flame me for the Novell thing). I find Yast a little clunky (that's the update manager amongst other things). I use this and CentOS on desktops (plus a raft of others for fun), but tend to find CentOS a little outdated/too stable (for example, it still uses firefox 1.5)

My 2c

Thanks for the suggestion, will take a look at them. (How system installs doesn't really matter - it can be pure CLI, since I'll be installing it. It simply must be easy to use *after* installation)

Thanks, sounds interesting.

As I know mandriva 2007, 2008 powerpack edition contains proprietary software (Cedega, Kaspersky Antivirus, something else), and can't (or shouldn't) be easily copied around, since it isn't fully GPL. Someone on local linux forums asked their officials if downloading powerpack from bittorrent is legal and answer was "No" (I could try to find and copy letter here, but it is in russian). I saw FreeEdition 2007 (DVD) of mandriva, but didn't quite like it (I got feeling that there is too much software, and too little of it was really usefull - i.e. too many packets on DVD, but almost empty system after installation with nothing useful. It was really windows-like, though, almost exact WinXP clone - visually.), but at that time I was looking for system *for me* and that was more than year ago, so things could change.

Stupid question: is it fully "free of price"? (i.e. without proprietary components which will become "pirated" if I download it from somewhere) I heard that it isn't, but I'm not sure.
(BTW: I don't care much about "Novell thing")

Note quite sure what you mean here. afaik, OpenSuSe is a Novell offshoot.

Edit - see http://en.opensuse.org/Project_Overview

That is true, which is exactly why there is a charge for it. Whereas Mandriva One and Mandriva Spring are free and can be freely copied and distributed.

Nooooo, don't say that :D

I meant that I wasn't sure if it has same copying limitation as mandriva powerpack or not. Description you've provided doesn't say anything about subjectm, but there doesn't seem to be any such limitations (i.e. its GPL or can be freely copied).

What about Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)? Although, it sounds like your problems were due mainly to faulty hardware. Still, it'll be a while before they work out the kinks with the brand new Hardy Heron; in the meantime Gutsy should have fewer problems.

Debian 4.0 is fine, but if you already have problems with the easy way to install the nVidia drivers in Ubuntu, you may like the Debian way even less.

Keyboard layout switching bugs doesn't seem to be not connected to the faulty hardware. I thought about 7.10, I just didn't find installation CD at the time I was installing ubuntu on that system.

I'm a big fan of Ubuntu for newbs. Its just so easy, and there's a massive community out there ready to help. Synaptic, anybody can use if they're willing to put 5min into figuring it out. Tons of repositories out there for Ubuntu, I coud go on and on.

I've put Ubuntu on several people's computers that are new to Linux, and no probs at all. Guess we need to hear more specifically what your prob was w/ Ubuntu, before discrediting it, which I think would be a huge mistake. Your problems in that other thread appear to be you're upset you couldn't install it w/ a broken CD drive, which I don't know how that would be Ubuntu's fault.

Regardless, If you've ruled out Ubuntu, I would look at Debian Etch, which is what Ubuntu spawned from. I would go back to Windows before I used Suse or Mandriva, had numerous probs w/ PCLOS. Centos was ok, I'm just not a fan of Redhat based distros.

IGF

Perhaps the problems you experienced stemmed from your lack of understanding rpm based systems? Just a thought. :)

1) I've privided this link in previous post. There is still no answer in this thread, by the way.
2) Ubuntu is still working on that machine, I've installed Wine, Squid, sshd, Amarok/Mplayer/Kaffeine and bunch of other software, right now I'm testing if it will cause any serious trouble to PC's user or not. I just want to know if there is something better like a cross between slackware ("unfreindliness", ton's of documentation, easy to use for a computer-inclined person) and ubuntu ("friendliness", good for novice user, little documentation (yes, there are documents, but not enough)), because it looks like finding answers for certain ubuntu problem (see layout switching) is a bit more problematic, and I'll have to do some maintenance(and explanations) on that system for some time, until user will learn the way of the system.

I don't want to resurrect that subject/theme/topic here. If you want to discuss it, I recommend to continue in the thread with "installation experience" post (chances are that it'll turn into flamewar, though). Right now I just think that Ubuntu isn't ready for a situations where something breaks halfway during install, and installation isn't flexible enough, there are bugs, although apt-get looks nice, and all idea isn't bad.

Thanks for the advice.

Nothing can beat Linux Mint in terms of get it, install it and forget it. I would even say it's the number one newbie distro out there. It just works. Check it as live cd -> www.linuxmint.com

Though it's based on Ubuntu, but still it's even a worthy competitor to even Ubuntu itself :P. I'm using it for the last 6 months, version 4.0(Daryna) and it rocks! I have never updated my system(except OOo), why do you need updates when everything works..! Try it once, you won't be disappointed :)

Nope. That won't work for him. Check out his requirement #5:


PCLOS is English only at this point.



EVR, if the Russian vs. English issue can be overcome, PCLOS probably IS a good choice. It's very easy to install and use. The only downside is the support forums, which are very poor, but that won't matter to your family member. Sounds like you are the designated support staff! :D