BEST Linux for newbies?

Delmarc · 08-26-2003, 03:13 PM

Okay... I know this is sort of a generic question, coz I know different flavours of Linux are catered according to different people's needs. But what is the best Linux distribution, available for download, thats best catered for the newbie? Something that's not difficult to get working and will give me a proper, general feel for Linux?

DrOzz · 08-26-2003, 03:17 PM

mandrake or redhat will fit that descriptor

sorrodos · 08-26-2003, 03:18 PM

I'd say Mandrake, its easier to set up than RH in my view.

dmx9595 · 08-26-2003, 03:31 PM

Id definitely say Redhat over Mandrake, Redhat is the most popular newbie distro ever and I do think most used newbie distro ever as well but not 100% sure

BongFish · 08-26-2003, 03:42 PM

Mandrake 9.1, it's easy to use, setup and looks great.

Although there's LOADS of GUI's for setting stuff up make an effort to learn how to use the command line and don't rely on the GUI's. You'll get WAY more out of linux that way.

Move onto another distro such as Gentoo, Debian or Slackware ASAP.

Hope this helps.

Skyline · 08-26-2003, 03:47 PM

Mandrake 9.1 is a good choice for a new Linux user.

You can check out all the major Linux distributions and more at Distrowatch.

Click here to go to Distrowatch

Slakje · 08-26-2003, 03:58 PM

Kind of depends on what you want-- In my opninion there are two newbie linux users:

1. The one who really wants to learn Linux. In that case, Mandrake and Red Hat are good choices.
2. The one who just wants a replacement for Windows. In that case, go for Lycoris, or Lindows (but Lindows will cost you money...

)

Just my opinion though...

Trinity22 · 08-26-2003, 04:24 PM

jamd linux

think of it as redhat 9.0 lite. very much catered to a noob but you can still learn in it.

trinity

zsejk · 08-26-2003, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slakje
1. The one who really wants to learn Linux. In that case, Mandrake and Red Hat are good choices.

For that option, may I perchance suggest Slackware?

It's really easy to install if you happen to have all easy-cheesy hardware bits, and if not.. well, you'll learn A LOT. But in any case, Slackware gets you closer to truly learning about Linux, much more so than either RedHat or Mandrake. That said... for true newbies who really just want to try out Linux I'd say go with Mandrake. It has one of the easiest installs I've ever come across (well, installing Mac OS X 10.2 was easier, but you get my drift

).

-zsejk

xak · 08-26-2003, 06:00 PM

i'm using ALT (www.altlinux.org) It's multilanguage-newbie

friendly (English, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Ukranian, Belorussian) ...

Slakje · 08-27-2003, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zsejk
For that option, may I perchance suggest Slackware?

Of course

But hey, I believe it is safer to use MDK/RH first, for a couple of weeks, to safely get to know the command prompt and so on.

You dont plundge your child into the ocean to learn him how to swim, now do you?

tyccea · 08-27-2003, 02:40 AM

SuSE 8.0 was really easy for me to navigate gui-wise. I have old, slow hardware & a voodoo card - but all works fine.

bxxxr · 08-27-2003, 03:28 AM

I think Knoppix Linux is easy for newbie.
It's only one CD !

zsejk · 08-27-2003, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slakje
You dont plundge your child into the ocean to learn him how to swim, now do you?

Dunno... I might.

-zsejk

fancypiper · 08-27-2003, 12:27 PM

# Linux Distribution links:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions