Best Linux for Laptop?

[CowboyHacker]

I recently had the oppurtunity to try a Live CD Knoppix distro of Linux. I loved it.

I want to install Linux on my laptop, either dual boot with Windows, or to replace it all together...

I do have a few bare necessities if I was to replace Windows...
Must be able to support my MiniPCI Broadcom B/G WiFi card
I would like to be able to use Microsoft Office 2003 Professional including FrontPage
IM programs such as AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, and XFire
Windows Media Player 11 or similar
Adobe Photoshop CS
Mozilla FireFox/Internet Explorer 7
Games such as Unreal Tournament 2004, Halo, and CS:S...
BitTorrent
LimeWire
Ventrilo
TeamSpeak
Dial-Up, when my broadband dosen't work...
Laptop battery support

My hardware:
AMD Mobile Sempron 3000+ @ 1.79GHz
512MB RAM with 64MB allocated to video, leaving 484MB sytem RAM
60GB Fujitsu 2.5" HDD
ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M integrated graphics
CD+RW/DVD combo
Broadcom B/G WiFi adapter
integrated modem and Ethernet
CONEXANT AMC '97 audio with integrated speakers and Mic in/headphones out
40GB external HDD
generic 4 port USB hub

I think that is all that matters...


One of my Chinese friends said I should use SuSe, Debian, or Ubuntu. I have an Unbuntu Live CD, and when it fnishes burning, I'll restart and try it. I'll post back results.


Well, thank you in advance! If you have questions or need more information, please ask....

[VHockey86]

I have kubuntu installed on one of my computers and generally recommend it to people - I prefer the KDE desktop over the Gnome desktop (Which is what regular Ubuntu comes with).

My other computers have gentoo on them - but thats definately not a distro for linux beginners.

You are aware that linux doesn't run windows programs out-of-the-box right? There's a program called "Wine" in linux that attempts to duplicate the win32 API and allow you to run windows programs, but IMO it doesnt work well for anything besides trivial applications.

There's a commercial app called CrossOver Office that makes installing and running MS office in linux pretty easy (its an extensin of WINE - which is used to run windows programs in linux). Then there's always Sun's OpenOffice and the KOffice (designed for KDE) suite.

Alot of those programs you wont be able to run - but can find good linux alternatvies for them.

gaim is a great instant messenger, I use it in both windows and linux. No idea about Xfire - but if you intend on gaming at all, I'd stick with a dual-boot configuration.

For video playing, I use mplayer (its alot like vlcplayer in windows). Amarok is a music player that has sort of an iTunes feel - minus the purchasing of music.

The "gimp" is a good alternative to photoshop
Firefox you are all set
UT 2004 has a native install of linux availible, as does quake 4. Don't expect to play hl2, cs:s or halo though.

There are a number of bit torrent clients for linux - azureus comes to mind (although I prefer uTorrent in windows myself)

Limewire...not sure

Ventrilo - Pretty sure they have a linux client, although I havent used it b4

Dialup - Somewhat of a tossup. Most modems these says are mostly software, and finding driver support for your modem isn't a guarantee

[Thunderingthor]

Just my knowledge here Xfire only comes in Windows not Linux

[CowboyHacker]

Ah..
Is it worth installing Linux at all?

I tried the Ubuntu live CD, but it had a major error when starting the GUI, so I tried Knoppix and it works fine, but doesn't recognize my WiFi card...

[originel]

Not detecting hardware isn't as big of a deal in an installed distro since you can usually tweak it to get it to work. I use slackware on my laptop, although slackware is not for novice linux users. I'd give ubuntu a shot...it shouldn't have the same GUI problems when installed.

[GroundZero3]

Like Vhovkey mentioned some games have a linux installer. Personally the last time i tried WINE it was horrible. You could look into trying out transgaming (which is like 55 bucks for the year but they keep it update for games out there)


For Xfire there is a plugin for gaim

its still in the works

http://www.linux-gamers.net/modules/...hp?storyid=841


My 2 cents, if you really big into gaming dont waste your time with linux it really lacks alot in that department. But overall everything else works great!

Plus ATI and linux still have a pretty crappy driver set.

[CowboyHacker]

I tried Ubuntu on my Dell desktop. I like the Knoppix desktop more than the Ubuntu one.

[GroundZero3]

For ubuntu did you use the Gnome verison or the KDE one? Like Vhockey said, kubuntu has kDE like Knoppix

[CowboyHacker]

GNOME I think

[originel]

Oh btw, in addressing your first post, you can't run Photoshop or Internet Explorer (any version). Also most games won't run unless you purchase transgaming's software (and even then not everything will run). Also native IM clients won't run, however there are some open source equivalents such as Gaim.

[CowboyHacker]

Well that sucks...

[GameManK]

LimeWire

Nevermind games and photoshop and possible hardware issues, just because of this ^ I have to say, ideologically, you are not ready for Linux. (And I don't know of a linux alternative for it anyways.)

[CowboyHacker]

I use LimeWire for music I can't find elsewhere...

[MegalosSkylaki]

There are a lot of "Live" versions out there of fuller distros. Many were giveaways with Brit mags like Linux Format (which itself don't come cheap...$15 bucks American a mag.

But the point is that you can try out several of the "Live" versions, and since they are ostensibly offshoots of Larger, more mature distros, you might find one that meats your needs and tastes in a full Install distro.

Of course the relative smallness of the "live" versions may be a benefit on a lappy.

Maybe check it out anyway, before you commit to uninstalling Windows.

Good luck and tell what your experience is with other "live" distros

MegalosSkylaki
Fully Installed DOOG

[SeanC]

By the way Crossover Office only runs Word and Excel and *maybe* PowerPoint from Office 2003 right now. If those are requirements then you'll want to keep the Windows partition or switch to another program such as OpenOffice.

[keitkeit]

This may be a little off topic here but how does ms office run in linux? Are there any problems and does it always screw up like in windows? Like errors and shutting down and wanting to send feedback and crap like that.

I dont really like the openofficesuite and office is why i still use windows. Other than that i would use linux.

[SpaceSquad]

Oh btw, in addressing your first post, you can't run Photoshop or Internet Explorer (any version)

Ohp, actually Crossover Office supports PS and some other programs

[SpaceSquad]

This may be a little off topic here but how does ms office run in linux? Are there any problems and does it always screw up like in windows? Like errors and shutting down and wanting to send feedback and crap like that.

CodeWeaver's Crossover Office runs MS Office and a variety of programs very well indeed.

[SeanC]

I use Ubuntu on my laptop. Suse worked really well too.

Crossover runs Office 2000 fine and runs Word and Excel 2003 great.

[akilucky]

Nevermind games and photoshop and possible hardware issues, just because of this ^ I have to say, ideologically, you are not ready for Linux. (And I don't know of a linux alternative for it anyways.)

100% agree, i think everyone have to grow into Linux. At the moment I'm runing Ubuntu Gnome desktop-it is FANTASTIC! It can do everything human may want, only if you know how. There is no real alternative to Linux now. Windows is well "Windows".Mac's are incredibly expensive and not compatible with humans (Ideology like - i have to have a credit card to be able to register, is ridiculous).
I think Linux is for people who believe in open soft. So if you think you do, please join!