First Time Linux Instal

[#43 fan]

Originally Posted by TrendyMartini

Linux is much more stable and will run better on an older machine. There are updates occasional with Ubunutu, but they will not bog your system down.

I would Xubuntu for an older machine. It uses XFCE as its graphical user interface, instead of GNOME or KDE. XFCE uses far fewer resources.

[KarmaKiller]

Yep, I agree. with #43.
If it's a older machine, Xubuntu is the way to go.
A fairly new machine, Ubuntu/Kubuntu is the way to go..

And unless you install an un-godly amount of crap on your PC, linux will always run smooth and fast.

[surreal]

You might want to check out this forum

www.usalug.org

[Rootstonian]

Never been a Linux fanboy. Seems to me, I can't go to my local store, get a copy of Cyrsis, or Guitar Lessons or Home Landscaping and slap it on Linux.

Does it have it's place? Hell yes. But not on my home/recreational PC Just my $0.02

Don't get me wrong, I'm really not a Windows fanboy either. For what I've been doing recently at home, I probably would love a Mac. But I got a Quad Core 2.4Ghz, 4 Gig RAM, 750 Gig HD for $850 (Gateway). What's the equivalent cost for an Apple? LOL

[#43 fan]

For what he has been using the PC for, Linux is perfect.
Roost, if you were to get a Mac, just put Linux on. Mac is a variant of Unix, as is Linux (sort of). You could also put Linux along with Windows, which I do. Perfect for gaming, then web surf with Linux.

[CMonster]

Originally Posted by Icey1174

Which would be the best verison, brand name, whatever they call it of Linux that would be the best for these applications and most user friendly for someone that has never used Linux or Unix and has always used (and hates) Windows?

What browser would I use?

What word processing and spread sheet programs are there that are somewhat equivlant to MS Word and MS Excel?

Is there a program or version of Linux that resembles a Windows type of set-up for the user?

My goal here is to convert a handful of old, slow Windows machines to Linux for friends and family with the same uses as mine for a good stable OS without having all the problems that come with Windows.

Thank you in advance for any help and guidance!

You've probably figured out that there is no "best" distribution of Linux, but there are plenty of distributions designed with specific goals/needs in mind. I suggest you try a few and see which best suits your purpose. My preference is OpenSuse Software.openSUSE.org because it comes with a large amount of hardware support working "right out-of-the-box," so to speak, and it is loaded with extras. I'm using 10.3 currently on all my computers and find it runs KDE (IMO the most mature desktop environment for Linux) acceptably well even on 1Ghz machines with 256MB of memory. I see OpenSuse version 11 is now being offered --I'll have to give that a try.

Most Linux distributions have a pretty easy setup and installation routine if you take the time to read things over carefully.

Firefox works fine on Linux, there are a few other browsers as well.

OpenOffice www: OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite comes with most Linux distributions and is not only a good rough equivalent of MS Office, but it can handle most MS file formats with some degree of accuracy.

If you need someone to mail you a SuSE DVD and you live in the 48 states send me a PM with an address where you would like it shipped - currently I have OpenSuse 10.3 available. It is also a good idea to provide your users with a copy of the DVD/CDs in case they need additional software or drivers from them.

George

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Rootstonian said:

Never been a Linux fanboy. Seems to me, I can't go to my local store, get a copy of Cyrsis, or Guitar Lessons or Home Landscaping and slap it on Linux.

Does it have it's place? Hell yes. But not on my home/recreational PC Just my $0.02

Well that was your $0.02 all right, but I'm not quite sure how that reply helped the poster.

[#43 fan]

I've used Suse, the thing I like about it is that it comes with a lot of preinstalled software.
But, I prefer Ubuntu.

[CMonster]

Originally Posted by #43 fan

I've used Suse, the thing I like about it is that it comes with a lot of preinstalled software.
But, I prefer Ubuntu.

Yeah 43, there is certainly a place for it. My son just put Ubuntu on his new laptop along side Wishta -- and he loves Ubuntu.

comparing to cars, I guess Suse is more like a fully loaded RV and Ubuntu is more like a sports car

by OpenSuse version 10.3 they finally ironed out some very annoying bugs/features -but of course once they get it right they keep going till they mess it up again (the saga of Suse) and it usually takes the point.1 and point.2 iterations to straighten it out again, then the cycle repeats. Now they have released version 11 with KDE 4 -- I bet there is a whole other set of annoyances.

Suse rule of thumb: never use the point.0 releases (e.g. 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0) these are usually not far from beta.

[#43 fan]

I've found Ubuntu to be far more stable.
But, I tend to load it up with games that I rarely use, and thus it slows down (a little).
OpenSuse 10.3 was my favorite Suse, put KDE 4 on it, and I like it.