Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Yours comment is just an opinion, mine was technically argued reasons why rpm is better and why deb-based distributions should transfer to rpm-system and not other way.

For mobile systems having deltarpm-packages and transactions is a huge advantage. And the practical security flaw in the deb-system is really serious potential risk to whole Linux ecosystem (even developers fall to the hole).

As I said, I use both systems daily Fedora and Ubuntu, and I can find all features deb have in rpm, but there is many IMO nowadays essential features in rpm which are not in deb.

(It often comes as an obvious shock to many Ubuntu/Debian users who rightfully (?) think themselves as experts in Linux, that rpm has those features over deb. Also oldtimers keep reminding that some 15 years ago rpm had dependency problems, when every system was just practising complex dependency issues.)

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Yep, that's the mostly the prob. Sussed it out but not got back to getting any further with it yet.

So what particular OS would you recommend- bearing in mind the 'for beginner' bit?

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I'd still recommend to try Fedora 16, and if you have 64-bit system and more than 4 GB RAM, then 64-bit Fedora 16.

https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/

If you have 8 GB USB-stick/drive, then reserve even 2 GB of persistent space, even it is "just" a LiveUSB-system you are going to try. Then first things after booting the first time, install rpmfusion-repository to get all features Fedora-system provides.

To install access to RPM Fusion repositories, surf with Firefox to this page:
http://rpmfusion.org/Configuration
And click+install "RPM Fusion free for 16" and same with "RPM Fusion nonfree for 16".

Then you may want to upgrade to the latest versions of software or install extra software.
The GUI software package handler and software updater are found in:
Activities > Applications > System_Tools > Software_Update

(These additional packages and features are not usually installed to Live-Linux system, so something may be possible only when Linux is really installed on the system. I haven't tried with Live-Fedora so much.)

And Fedora specific help is found in:
http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-help
and
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/

http://smashingweb.ge6.org/fedora-16...rfect-desktop/
has some tips what do to after Fedora 16 installation, but some of them I do not agree (like turning system to SElinux permissive type).


You (OP) wanted "for beginner" and I have succesfully installed Fedora system to some of my elder relatives and they have been happy.

Although Fedora is said to be "bleeding" edge, having the newest hardware and software support, and therefore "unstable", I have noticed it is really not so. (the really "bleeding edge" code goes to rawhide-repositories)

For using CLI to package manager (yum and rpm), and if used to Ubuntu/Debian/N900 apt-tools (apt and dpkg), then see this conversion reference table:
http://wiki.openvz.org/Package_managers

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Is it now possible to flash the N900 from Fedora16, as it was one of the things that made me abandon Fedora15, the slowness of yum, yumex or packagekit among the worst things.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

a) it is better in SOME things, not nearly everything, as deb is also better in some things also
b)those things are esential in YOUR opinion, the FACT is that RPM is NOT OVERALL better than deb as both have advantages and flaws and you MUST agnolige this

you think that everyone should use rpm, and that is your opinion but is not a fact and you cant present(or force like you are trying now) it as such

and btw, everyone should use portage, so neither deb or rpm :p

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I have noticed Fedora is much MUCH faster in upgrades than Ubuntu, because Fedora uses deltarpm differential packages nowadays.

Also the need for separate "apt-get update" is frustrating, rpm does not have that extra stage.

So I wonder where your comment of "slowness" comes from.

I have flashed N900 from Fedora long time. I have installed it from the tarball.
I do not know when it came available but at least now:
http://nopcode.org/0xFFFF/

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I was aware of this open flasher alternative in Fedora15, but i never dared to try...
I do not remember the error message, if anything else than 'Waiting for device' message, but neither 64-bit workstation, nor 32-bit notebook were able to pick up the N900 in flashing mode for the firmware. Had to use debian-based Live-CD for that.
Though you compare apples and nokias, or was it peaches, there is one command less for yum, i must admit deeply impressed.:D

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

OK, now installing Fedora-16-x86_64-Live-Desktop.iso via fedora Live USB Creator onto a SanDisk Cruzer Blade 8GB USB drive.

I will give this a run to test the water and see what I think. Presumably some of the previous contributors will disagree with this particular choice of Linux but I've got to start somewhere.
I'm still open to suggestions but remember this thread is about choices for beginners - so please don't respond with all the tech details and arguments as it's all way over my head at this stage.

Also this thread could be of future benefit to others in the same position as I am right now.

Anyway, thanks for all the contributions so far.

Now it's time for me to get wet :D

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I am a fairly new linux user too.

I tried 3 fairly big distros. First of all I tried ubuntu but I didn't like it at all, too much crap installed what I won't use. I just didn't like t since they introduced unity. Then I tried fedora too but I couldn't get my wireless working.

Arch seems a really nice distro but I tried to configure in VM before trying in real, because is it more of an advanced distro.

Then I just installed openSuSe and I am loving it so far! I like KDE more than Gnome, I found out. Really can recommend it to you but what's said before. Just try all out ;)

For a beginner I would say: Ubuntu, Fedora, openSuse. Just try them all out... If you don't like something just take the next, theres plenty of choice.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Don't worry about it. What you are doing is the only way to make the right choice. Try out and mess around with different distros and don't be scared of breaking them.

People can be quite emotional about their own choice of Linux, but in the end we're just all one family. What fits one person doesn't fit the next one and that's why it's great to have many distros to choose from. :)

http://futurist.se/gldt/wp-content/u...2/gldt1202.png

I ended up with Debian. Mainly because I can identify with much of it's community values and philosophy, which also meant that it fit my practical needs.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I think the first thing you should do is determine which desktop environment you will feel most comfortable using. That might be gnome 2, gnome 3, kde 3, kde 4, lxde, xfce, e17, unity to name the most popular ones. Do a youtube search with those and see what interests you. In my opinion the different distros have a main desktop environment they support and the rest are second class citizens.

After you have determined what you want out of your main interface do a search on "Whats the best kde 4 distro" or "Whats the best Xfce distro".

As you become more acclimated to linux you can start to use it ala carte. You might decide that Distro X comes with crappy default configurations for Desktop Enviroment Y, but you really like how stable Distro X's repository of software is or maybe how Distro Z's software repository is on the bleeding edge and always has the latest updated packages (even though they might be less stable). At this point you are more confident and can configure the desktop enviroment the way you want are care more about the infrastructure of your operating system.

As has been suggested Unetbootin is an extremely easy way to test out different distros (as I'm sure you will get arguments on the "best" gnome 3 distro (for example)). Virtual machines are also a great way as well.

Another thing to consider is if you have a particular area of computing that interests you. For instance, if you are a music geek you might be best suited with something like Ubuntu Studio, or if you love to program there are distros that are setup to fulfill your needs right out of the box.

Good luck,

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Linux Mint is my vote

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

If i where you i would disconnect those raid drives cause else u will perhaps loose it all. Linux needs abit of configuring before you even have 32bit colours, and it would be ashame if all your data was gone.

But you have a HP workstation, those are (i think), 100% compatible with Red Hat.

But i recommend you just download Ubuntu in Windows, and have no worries :)

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

What are you talking about? Have you even run linux on a machine in the past 2 years?

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Well yeah used to work in datacenters, but thats long time ago. But they are still partners, so i thought they still deliver Redhat pre-installed on alot of the workstations. Ofcourse not the home desktops.

Should be okay i guess, as long if its not exotic/rare hardware.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Why do you want to install Linux? If you want to learn more about Linux don't install an 'easy' version of Linux.

Go for the full blown console only version - Linux from Scratch:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_From_Scratch

If you are serious about learning Linux, this is the route to take it would put you head and shoulders above other Linux 'users' and make you into a fully blown Linux Admin.

If you think it's going to be easy - think again!

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Apologies for being a bit short, but the bit about 32-bit video needing configuring is FUD for all but maybe the most bleeding-edge hardware. Linux has come a long way, and these days with most modern distros you can just install and run.

OK there maybe a fair bit of tweaking to get things honed to how you want things, but that's the same with any os.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I just leave linux to my N900 and a couple servers i maintain. I run some Virtual machines to test them on my desktop. The rest are all dedicated servers. But i used to spent hours with configuring, building networks, servers, routers for the learning curve.

God i feel old lol (32+). I'm afraid if a beginner starts with from scratch, he would run to his 'familiar' Windows desktop. But then again nobody is the same. And there are hundreds of distro;s to explore :)

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

Let us know how you fare with Fedora. I have tried Fedora in the past and liked it quite a bit, the KDE version. I switched to OpenSUSE because I like rolling release distros. OpenSUSE has that when going the Tumbleweed route. But, Fedora may be a great starting distro. You are going to have to search their forums to get some things working, such as DVD viewing, and some codecs, but it is not hard.

Re: Can you recommend a Linux version for beginner
 

I really like Gnome3 version of Fedora. It took little time to get used to it, but now I absolutely like it how the whole desktop area is effectively used for applications (no shortcut icons hiding under windows for vain) and how there is those hot corners in upper-left and bottom-right.

http://www.gnome.org/gnome-3/

(I must admit I first also was against gnome3, after using gnome2 with Windows7-like taskbars and such. But I decided to give it two weeks and learn the new ways. It was worth it.)