Best netbook distro?

[WelshBloke]

Hi, I've got an Acer 1810TZ that I'd like to try installing a linux distro on.

It needs to be easy to use and easy to install (as little command line stuff as possible please ).

Is Ubuntu still the way to go for beginners?

Cheers.

 

[WelshBloke]

Well I went and put Ubuntu on it anyway and all seems to be working well.

Connecting an Android phone is proving to be more of a pain in the arse than I was expecting though.

 

[lxskllr]

Ubuntu should be fine. That interface was made with small screens in mind. If you want to do some playing, give Bodhi, and Zenix-os a try. They're both lighter than Ubuntu, and nifty in their own way. Also, both are easy to use.

http://bodhilinux.com/

http://zenix-os.net/index.html

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah, the Ubuntu install seems to be great, every thing installed automagically with no terminal shenanigans.

The only minor quible I can think of is that the track pad has lost some of the functions of the windows one, but I havent even looked into trying to sort that.

The Android issue is really foxing me though. I assumed that it would work well with Ubuntu as they are both linux but apparently not.

After a lot of terminal hell (involving magical but meaningless spells like SUDO,GEDIT,ATTR,ABRACADABRA,etc) I've given up. I'll use my desktop to put stuff on/take stuff off my phone.

 

[lxskllr]

Android is why I started calling desktop systems GNU/Linux. Android drives the point home that the kernel isn't the most important thing in the machine. GNU gives you power and flexibility. The kernel just interfaces with hardware.

What are you trying to do with your phone? I hook my tablet up to my machine. I put it in USB mode, and it gets treated as a removable drive. If you're trying to root it, or push system files, I think you need the Android SDK.

 

[WelshBloke]

Google changed Android from mass storage to MTB in the newest version, which has borked things slightly.

Now I think of it that probably affects Apple PCs as well, I wonder if they have a solution.

 

[WelshBloke]

Cool I can force Android to use mass storage AND theres an option for two finger scrolling for the trackpad.

 

[WelshBloke]

Really stupid query #1254; is there a way to move the minimise/maximise/close buttons to the top right of the windows instead of the top left?

 

[Jodell88]

Yeah, use ubuntu tweak.

 

[jhu]

Android is why I started calling desktop systems GNU/Linux. Android drives the point home that the kernel isn't the most important thing in the machine. GNU gives you power and flexibility. The kernel just interfaces with hardware.

What are you trying to do with your phone? I hook my tablet up to my machine. I put it in USB mode, and it gets treated as a removable drive. If you're trying to root it, or push system files, I think you need the Android SDK.

It makes more sense to call the OS by the distribution name because the ecosystem is just such a hodge-podge of software. No one piece is more important than another.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah, use ubuntu tweak.

Cheers. :thumbsup:

 

[lxskllr]

It makes more sense to call the OS by the distribution name because the ecosystem is just such a hodge-podge of software. No one piece is more important than another.

Generally I agree, but it depends on the context of the discussion. GNU/Linux is a very general term, that applies to all the distros. I use that to refer to the whole ecosystem, or for software that isn't particular to a distro. If someone asks what I run, I say Debian, and then maybe expand on that depending on the knowledge of the individual.

 

[WelshBloke]

Just a little update.

Have been getting on great with the ubuntu install. In combination with chrome its been fantastic for my 7 year old son. He can go on the BBC site and play his flash games and openDNS seems to be doing a good job on keeping his searches safe.

Its funny how quickly he's taken to linux as the only laptops they use at school are windows ones, but hes quite happy to log into his account and fire up whatever game, word processing app or browser he needs. I guess kids are a bit less phased when the computing environment looks different.

Anyway cheers for the help and am really happy with this.