Help me pick a slick, simple operating system

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swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
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I have an MSI Wind and, while I usually love XP, using it on a netbook was kind of a chore. I only really do web browsing and some writing on it, so any advice would be great.

Linux in particular - what's the cool/fun distro of the moment? I tried Ubuntu remix but found it's row of icons interface a bit annoying. Also, I don't get why so many flavor of linux seemed to be made by metal heads - I don't really like the brown/blacks/ reds of Ubuntu remix, and all the other skins look like they were designed by 5 year old from the mid-90s


Honestly, OS X is that nice balance of eye candy and clean/bright/simple interface of use, but I've had 3 oSX86 installs fail on me and am tired of spending more time on it.

It sounds trivial but, since I'm used to Os x and the airy Windows 7 now, flat or dark interfaces bother me more than they should
 
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hans030390

Diamond Member
Feb 3, 2005
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There's a specific ISO floating around of OSx86 just for the Wind. Basically, you install that, then there's a guy on the MSI Wind forums (Mac OS X section) who has an installer for the drivers and such after you update to 10.5.6. It's super easy and works really well.

Windows 7 does work well on the MSI Wind, too.
 
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soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
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Originally posted by: hans030390
There's a specific ISO floating around of OSx86 just for the Wind. Basically, you install that, then there's a guy on the MSI Wind forums (Mac OS X section) who has an installer for the drivers and such after you update to 10.5.6. It's super easy and works really well.

Windows 7 does work well on the MSI Wind, too.
Click to expand...

+1 on Windows 7.

Windows 7 is outperforming XP on low end hardware in many cases so this might be just what you are looking for without going through the trouble of getting a Linux distro to look the way you want. I think this is a better match for your criteria than an illegal and hacked copy of OSX or messing with Linux.

Edit: And the best part is Microsoft, starting tomorrow will allow you to use the RC for over a year. That gives you the time to evaluate it and see if the money for a OEM copy is worth spending in your specific case.
 
mc866

mc866

Golden Member
Dec 15, 2005
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Didn't read the fact that you didn't like the netbook remix, how about Easypeasy looks less red and brown?
 
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swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
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Just installed Windows 7 on my wind and it's OUTSTANDING.

Thanks for all the suggestions and for convincing me to pull the trigger.

I'm still open to suggestions - my wind is more of a toy to me than anything so I don't mind dual booting, just to play around with something else.



Not to go Off-topic, but does a standard Ubuntu install with Enlighten (enlightenment?) give me the eye candy I'm after?

I don't need the screen to melt nor am I looking for Tranformers the movie levels of CGI, I just don't like how many flavors of linux look like Aol 4.0 out of the box.
 
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swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
2,122
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Originally posted by: hans030390
There's a specific ISO floating around of OSx86 just for the Wind. Basically, you install that, then there's a guy on the MSI Wind forums (Mac OS X section) who has an installer for the drivers and such after you update to 10.5.6. It's super easy and works really well.

Windows 7 does work well on the MSI Wind, too.
Click to expand...

I tried that, downloaded from p-bay (the only ISO I found) and followed instructions on making a bootable USB installer - it constantly aborted a few percent into the installation process with a generic message ("Installation Can't Continue, please reboot").

I've tried to find alternate ISO sources to no avail. I also ordered a dvd-rom enclosure to give it a go, but.. Yeah, the past 4 days have been pretty sleepless, trying to get osx86 to work.

p.s. I'd totally buy a licensed version of osX if all went well - I currently own 3 macs as is and appreciate their products
 
VinDSL

VinDSL

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2006
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www.lenon.com
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,211
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Originally posted by: VinDSL

Easy Peasey seems to be the 'Flavor of the Month'... it's "Remix" done right! :D
Click to expand...

That's what I'm running on my 2 Eees. I have the old name(Ubuntu-eee), but it's the same thing. I'm pretty happy with it, but all it is, is Ubuntu customized for netbooks. I haven't tried the official implementation, but I bet it's pretty damned close to Easy.
 
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hans030390

Diamond Member
Feb 3, 2005
7,326
2
76
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: hans030390
There's a specific ISO floating around of OSx86 just for the Wind. Basically, you install that, then there's a guy on the MSI Wind forums (Mac OS X section) who has an installer for the drivers and such after you update to 10.5.6. It's super easy and works really well.

Windows 7 does work well on the MSI Wind, too.
Click to expand...

I tried that, downloaded from p-bay (the only ISO I found) and followed instructions on making a bootable USB installer - it constantly aborted a few percent into the installation process with a generic message ("Installation Can't Continue, please reboot").

I've tried to find alternate ISO sources to no avail. I also ordered a dvd-rom enclosure to give it a go, but.. Yeah, the past 4 days have been pretty sleepless, trying to get osx86 to work.

p.s. I'd totally buy a licensed version of osX if all went well - I currently own 3 macs as is and appreciate their products
Click to expand...

That's very weird. Maybe the download was bad, or the whole USB thing screwed up? I burned it to a disc and used an external DVD drive. Zero problems. Typing this up from it right now. Been going strong for a couple months now.
 
boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
W7 on netbooks is very nice. I had it briefly on an HP mini and was very happy with it.
 
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