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Version of Liniux thats easy to use

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Xandros is another option. I got it up and running on my T42 in a little over an hour. It was very easy to install and use and the interface seemed 'snappier' than Ubuntu with Gnome.

Search for Xandros in the 'Hot Deals' forum for how to get the OS and the .pdf manual. My main gripe about Xandros is if you want the latest software you have to pay for it.
 
Hey, about Knoppix, after you download the .iso image for the live CD, do you just burn it? Or are there additional files? Sorry to do a little hijacking, OP, but this way, I don't have to start a thread.
 
linspire is craptastic (imho). It drops you into an X session as root without a password. That's about as bad as windows out of box config. I would steer you to Ubuntu, I use it on my laptop, it was very painless to set up. I'm moving over to kubuntu soon (or possibly pure debian) because I really like KDE better after using both for a while.
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If you don't want to keep reformattng computers to try different versions of Linux, consider downloading a trial version of Microsoft Virtual PC 2004. Then install various Linux versions in VPC windows.

Many Linux versions work in VPC. Each version of Linux will become a single, large, file on your PC that you can delete with one click. You can boot a Linux install ISO from your hard drive. No need to burn an install CD.

You can't directly access USB devices, nor will 3D graphics card functions work inside of VPC. But you can access a shared folder in both Windows and your VPC boxes.

A quick introduction to VPC 2004
Click to expand...
Or you could use Virtual Server from VMWare (www.vmware.com) which is better than MS VPC, fully functional, full featured, free (as in beer), and does not expire ever.
 
Originally posted by: themusgrat
Hey, about Knoppix, after you download the .iso image for the live CD, do you just burn it? Or are there additional files? Sorry to do a little hijacking, OP, but this way, I don't have to start a thread.
Click to expand...

With an .iso image you should just have to burn it like any other .iso. Don't just burn the .iso file to a CD/DVD though. Use the 'iso burning tool' inside your favorite program. I use Alcohol 120% or Nero and it's pretty easy to figure out how to burn the .iso to disc.
 
Originally posted by: Basie
It sometimes gets complicated when you want to add software, graphic drivers and play the latest games. That's when you wish you had the ease of the windows installer.
Click to expand...
Actually, it's rather easy to install apps and games---apps and open source games use the native packaging tool, and commercial games sometimes use the old Loki installer (it still works sufficiently) or some other installer-type tool. Open source drivers also use the packaging tools, but binary drivers (especially graphics drivers) may have their own installer.

Really, the packaging GUI tools are not worse than a Windows installer, just different. I think that you are just not used to having a central repository for all software, and I also think that something like Autopackage would help make you feel familiar. As for drivers, you have to remember that we group drivers by chipset and not by board manufacturer, so this requires you to have a little knowledge about the identity of your hardware, something which the entire hardware industry seems to conspire to foil; indeed, we often have to fight to get necessary information about hardware at all.
 
If you think windows s/w installation is easier then Ubuntu, or any other decent distro with package managment, then you are either high or like things hard.

Even the ATI driver on my laptop only took about 15 minutes to get working, and never required a reboot (only a restart of X). The binary drivers may be harder to install then thier windows counterparts, but the blame for that falls squarly on the maker. GPL the driver and it would be added automagiclly.
 
Originally posted by: GhettoFob
Ubuntu
Click to expand...

I second Ubuntu. I've been deploying both Ubuntu and Edubuntu systems for a client that runs computer labs at housing projects and they seem to be liked. I've also had good experience with Ubuntu on a laptop.
 
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