Who knows much about Linux?

[TaraJo]

So, I started one other thread over here a few months ago (click here to go to it), when I was thinking over what laptop to get and wound up getting an awesome new Asus.

Now, here's the thing: I still have the old Dell laptop. It's kinda falling apart, though. It takes forever to boot up, the graphics leave much to be desired, the touchpad is dead entirely and the buttons on the keyboard are falling off (which resulted in my buying a keyboard I can attach with a usb cable). I'd sell it but, honestly, I don't know that I could really get that much for it when you consider all the little things that are wrong with it. However, I do have one idea for it.

See, now, for a while, I've known several people who are big fans of Linux. I've never tried Linux myself, but I'm curious. I never went with it before just because I didn't want to risk losing everything on a computer I was actually going to use. Now, though, all the important stuff has been switched to my new laptop; the old one, while I don't really use it, I could put Linux on it to try it out and see if I like it and can use it effectively.

I thought I'd ask here first, though, if anyone knows much about Linux and might have some advice about how to use it?

[Zevaeros]

Not a Linux guru, but you can start with Jolicloud at http://www.jolicloud.com - it's a pretty dead simple distribution if you just want it to be as easy as possible.

Pretty sure that if you want to take the next step, the recommendation will be some flavor of Ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com.

[Jackalope]

I know Linus, does that count? LOL

Try Ubuntu. Pretty simple, download the ISO image, burn it to a CD, and boot it.

[popeyespappy]

or load it on a thumb drive first and try it that way.

[Annik]

or load it on a thumb drive first and try it that way.

This is how Hovik has Linux, so it works.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

Well, it's better than Windows.

But it has nothing on the Mac.

[TaraJo]

Well, it's better than Windows.

So I've heard. But I still worry about lack of software for it and as much as it's touted as a solution, I've also heard wine has issues. I also worry that there will be compatibility issues for certain sites.

[popeyespappy]

Wine has issues? Mogen David or April?

[Angrboda]

As always, it depends on what you want to do with it. For general computing, an Ubuntu machine can probably do everything you want. And while they've put all the knobs in different places, a full featured linux distro like Ubuntu has many of the same features as Windows. And there is a ton of free software for linux. Some of it better than windows software. Of course, if there are specific programs that you need to run which have no linux alternative and won't run under wine, that's another matter. (There's always VMs, but given this is a laptop, that's probably not a good solution. Though if you're up for a challenge, you could run a linux VM under Windows.)

My advice would be to download and burn a copy of the Ubuntu Live CD (or the USB flash drive version). Boots fresh into Ubuntu without having to install it, and when you're done, you still have your old laptop back.

The best way I think is just to try it and see if you like it.

[Tiberius]

I'd personally recommend Linux Mint over Ubuntu. I just don't like the new Ubuntu interface.