[pedroperez80]

I really don't know anything about Linux. I'am a hardcore mac user, but my friend it's done using Microsoft Windows he hates it and he can't afford a MAC. So I was wandering what version Linux is user friendly and can be a good for personal use such as writting reports, surfing the web, getting e-mail, etc..

[Graymalkin]

I'm sure a metric buttload of people are going to chime in with their favorite Linux distribution, Redhat is going to be named several times but if your friend wants a really consistant experience I'd suggest Lycoris. Lycoris does one thing many distros do not do and that is limit your options. It will run everything another distro will run if you install the proper packages but the default system only runs KDE applications. The advantage of this system is it doesn't confuse a new user with a ton of different interface styles and the like. The feel of Lycoris is very tight and it has worked well in my experience. I've been using Linux for many years and am currently stuck on Debian but I'm well aware of Linux's learning cruve which is why i suggest Lycoris.

[gorgonzola]

The two distros that are supposed to be easy to use are RedHat and Mandrake. I don't know anything about this Lycoris business, though.

[IUJHJSDHE]

I have had many bad experiences with redhat!!

I do like Mandrake and SuSE and think they are good for beginners.

[iNub]

Mandrake is very easy to install. It sucks to use because of the 4000 different ways to do the exact same thing.

But that's the downfall of most Linux, I suppose.

There's no real way to replace Windows, because Windows is a lot easier than Linux, and there is at least a loose set of standards for software developers to follow.

[Graymalkin]

That is specifically why I suggest Lycoris. It keeps everything to a functional minimum. There isn't 4000 ways to do anything with the default installation. In fact it looks a lot like a default Windows or MacOS installation because of the sparse programs. Mandrake's installer is really the only good part of the distro and only because it does everything for you configuration wise. Mandrake itself is as bloated and confusing as any other distro. It is Redhat with a nicer installer. SuSE is now horrible for new users because of the sheer number of programs that comes on its CDs. At last count there were 8 CDs to come in a box. That's 7 too many for a new user.

[SPiNdustrious]

Find a distribution that markets itself as simple and appropriate for beginners. Installing Linux can be a protracted and frightening text-based affair only if you really want/need it to be so. Normal users who aren't looking to squeeze a maximal efficiency out of their system will be handily served by the clear installers and familiar-looking/working window managers of "out-of-the-box" distributions.

My only reservation about Lycoris is that many of us here haven't heard of it. This suggests a small user base which roughly equates to a smaller support base should your friend need assistance.

My vote? Red Hat for ex-Windows machines and Yellow Dog for Macs that can't or don't want to run OSX.

Or tell your friend to become a switcher .

Happy trails,

Peter

[Arkham_c]

I personally like Red Hat. I liked Mandrake 8.x pretty well also but had some problems with a few packages. Debian is a great distro for experts, but your friend might want to take a look a Lindows. It's a good intro to Linux for Windows users

http://www.lindows.com/

[MacGorilla]

Red hat, Lycoris, Mandrake..all good for beginners.

Now, if you are slightly adventurous, try FreeBSD, what larget parts of Mac OS X is based on. Its directory structure and commands are very similliar and I'll give you that Darwin/Mac OS X feel.

[malbicho]

For the beginner redhat is the good compromise between ease of use, functionality and performance, IMHO.

p.s. i think UnitedLinux is already out, they're targetting a lot on desktop users too, as far as i know

[Ludovic Hirlimann]

Originally posted by pedroperez80:
I really don't know anything about Linux. I'am a hardcore mac user, but my friend it's done using Microsoft Windows he hates it and he can't afford a MAC. So I was wandering what version Linux is user friendly and can be a good for personal use such as writting reports, surfing the web, getting e-mail, etc..

Forget linux. Linux is just the core of the OS , called Kenerl, around it you have some software, whit one depending on others. When packaged, those are claeed distributions : Red Hat, Debian etc ...

Now If your freidn is looking ofr an OS I would recommend the use of Free or net BSD. Free because its the most used BSD after OS X, and because it's an other not a ditrubution taken from a sets of distributions. Go BSD, because by supporting the BSD community he is somewhat supporting the Mac community.

[macmike42]

Yeah *BSD is great for surfing the web, writing papers, and sending e-mail. NOT. Good luck having your friend even figure out what the first screen on the installer is talking about. Forget "make world". What is wrong with you, Ludovic Hirlimann?

If your friend has a Windows installation that he is familiar with, wants to try Linux out, and wants to take the path of least resistance, there is only one choice: Xandros. Granted it costs $40, but consider what you get:

- Top-notch installer. The installer automatically installs a boot loader (you are generally expected to do this manually, or at least specify a configuration), asks you about what level of Windows integration that you want, allows you to choose which OS will boot by default, and looks beautiful (by Linux/Windows standards).

- CrossOver Office. Based on WINE, but much more compatible (the CrossOver folks HAVE given the source back to WINE, but it hasn't been integrated yet). You can run IE, Office XP, Windows Netscape plugins, and lots more right on your Linux desktop.

- Windows integration. Comes with tweaked FAT32 and NTFS kernel modules pre-installed, automatically shows your Windows filesystems in the file browser, automatically mounts removable media, etc. Xandros also has Samba sharing configuration built into the file manager (ie "share this folder"), and even supports Windows Networking log on.

- It is Debian-based, so you can access 10000 Debian packages (well, 4000 if you stick to stable, but kde 3.1 is in unstable!). Lycoris is also Debian-based, but it is a fork, and will break very badly if you try to add "pure" Debian download sources to it. Xandros is based on the latest Debian stable (Woody 3.0r1), and is always being synchronized back with Debian.

- OpenOffice 1.0.1 is pre-installed and configured to get to work. If you have Microsoft Office, you can install it on Xandros, but if you don't, you'll never know how hard it is to set up OpenOffice for perfect integration with a Linux desktop.

Note that CrossOver Office purchased by itself costs $55, whereas Xandros Desktop Personal is only $40. Overall, this distro is the most polished, down-to-business, and user-scalable (you won't feel the need to install Slackware after learning what Linux can do, since this is Debian anyway) Linux distro I've seen. RedHat and Mandrake are very close, but if you want the best Windows compatibility and have $40, Xandros is the way to go.

[asmodeus]

I run Red Hat 8 on my PC. I edited files on the command line once for the setup (just /etc/sysconfig/harddisks to enable DMA). There's graphical configuration tools for pretty much everything you'll want to touch, and you can download Firestarter for graphical firewall configuration. Plus it tends to favour GTK/Gnome, which I'll admit is my preferred Unix desktop.

I tried out FreeBSD 5, and I loved the faster bootup speed and more minimalist nature of it compared to Red Hat, but it had issues with the digital output on my Soundblaster Live card.

[Scarpa]

Tell your friend to download a KNOPPIX CD image and run that for a bit before he decides whether to jump into Linux or not.

KNOPPIX is a Debian based distribution that runs entirely off of the CD. It will auto-detect and configure the machine on boot and with one keystroke you end up in a full KDE environment. Nothing is touched on the hard drive, although the drives are mounted so you can access data stored on them.

This is the perfect distribution for someone who is "thinking" about Linux as you can mess around with the full environment without the pain of installing it yourself. There is also an installer included with the distribution that will allow you to install and run it off of the local hard drive.

You can find KNOPPIX here.

[malbicho]

another good linux live cd that you can run without installing is the one from SUSE, there must be a downloadable iso of it somewhere on their ftp ftp.suse.com