What distro should I go for - Hardware & Software

Hey guys, I'm starting uni soon and was going to get myself a run of the mill laptop, but I'm strongly considering formatting it to a Linux distro for reasons (nature of my course and to contrast with my Windows desktop which is entirely for gaming, making it easier for me to limit it to a study-only role). Anyway I'm a complete newbie when it comes to Linux (I've been a Windows user since my first computer) and I'd like to hear some advice on what I can choose. In my (tiny) amount of research and testing I've found that Ubuntu's default desktop environment is a tad too foreign for me, but from screenshots Kubuntu and Xubuntu appeal to my taste forged in Windows. Oh and I should note, in case you haven't figured out already I've only [I]looked[/I] at the Ubuntu based options so far D: Any advice is appreciated!

Debian [url]http://www.debian.org/[/url] , Linux Mint [url]http://linuxmint.com/[/url] , Ubuntu (10.04 preferably) [url]http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/[/url] , OpenSuSE maybe [url]http://software.opensuse.org/121/en[/url] , if you're really brave go for Arch Linux [url]http://www.archlinux.org/[/url] . When downloading go for the 'Core' images. [editline]20th January 2012[/editline] I'm sure you can change ubuntu's DE

At this point i'd either recommend Mint or OpenSuSE

Ubuntu switched to its new desktop layout starting in version 11.04, released April 2011. They pissed off a LOT of people with that. You can get used to the layout, I rather like it. But if it's not for you, you can still download 10.04 LTS, Long Term Support, which is still supported, and has the older layout, which is more intuitive. [t]http://www.linux-mag.com/s/i/articles/7740/lucid-desktop-radiance.jpg[/t] It has that layout, although the color scheme was changed for this image I believe. NOTE: there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions. I don't think that any new laptop these days would NOT support 64-bit, and if you have 4 gigabytes of RAM or more, 64-bit is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Otherwise I'd get it anyway for e-peen. Also, Ubuntu and pretty much any Linux distribution makes it massively easy to install [I]beside[/I] Windows, so that when you turn the computer on it asks you which one you'd like to use today.

[QUOTE=LieutenantLeo;34309378]Debian [url]http://www.debian.org/[/url] , Linux Mint [url]http://linuxmint.com/[/url] , Ubuntu (10.04 preferably) [url]http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/[/url] , OpenSuSE maybe [url]http://software.opensuse.org/121/en[/url] , if you're really brave go for Arch Linux [url]http://www.archlinux.org/[/url] . When downloading go for the 'Core' images. [editline]20th January 2012[/editline] I'm sure you can change ubuntu's DE[/QUOTE] I wouldn't really recommend Debian. It's not very beginner friendly. Heck, I find Arch Linux easier to get set-up and running. I recommend Ubuntu or Linux Mint. They're debian-BASED, but they're also really easy to use and aimed at beginners, but they're also good for people who are quite advanced with Linux, due to the Debian backend.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;34319204]Ubuntu switched to its new desktop layout starting in version 11.04, released April 2011. They pissed off a LOT of people with that. You can get used to the layout, I rather like it. But if it's not for you, you can still download 10.04 LTS, Long Term Support, which is still supported, and has the older layout, which is more intuitive. [t]http://www.linux-mag.com/s/i/articles/7740/lucid-desktop-radiance.jpg[/t] It has that layout, although the color scheme was changed for this image I believe. NOTE: there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions. I don't think that any new laptop these days would NOT support 64-bit, and if you have 4 gigabytes of RAM or more, 64-bit is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Otherwise I'd get it anyway for e-peen. Also, Ubuntu and pretty much any Linux distribution makes it massively easy to install [I]beside[/I] Windows, so that when you turn the computer on it asks you which one you'd like to use today.[/QUOTE] Yeah I tried the latest Ubuntu, but found its default environment much too like a Mac's for my liking (I don't have much against Macs, I just don't like their interface). I assume this means my issue is less which distro to choose, but which desktop environment to choose, then... Any suggestions? :P

[QUOTE=Em See;34324688]Yeah I tried the latest Ubuntu, but found its default environment much too like a Mac's for my liking (I don't have much against Macs, I just don't like their interface). I assume this means my issue is less which distro to choose, but which desktop environment to choose, then... Any suggestions? :P[/QUOTE] It sounds like you'd prefer KDE over anything. [img_thumb]http://www.openews.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/29090718_tdG9.jpg[/img_thumb] Something like this? (sorry, i had an old picture on there.)

That's such an old version of KDE.

I recommend Fedora 17.

depends, are you cockwaving or just want a usable desktop? if you're cockwaving then Slackware, if you're after a usable desktop then I'd vote sabayon. [editline]21st January 2012[/editline] depends, are you cockwaving or just want a usable desktop? if you're cockwaving then Slackware, if you're after a usable desktop then I'd vote sabayon. [url]ftp://mirror.cs.vt.edu/pub/SabayonLinux/iso/Sabayon_Linux_7_amd64_K.iso.torrent[/url]

Fedora 16's KDE spin, with Fedora 17's kernel packages. Up to date and stable with a productive work environment.

I was a supporter of Ubuntu, but now I just use arch Linux core. The setup is very user-friendly if yer into reading manuals. EDIT: Forgot guys don't read the manual.