Which is the best Linux distribution to try out for a very advanced Windows user?

Question

I have a spare computer and I am ambitious to try out Linux. I know it will not be easy at first as I have tried it about six years ago.

I have over 10 years of Windows experience and am also very experienced in building computer systems - based on Windows.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

First of all, linux is very different that Windows.

Fedora Core 9 is a distro that a lot of businesses use.

Ubuntu is a great, simple to use distro. There are several different variations of Ubuntu: Xubuntu, Kubuntu and eduBuntu. Ubuntu is considered one of the best distros available.

PCLinuxOS is another great distro that looks great.

openSUSE is also runs good and looks sharp and professional.

I currently have 5 computers that can run linux and I think that Ubuntu is probably the best you can get, with Fedora and Kubuntu being close seconds.

I haven't yet tried this distro yet, but Gentoo is a distro that you have greater control over what you actually install to your computer, giving you more things that you want.
Just for fun you could go to http://www.pendrivelinux.com to see different distros you can install to a bootable flash drive. My favorite small-install linux is MCNLive.

Source(s):

http://www.linux.com
http://www.DistroWatch.com
http://www.linux.org

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks. I just needed one disto to start with and you actually suggested one :D

[[[ Thank you everyone else for the useful info - too bad I can only pick one good answer :( ]]]

Answer 2

I like Slackware. It's the oldest Linux distro there is, it's slow in its development cycle (which means it's very stable; only what works gets incorporated), and it's the one distro that's truly Linux. What you learn with Slackware can be carried over to all other distros. It's the most Unix-like Linux out there. There's an old saying about it:

Learn Redhat, you know Redhat. Learn Debian, you know Debian. Learn Slackware, you know Linux.

Okay, the problem with Fedora is that it's a development test-bed for RHEL, which gives it a very short development cycle (9 months, if I remember correctly). I was introduced to Linux with Fedora Core 2, in 2004 (Slackware was up to version 10). They're now up to Fedora 9 (Slackware is now at 12). 7 full version increments in 4 years. There's also a lot of packages still in development when the latest core gets released, meaning there's a bunch of brand new, untested software being shipped. Why? So the community can test things, fix things, and in the end the next release of RHEL can incorporate the new packages Fedora users fixed.

Don't get me wrong; I like Fedora (it's Linux, after all). It just moves too fast to stay current, and I'm not a developer.

Source(s):

http://www.slackware.com
http://fedoraproject.org/
https://www.redhat.com/apps/download/ -- explains how the Fedora Project fits into things

Answer 3

i personally use fedora 8, and soon upgrading to 9 when they add somre more features, yeah the other person is right about slackware it is highly used. most people run a redhat kernel.

Answer 4

Try them all. I have several running here.

Most will run from a CD without ever loading it to your hard drive.

Personally I like SUSE and PCLinuxOS but others are just as fun.

Be aware that being an advanced windows user will be of some help but this is NOT windows.

Source(s):

Programming and building computers since 1973

Answer 5

I've tried a few distributions of linux... Only 2 that I'd recommend though:

Mandriva (with Wine) was the easiest to get to grips with

Ubuntu (again with Wine) had some nice features

Both had vague similarities to windows (i that you can use a mouse and keyboard, unlike some editions of Linux which are purely text based...

You may want to download an ebook "switching to linux" or similar... I have a copy I could send to you if you'd like? I'm not sure how up to date it is, but it should get you started...

Source(s):

Yep.. tech support again...

Answer 6

Learn FreeBSD, Solaris10 or CentOS or possibly redhat, these are operating systems used on servers and are based on Unix. Unix is meant for experts really and takes a lot of getting used to, linux in a corperate environment is a black screen with login wrote on it and nothing else, the entire system is reliant upon the CLI. Forget everything you know about Windows because Linux is so entirely different.

If you want something that is closely related to Windows and is relatively easy to learn look into ubuntu or opensuse. I've been working with computers for years and years and took almost all the MCSE courses but still struggle with Linux but the reasons to use it are so obvious, you have 100% control over the system not 40% like in MS or 20% like in OSX.

P.S if you want big buxxx solaris run a course and people who pass it and do well in it have a tendancy to earn 6 figure salaries.

Answer 7

well first off being a advanced windows user will probably make learning to run linux harder for you than if you were a total computer noob. i like ubuntu or freespire both are available for d/l from the web. linux is tons better than windoze and with compiz fusion ubuntu has all the eye candy vista does with out the bloat. i suggest you join the linux forum as well as any forum available for the particular distro you choose. good luck the best mindset is to forget everything you know about windoze and approach linux with a totally open mind.

Source(s):

i just started experimenting with linux distros last yr and i am running ubuntu on both my desktop machines and soon to be using it on my laptops as well. no more expensive crappy windoze for me. btw i deliberately mispelled windows.

Answer 8

Windows is nothing like Linux so you will have a hard time either way.

But if you're a computer sort of guy then try out Fedora 9

Its not for beginners and its not for experienced Linux users either

Answer 9

I would recommend you start with Ubuntu - get your feet wet and then move on to another distro if you see a reason to do so. The hardest thing is getting the installation configured and working, and Ubuntu has been very good for me (usually). I have tinkered with other distros that were from not so easy to difficult to currently impossible. Get a distro that works - use it, and then go to the next hurdle.