Best Simple Linux Distro Discussion

[steppinrazor]

Heya!

I'll be your new editor for the Best Simple Linux Distro (I almost said Best Free Linux Distro >.< ). I saw a lot of discussion on the comments that was more like debate about the distros and listing their pros and cons. I'd love to here everyone's take on the different distros and even to have discussions but it seems like the forum is a better place for that rather than the comments. The comments are a great place to make suggestions for distros I should check out and give a little reason why, but for more in depth discussion let's keep that stuff here.

One Thing To Remember:

This is the Best SIMPLE! Linux Distro not Simply The Best Linux Distro!

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to discuss anything and everything about GNU/Linux, but that should go in another thread. And when it does, be assured: I will be there! :)

[MidnightCowboy]

My vote goes to Trisquel [screenshot]

http://trisquel.info/

• Installer will dual boot into free space on a Windows drive by default so Windows users don't have to lose their Windows system straight off.
• Only includes free software
• Doesn't include a whole house full of stuff you will never use
• Ubuntu based so plenty of support available, including their own forum
• Established for nearly 10 years so not a "here today, gone tomorrow" project

Intermittent live session bug might ask for a password, in which case:

Ctrl+Alt+F2 and type:

sudo service gdm stop
sudo service gdm start

[Jojo Yee]

Welcome steppinrazor.

Having read MC's two vital factors (install alongside Windows and support) that determine a simple Linux ditro apart from being able to use a live session, I'd like to add one more key factor below.

In my view, simple means easy to use and everything just works out of the box. A simple Linux distro should be able to do that after installation. Conversely, a complicated Linux distro is the one that doesn't work out of the box and needs a lot of tweaking to make it work, or it never works even after tweaking.

Unfortunately this factor may not be easy to determine as it can relate to hardware setup and drivers. As a result, a Linux distro may work well on one machine but fail on another. However, it will be best simple if it works out of the box on most machines.

[Ivtec]

Originally Posted by steppinrazor

Heya!

I'll be your new editor for the Best Simple Linux Distro (I almost said Best Free Linux Distro >.< ). I saw a lot of discussion on the comments that was more like debate about the distros and listing their pros and cons. I'd love to here everyone's take on the different distros and even to have discussions but it seems like the forum is a better place for that rather than the comments. The comments are a great place to make suggestions for distros I should check out and give a little reason why, but for more in depth discussion let's keep that stuff here.

One Thing To Remember:

This is the Best SIMPLE! Linux Distro not Simply The Best Linux Distro!

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to discuss anything and everything about GNU/Linux, but that should go in another thread. And when it does, be assured: I will be there!

If you want a easy distro Xubuntu

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Jojo Yee

Welcome steppinrazor.

Having read MC's two vital factors (install alongside Windows and support) that determine a simple Linux ditro apart from being able to use a live session, I'd like to add one more key factor below.

In my view, simple means easy to use and everything just works out of the box. A simple Linux distro should be able to do that after installation. Conversely, a complicated Linux distro is the one that doesn't work out of the box and needs a lot of tweaking to make it work, or it never works even after tweaking.

Unfortunately this factor may not be easy to determine as it can relate to hardware setup and drivers. As a result, a Linux distro may work well on one machine but fail on another. However, it will be best simple if it works out of the box on most machines.

I'd go with this too, but regarding "out of the box" I would not penalize a distribution just because it has only a limited range of default software, providing that the means to obtain more is easy to achieve.

Hardware inconsistencies are always going to be a major issue. In this case I would regard "best" as those that run as a live session and install into stappinrazor's machine only as it is impractical for him to test a variety of hardware configurations unless he has an urge to do so. I understand he does have access to a variety of machines so maybe a trial install for both ATi and NVIDIA machines could be possible as these are the two main problem areas?

I also forgot an important point for Trisquel above (or any distro come to that) which is:

• easy wizard to setup a variety of connection types including DSL and mobile broadband.

[steppinrazor]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

My vote goes to Trisquel [screenshot]

http://trisquel.info/

• Installer will dual boot into free space on a Windows drive by default so Windows users don't have to lose their Windows system straight off.
• Only includes free software
• Doesn't include a whole house full of stuff you will never use
• Ubuntu based so plenty of support available, including their own forum
• Established for nearly 10 years so not a "here today, gone tomorrow" project

Intermittent live session bug might ask for a password, in which case:

Ctrl+Alt+F2 and type:

sudo service gdm stop
sudo service gdm start

I love trisquel and It is definitely a contender! :D I just installed it on my old netbook and it works with the GNOME Desktop without any lag issues when opening windows or applications. Perfection with usability that I've been looking for on my netbook but have previously failed to find in a lightweight form.

I didn't have any trouble with the password issue on install, but there was tracers when you moved windows around to enter a wifi password and such but it worked none the less and that was probably my netbook's old hardware. After install I had no problems as I said before.

:)