Which Linux?

[jj]

I have a dell inspiron 1501 lapto with a sempron 64bit processor and 4 gb of ram.

I am fed up on vista 64bit running sooooo slow and using 100% cpu time doing simple things.

Which distro of linux whould people suggest.

it should be

64bit
easy to use
be able to be installed with vista still there

what are your thoughts.

Jamie

[jj]

Just checking it out now, but the download link on their site says 32bit

[jj]

but on their site download link says 32bit ?

[jj]

ignore me, should look properly before posting

[jj]

I would go for Ubuntu. I am definitely not what to call an expert, and still managed to install with ease (although had some problems with wireless network).

tell me about it, spent hours and hours and lots of terminal work and still cant get the wirelss card in my laptop to work.

Also can not get anything to play dvds for some reason.  LInux still as got a long long way to go to catch up with windows and macos to be honest.

[jj]

@JJ

What do you need a 64 bit system for?  Personally I see no much advantage in a 64 bit Linux 'xcept for some apps not working.  Besides 64bit system is against Amiga philosophy :-)

Anyway go Ubuntu or Kubuntu that both have nowadays commercial (best) background or/and support.  If you prefer stability, go for Ubuntu.  If you rather like tip-top and up-to-date UI (which KDE is, but less stable), go Kubuntu.  I got Kubuntu 9.10 installed on my HP 530.  It has no problems at all in seeing the existing Windows Vista/7 installation (both GRUB1 and GRUB2).

But remember that best Unix you can ever get (possessing all or most Linux features) is MacOS Leopard (or Snow Leopard).

BTW if you want to check which linuxes are "supported at all", go here.

DD

Umm 64bit because I would like to use all the ram in my laptop.  I only run 64 bit os as all my chips are.  why run a slower version of vista/7/linux

[jj]

@JJ

What do you need a 64 bit system for?  Personally I see no much advantage in a 64 bit Linux 'xcept for some apps not working.  Besides 64bit system is against Amiga philosophy :-)

Anyway go Ubuntu or Kubuntu that both have nowadays commercial (best) background or/and support.  If you prefer stability, go for Ubuntu.  If you rather like tip-top and up-to-date UI (which KDE is, but less stable), go Kubuntu.  I got Kubuntu 9.10 installed on my HP 530.  It has no problems at all in seeing the existing Windows Vista/7 installation (both GRUB1 and GRUB2).

But remember that best Unix you can ever get (possessing all or most Linux features) is MacOS Leopard (or Snow Leopard).

BTW if you want to check which linuxes are "supported at all", go here.

DD

Umm 64bit because I would like to use all the ram in my laptop.  I only run 64 bit os as all my chips are.  why run a slower version of vista/7/linux

[jj]

pretty much nothing seems to work easily or at all.  would i be better starting again with the 32bit version. is this the best distro for my needs.  Does anyone know of a distro that supports my dell wireless card out of the box without trying for hours and failing to get ndiswrapper to work with the windows drivers

[jj]

what about linux ?

[jj]

nothing will play dvds, one app claims i dont have permissions to the drive , even though I can open the dvd and look at all the files on it, any ideas ?

[jj]

just cant get machine to work properly, so going to try a 32bit install instead.  The wireless thing is pain in the arse though

[jj]

cheers will give them a try.  I did try a whole lot of stuff from the ubuntu forums, using the wrapper. but still couldnt get it too work  I have wipped the volumes and will try 32bit version and see if i get more luck

[jj]

thanks piru will give it a try

[jj]

cheers diskdoctor got the wireless working.

[jj]

Due to idiotic DRM legal crap the stock debian based linux will only play region free DVDs out of the box. To fix it for Ubuntu:

Code: [Select]

sudo apt-get install totem-xine libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdread4
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
While at it, lets also install the official flash plugin:

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sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer
...and java:

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sudo apt-get install sun-java6-plugin
These all work perfectly on both 32-bit and 64-bit Ubuntu.

Free bonus: Google Earth

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sudo apt-get install googleearth-package
make-googleearth-package
sudo dpkg -i googleearth*.deb
(P.S. You might need to manually sudo apt-get install lib32nss-mdns and then sudo apt-get-f install .. But only if the googleearth deb doesn't install out of the box)

Hi Piru

THanks for that.   Flash working, java working.  DVD not working with the movie player, installing vlc now see if that works..

Now this long shot and doesnt matter as can always boot back into windows if not, but i can log int work from home.  It uses a java app for the tunnelling which then uses remote desktop, is there a remote desktop that is exactly the same as the windows version.  I cant see this working myself

i think it runs through a cytrix server if that helps