Which OS For My Linux Box?

[reivan1]

Hi just got a laptop for Christmas its windows vista but I have 4GB ram so who cares :D, so I’ve decided to turn my old desktop which is also vista into a Linux box That will mainly Dedicated to watching divx video files maybe other formats to but mainly divx & Downloading. Also it has to be able to share files over my home network here’s the spec.

Core 2 duo E4300
1 gig ddr2
Realtek hd audio
Wg111v2 wireless
Radeon x1600 512MB pcie (1280 x 768)

just wondering what would be the best operating system and the most easy to set up. I know for a fact that the processor is detected, sound works and the wireless to because I’ve booted from the live CD i heard it’s a B*T*H to get my video card working.

Thats All thankz

PS (64BIT or 32BIT?)

[s3a]

I prefer Debian because it favours stability over being up to date however if you want something easy to use and stable, I'd recommend Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and I'd also recommend you only upgrade LTS releases and even then wait a while after the next LTS is released before you upgrade so that your operating system doesn't break.

[reivan1]

Oh Yeah synergy has to work because I’d like to control my 32inch bedroom LCD from my bed. basically I don’t like getting off my butt. :D

[creek23]

...however if you want something easy to use and stable, I'd recommend Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and I'd also recommend you only upgrade LTS releases and even then wait a while after the next LTS is released before you upgrade...
Intrepid is okay. I say, go for it.

[gjoellee]

I say go for Arch Linux. Arch Linux is a little more advanced but you what you gain is a system that fits for YOUR needs. Read more about Arch Linux here: http://kshoster.net/content/arch-linux

[C!oud]

I say go for Arch Linux. Arch Linux is a little more advanced but you what you gain is a system that fits for YOUR needs. Read more about Arch Linux here: http://kshoster.net/content/arch-linux

Arch really isn't advanced thanks to their fantastic documentation which allows one to simply copy and paste without understanding much of what's going on should one choose. Otherwise I would recommend it too since it's a great distro however if you have never used linux before than by all means try out Ubuntu or you might want to also check out Fedora (latest release was great) or something like OpenSUSE (mixed personal feelings on this one but I heard some good things about their latest release). Even better take a distro quiz!
1.http://polishlinux.org/choose/quiz/
2.http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

As for 32 bit or 64 bit most people recommend 64 bit for over 3 GB of RAM but I'm running 64 bit Arch on 1 GB RAM and I haven't had any problems at all especially since flash has been released for 64 bit OSs

[mikjp]

I would suggest any of the following:

- Kubuntu/Ubuntu/Mint
- openSUSE 11.1
- Fedora
- Mandriva

In my opinion openSUSE and Mandriva are the easiest to setup. But others might disagree. Debian and Slackware would also be fine choices if you are ready to read some documentation. :D

Arch & Gentoo, well... try first some of the four first mentioned distros. :P

Greetings,

mikko

[mikjp]

I would suggest any of the following:

- Kubuntu/Ubuntu/Mint
- openSUSE 11.1
- Fedora
- Mandriva

In my opinion openSUSE and Mandriva are the easiest to setup. But others might disagree. Debian and Slackware would also be fine choices if you are ready to read some documentation. :D

Arch & Gentoo, well... try first some of the four first mentioned distros. :P

Greetings,

mikko

[mips]

just wondering what would be the best operating system and the most easy to set up. I know for a fact that the processor is detected, sound works and the wireless to because I’ve booted from the live CD i heard it’s a B*T*H to get my video card working.

Thats All thankz

PS (64BIT or 32BIT?)


Just use Ubuntu. Try the ATI fglrx driver v8.12.

Most things work in 64bit these days, flash java etc. If you encoding/decoding for video/audio you will definately see performance increases.

[ryclegman]

yha use ubuntu or mint (mint comes with envy) then get envy
(http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html) to install your GFX driver....

[wolfen69]

Arch really isn't advanced

not advanced? the average person can't even install xp or ubuntu.

i would go with ubuntu hardy 8.04.2 which will be released tomorrow. very stable.

[jrusso2]

If your number of posts indicates your level of skills I would stick with Ubuntu a year at least. Also a gig of ram seems to be limiting the performace of your pc which is otherwise pretty good and with ram being so cheap I would consider upgrading to 2 to 4 gigs total ram.

[hrod beraht]

Also a gig of ram seems to be limiting the performace of your pc...I would consider upgrading to 2 to 4 gigs total ram.

:shock:
Do you actually ever manage to use 4 GB? The reason I'm curious is that I've only got 512 MB, with a 1 GB swap partition, and I've never actually used even the 512 (even including buffers/cache).

This is typical operation for me:
Desktop 1: a file manager window and two terminal windows connecting via SSH/SSHFS to two servers
Desktop 2: another file manager window and a music player
Desktop 3: another file manager window and GIMP editing two graphics
Desktop 4: instant messenger and Firefox with 15 open tabs
Also a few daemons running such as crond, openntpd, etc.

Total actual RAM usage: 200 MB, no swap used (about 320 MB if you include the buffers/cache)
True, I'm using Openbox rather than Gnome, which would account for some of the difference, but I'm curious what are you running that would need 4 GB?

Bob

[C!oud]

not advanced? the average person can't even install xp or ubuntu.

i would go with ubuntu hardy 8.04.2 which will be released tomorrow. very stable.

It's advanced as *you* the user decides to make it, which is one of the beauties of Arch and has nothing to do with what the average person can do since within the scope of these forums I think most people can install Ubuntu.