[Topgun]

I want to start using linux, but don't know much about the different distros. I guess Ubuntu since its so common, but IDK.
Think you you can help an old windows guy out?
and BTW, this will be installed on an old computer running the OS virtually through windows, so I need it to be fast.

[Ghostavo]

Ubuntu is pretty easy to get into, can't go wrong with it if it's your first time using another OS and getting used to it. Although if you like documentation and customization, you can't go wrong with Gentoo.

As for running an OS inside another OS, that is never fast. Much less with old hardware.

[Topgun]

Its not like I am going to play games or anything, I just want it to be bearable.

[Tyrian]

First off, if you're going to use it on an older computer, I'd recommend against virtualization.  It's too resource heavy.  If you can't reformat your drive for whatever reason, go with Ubuntu and make yourself a live CD.  You get all the functionality of a full install, but you can't (easily) store data.

I'd second the recommendation for Ubuntu.  It's about as close to plug and play as you can get (with an OS).  It's extremely easy to get into from a Windows user's point of view.  

As for Gentoo, I'd recommend against it (for a new person).  You'll have to do everything by hand.  Installing new programs, while handled in an extremely versatile manner, is very complex.  It revolves around downloading the source code for the program, then compiling it with the correct flags to give you the functionality that you want.  If you miss a flag, then you lose that function.  Plus, in my experience, Linux rarely crashes, but when it does, it explodes.  Gentoo isn't easy to fix.

If you want a good intro to Linux, I'd recommend Arch Linux.  It's very small, light on resources, but requires some learning to get running correctly.  It's the best choice for people who want to learn the guts of Linux.  If you go this route though, you're better off installing to your hard drive and getting rid of Windows.

[Ghostavo]

Installing new programs, while handled in an extremely versatile manner, is very complex.  It revolves around downloading the source code for the program, then compiling it with the correct flags to give you the functionality that you want.  If you miss a flag, then you lose that function.

You make it sound very complicated.

All you have to do is "emerge <program>" very much like arch's "pacman -S <program>"

The only difference being the make flags which is very easy to figure out.

[Mars]

Whereas in Ubuntu you have a nice Add/Remove Programs GUI, by default. 

[Spicious]

I don't think I've ever seen someone nuke their coreutils in ubuntu while trying to upgrade them.

[Fury]

For anyone who is about to try linux for the first time ever or for the first time ever in serious attempt, Ubuntu is the #1 choice. It really shows what linux can do for little trouble. Above mentioned Gentoo and Arch are for advanced users and shouldn't be recommended for someone who hasn't used linux before, least they will quit in frustration.

There are other good desktop distros too, like Fedora. But Fedora fails in providing official repositories for non-free applications and codecs which end-users will need if they want serious Windows contender. As much as purists advocate this approach, it is a nuisance for most end-users. Fedora fails in something else too, and that is providing an easy upgrade path. In Ubuntu you can simply run the update application which upgrades your OS to the latest release on the fly.

Note: You really should use either the GUI tool or command line tool to upgrade Ubuntu release. apt-get and aptitude are not supported for release upgrades in Ubuntu and may break things.

[Admiral LSD]

The idea that "virtualisation = slow" is a bit of a myth these days. If you have a reasonably modern CPU with the right virtualisation extensions (Everything AM2 and up as far as AMD goes, but for Intel it's a little bit murkier. Check with their online processor spec finder to confirm whether yours has VT or not.) then the hit taken by virtualisation is negligable. VirtualBox is a free app that supports hardware virtualisation extensions allowing you to try out Linux (or a variety of other OSs, even Windows) without leaving the comfort of your normal OS.

If you're just starting out with Linux then I'd have to say Ubuntu as well. It's been going downhill since 7.10 or so and needs more manual intervention than a modern desktop OS really should, but it's still the best way to get into Linux with the least amount of fuss. When you're feeling more confident, you can move to something more hands-on like Arch or Gentoo.

[Fury]

The idea that "virtualisation = slow" is a bit of a myth these days. If you have a reasonably modern CPU with the right virtualisation extensions

and BTW, this will be installed on an old computer running the OS virtually through windows, so I need it to be fast.

[Bobboau]

TRY UBUNTU

to be honest I have found  I don't like the gnome shell and have switched to kde, so kubuntu would be the better package, however kubuntu isn't the best KDE basted distro, but the point I'm trying to make is

TRY UBUNTU

I wanted to get into linux for years and years before I ever did, because when ever I would ask how to get into it, I would have 5 billion distros thrown at me and I was told to pick the one that suited me best. how the **** am I supposed to pick the one that suits me best when I know nothing about any of them.

CLICK LINK, RECEIVE ISO. BURN. REBOOT. PLAY
TRY UBUNTU
I would recomend the bit torrent DL

The big pRoblem linux has had all these Years is that there was not a 'defaUlt' linux, well, for one thing linux isn't an operateing system, its a core of an opperateing system. the design is such that the 'linux' part of a linux system could it's self Be replaced with a diferent modUle (bsp or herd). bUt that is gettiNg away from my poinT. try Ubuntu.

TRY UBUNTU

after years of thinking about I finaly downloaded ubuntu, you burn it to a disk, and you try it without makeing a change to your system, it runs a ram drive so no changes are done unless you go way out of your way to make them. if you don't like it you take the disk out and reboot back to windows, windows won't even know you cheated on it because it was in a coma and is just an OS so it has no concept of cheating. no commitments, just however long it takes to download and burn + 15 minutes to try.

TRY UBUNTU, THE DEFAULT LINUX

as much as I'll get crucified for calling it that. you don't need options right now you need a default.

[Stealth]

jump into the deep end... run debian.

[castor]

Yea, Debian stable would work fine for this purpose. For once, its long release cycle would be a positive thing, since you'd have time to get familiar with stuff before everything changes again (as it tends to go in linux world). That said, Arch would probably be a better choice if you really want to dig into details (due to its minimalistic approach compared to debian).

[Bobboau]

no, don't listen to these fools, just do Ubuntu, do the other stuff later. I'm not saying it's the best, I'm saying it's the place to start.

[Topgun]

I got Ubuntu.
I like, its a lot simpler than Windows, installing stuff is weird though.


I can't seem to get the file system, how does the filesystem work, in comparison to windows?
no C:/program files here, lol.

[Mika]

Depends on what you are planning to do with it. If just email and internet, I have heard recommendations of Ubuntu, and some other distros.

But if you are planning to do any sort of hardware or prototype development, STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM LINUX! This is coming from a person who had to assist writing drivers for hardware controls in Linux. The free operating system costed hell a lot more than Windows CE when the working hours were accounted.

[Topgun]

okay I got some questions.
don't get how things install. like in windows, stuff just gets dumped in a dir somewhere and the registry values are added. in linux there is no registry, so.... how does stuff get incorporated into the interface? how does linux know what program open what ext? darn, learning linux is like having to learn to walk again.

[Spicious]

The file layout is explained here.

Linux doesn't care what program should open filetypes. There are programs that'll remember default programs for filetypes though. It's usually easier to just remember what programs do what you want, at least if you're using a terminal. Everything usually falls into a category: text (vim), pdf/ps/etc. (evince), images (eog), officy documents (openoffice.org).

[Bobboau]

the file manager you use is responsible for what happens when you double click on an icon inside it. in your case this would be nautilus (default file manager for Ubuntu) so you have to configure that to change file associations.

the file system is a bit more abstract, your hard drives will be found under /media/, by default.

the way stuff gets installed is via packages, they are installation scripts that copy files to different locations including configuring desktop environments and file managers, as well as adding start up scripts. basicly just use the synaptic package manager and you don't have to hunt down installers download them run them and clean up after them. it's a bit weird at first, but once you get your mind around it it's easy and you'll love it.

[Solatar]

I have to add more weight to the "try Ubuntu" argument. I happen to like KDE better, and I loved openSUSE for awhile. Now I'm running Linux Mint KDE edition, and it's great for me.

Try Ubuntu because it's easy to get set up and it'll give you some sort of baseline to compare other distros to if you decide to get curious.