Alternate OSes?

[Hiro]

So I was looking into running something besides Windows on my computer, and I've found a few good options. I' used Ubuntu for like a week already, and while I liked it, it just had some weird issues, mainly with the Unity interface bullshit but also in a few other regards. Anyways, the options I've found and liked are Xubuntu, Mint, and the most interesting choice, Zeven OS, which is based on Ubuntu but made to look and work more like BeOs. I also looked at ArchLinux and Gentoo, but they seemed a bit challenging for my beginner's experience.

Anyone have any other suggestions or comments about the ones mentioned?

[snoorkel]

Gentoo is awesome, but yeah I wouldn't start with it if you're new to Linux.

I'd try Kubuntu, it's just Ubuntu with KDE instead of GNOME (gui), which in my opinion is much more useful... and objectively far more customizable. It will only take a second to get used to after Windows, but you'll be hooked before you know it

You're probably familiar with but the best part of Linux is package managers (aptitude for debian/ubuntu), so installing things is as simple as

apt-get install vnc4server

in Terminal. prepare to have actual control over your pc.

[Clara Listensprechen]

Interesting. I have yet to get over my allergy to Unix, which all Linux-launched operating systems grew from. If anybody has a "sales pitch" that would convince an old Unix person that a particular branch of Linux is not the headache that Unix is, I'm all ears.

[Daddy]

It's not Vista.   

[Hiro]

Gentoo is awesome, but yeah I wouldn't start with it if you're new to Linux.

I'd try Kubuntu, it's just Ubuntu with KDE instead of GNOME (gui), which in my opinion is much more useful... and objectively far more customizable. It will only take a second to get used to after Windows, but you'll be hooked before you know it

You're probably familiar with but the best part of Linux is package managers (aptitude for debian/ubuntu), so installing things is as simple as

apt-get install vnc4server

in Terminal. prepare to have actual control over your pc.

I've used KDE before, and I fucking hate it. I don't really know why, but I just find everything about it either strange or obnoxious.  I think xfce looks more my style.
I never got too into it when I used it, but I did do a little bit of stuff like that and the system worked fairly well.

Between Mint, Xubuntu, and Zeven though, what do you think would be best? I've heard good things about Mint. I wish I could talk to people with experience with Zeven, but it's an obscure german variant so I'm not sure I'm going to find many opinions.

[Clara Listensprechen]

It's not Vista.   

Naw. Ya don't say.   

[Hiro]

Naw. Ya don't say.   

honestly though, you don't really know how much you dislike vista until you start using another os. it's not bad on the level of windows ME, but there are so many better options. even if you insist on using windows, 7 is much better.

[bluaki]

I've used KDE before, and I fucking hate it. I don't really know why, but I just find everything about it either strange or obnoxious.  I think xfce looks more my style.

I agree about KDE. The entire interface seems awkward and bulky to me

It's not like Ubuntu doesn't still have GNOME: you can switch to it from Unity on the login screen, though some of the Unity tweaks may cause minor issues. I'd suggest comparing Xfce and GNOME yourself. Look at the panels, file managers (Nautilus/Thunar), and application menu/main menu.

I haven't used Mint in a while, so I'm not too familiar with differences in Ubuntu Gnome/Mint or Xubuntu/Mint Xfce

[snoorkel]

Hm, I tend to prefer KDE over the others, I use it on my netbook and it works better for fast usage than GNOME and xfce do... imo. I'm also very used to OS X so I like some of the UI features it has by default, although the same stuff can be configured with any gui.

Mint is basically just Ubuntu with bloatware, I'd go with Xubuntu and install software as you need it.

[Hiro]

Hm, I tend to prefer KDE over the others, I use it on my netbook and it works better for fast usage than GNOME and xfce do... imo. I'm also very used to OS X so I like some of the UI features it has by default, although the same stuff can be configured with any gui.

Mint is basically just Ubuntu with bloatware, I'd go with Xubuntu and install software as you need it.

I thought the point of Mint was to run well on netbooks, no?
I'm having trouble seeing much advantage from mint over xubuntu and vice-versa, and while I know Zeven isn't a practical choice, it's just so damn interesting...

[snoorkel]

I thought the point of Mint was to run well on netbooks, no?
I'm having trouble seeing much advantage from mint over xubuntu and vice-versa, and while I know Zeven isn't a practical choice, it's just so damn interesting...

I think its purpose has always been to be easy for noobs to setup -- this is what I remember from years ago, before netbooks were around. Now Ubuntu kind of advertises itself the same way. Xubuntu, if anything, would be optimized for netbook usage, with Xfce the default window system (which is pretty lightweight)... but any Ubuntu distro would be fine on a netbook. I'd choose Ubuntu if for no other reason than because it's the most well-supported when it comes to random hardware issues.

[?????]

Use *BSD.

[Clara Listensprechen]

honestly though, you don't really know how much you dislike vista until you start using another os. it's not bad on the level of windows ME, but there are so many better options. even if you insist on using windows, 7 is much better.

Heh. Speak for yourself--I knew I didn't like Vista the day I got it home. It's just that the price was right. ME is much more flexible even though it has a capability deficit, and I'll have u know that I think it's more flexible than XP even. I have a couple of machines that still run it. Offline, maybe, but they're still my workhorses.

[?????]

Heh. Speak for yourself--I knew I didn't like Vista the day I got it home. It's just that the price was right. ME is much more flexible even though it has a capability deficit, and I'll have u know that I think it's more flexible than XP even. I have a couple of machines that still run it. Offline, maybe, but they're still my workhorses.

You should install Linux or BSD on those.

[Hiro]

Use *BSD.

but why? is it easy to install? are there many decent applications for it?
What about Haiku?