Recommend me a stable, easy distro?

xrapidx

xrapidx

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I've pretty much had it with the way Windows is going - can't use it anymore, find it fugly and confusing... maybe I'm getting to that age. Latest laptop came with 8.1 - thought 10 would be neater... nope.

I need something with less clutter, but stable enough to allow me to do my daily work. (I need various Windows development environments, mostly BI - so Visual Studio, SQL 2008 - 2016... etc...which I'd most likely have to run in Wine).

Also - a lot of my recent work is moving towards database environments which would probably run better in a Linux environment anyway.
 
Running all those tools in Wine won't do, you will need to run it in a VM. As for the linx distro you could try Ubuntu.
 
I am a linux noob, but i got Linux mint up and running with ease. Been using it on my home laptop for more then 6 months, its stable.

Not sure about running all the other stuff you mention.
 
Just use Ubuntu and look up how to disable all the junk like the store searches and stuff. You will know what I mean when you try it.
It comes with quite a few really annoying things that you need to turn off.
 
I think the most difficult thing will be trying not to disrupt work too much... don't mind running Windows in a VM - I'd like to try and not dual boot to force myself to skill-up.

e.g. I need to get Cassandra up and running as well....

I'd also like to try minimize the amount of VMs running just to run different application servers.
 
I also vote for mint but you will need a VM for a while if you come from a mostly Windows tool chain.
 
Beachless said:
I also vote for mint but you will need a VM for a while if you come from a mostly Windows tool chain.
Click to expand...

Yeh - I'm good with that for the Windows stuff that I can't get away from, I just don't want to have a VM for every different piece of software I need (like Cassandra)


Rickster said:
Get Windows 7, best Windows by far.
Click to expand...

Yeh - I'm not about to go and buy a Windows 7 license :p
 
xrapidx said:
Yeh - I'm good with that for the Windows stuff that I can't get away from, I just don't want to have a VM for every different piece of software I need (like Cassandra)




Yeh - I'm not about to go and buy a Windows 7 license :p
Click to expand...

If you have a Win8.x licence you could downgrade to 7 for free. Not sure if still possible.
 
Vaughan said:
Just use Ubuntu and look up how to disable all the junk like the store searches and stuff. You will know what I mean when you try it.
It comes with quite a few really annoying things that you need to turn off.
Click to expand...

Never experienced that.

I find Ubuntu the fastest distro out there, guess thats why its used to run the worlds fastest super computer.
 
ghoti said:
Never experienced that.

I find Ubuntu the fastest distro out there, guess thats why its used to run the worlds fastest super computer.
Click to expand...

You recon my first attempt should be Ubuntu - looking at Mint at the moment, but to be honest - never heard of it.

My most recent experience to Linux has been Kali - but that's not exactly what I'm after here.
 
Ubuntu (the default flavour with Unity). If you have a small screen, old graphics chip or limited RAM (or just like a retro desktop) go for Ubuntu MATE.
VirtualBox for VMs.
 
ginggs said:
Ubuntu (the default flavour with Unity). If you have a small screen, old graphics chip or limited RAM (or just like a retro desktop) go for Ubuntu MATE.
VirtualBox for VMs.
Click to expand...

Tx - going to be on a laptop - fairly new mid spec - crappy screen res though, 1366 x 768 - but at him it plugs into a decent screen.
 
xrapidx said:
You recon my first attempt should be Ubuntu - looking at Mint at the moment, but to be honest - never heard of it.

My most recent experience to Linux has been Kali - but that's not exactly what I'm after here.
Click to expand...

With Ubuntu most things are dialed into work. Its easier to work with. If you dont like the desktop switch to anyone you like. Ubuntu can have multiple desktops. Because its easier to use, some people have this false perception its full of bloat. Its not, its fun, it runs the worlds fasted super computer
 
pinball wizard said:
Mint is very good. Pretty much a good stable Ubuntu distro with a different take on look and feel.
Click to expand...
Since the Cinnamon and MATE desktops are included as options for Debian and Ubuntu, what does Mint actually offer?
 
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