Kickstart 2010 with Linux
Switching to a new operating system is never easy. Particularly if you were brought up on a staple diet of Microsoft Windows. But it’s not as hard as it used to be to switch to Linux because there is a good selection of quality Linux versions that are easy to install and comfortable to use.
Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/
Perhaps the best-known Linux version and started by SA’s Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu Linux is a fine starting point for first-time Linux users. Ubuntu is based on Debian, the grandfather of Linux distributions, but is designed to be easy to use and cater for as wide an audience as possible. Although Ubuntu runs on most major platforms from netbooks to servers, it is its desktop version that garners it the most interest. Ubuntu’s six-monthly releases are among the most anticipated software releases and Karmic Koala, the latest version, has had a number of new features added that make it easy to setup and quite a bit faster than previous versions. First-time Linux users shouldn’t have too much trouble installing Ubuntu because the installation procedure has been streamlined to have as little interaction as possible.
OpenSuse http://www.opensuse.org/
Originally known as Suse Linux, OpenSuse is the Linux distribution shipped by Novell. That company bought the distribution in 2003 in an effort to revive its flagging fortunes as it lost ground in the networking sector. OpenSuse is very easy to use and includes the very powerful YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) graphical configuration tool that makes it one of the easiest distributions to use. OpenSuse is one of the best desktop releases but also has a number of unique features that make it a powerful server system favoured by enterprise users. The latest version of OpenSuse, version 11.2, also adds a number of new features including a web-based version of its software management tool as well as an upgrade feature that simplifies migrating one version to another. OpenSuse is widely used in the enterprise world but is still very popular with home users.
Linux Mint http://www.linuxmint.com/
Linux Mint is a derivative of Ubuntu Linux which aims to be more userfriendly than its parent. Driven by a community of developers Linux Mint’s particular strength is making it as easy as possible for new users to get up and running on Linux. Unlike its parent Ubuntu, Mint includes full multimedia support by default and has a Mint-specific configuration tool to ease setup. The idea with Mint is to predict the problems first-time users will face and try and prepare solutions to those. Mint is very easy to install and, because it is geared to new users, is a good starting point. The latest version of Mint, version 8, adds a number of useful tools to the base system, including a very useful file uploading tool.
Fedora http://fedoraproject.org/
Fedora is a community distribution sponsored by Linux giant Red Hat and was originally derived from that version. Although Red Hat focuses on the enterprise market, so is somewhat conservative in what it releases, Fedora is exactly the opposite. Over the past couple of years Fedora has become one of the most interesting of distributions as it experiments with new ways of doing things such as kernel based virtualisation. Red Hat’s commercial releases are based on Fedora releases so much of what is included in Fedora will eventually find its way into Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Networking is also strong point with Fedora and improvements in the RPM-based software management system make this an easy distribution to use.
Debian http://www.debian.org/
Debian is arguably the most important distribution. At the heart of Debian and all of its derivatives is the Debian package management system which is a highly configurable and powerful system of managing applications, their dependencies and how they are built. Other distributions based on Debian pioneered the idea of “Live” CD releases which could be run directly from disc without being installed. Debian is widely used by users that prefer stability over experimental features. Debian is very much an enthusiasts distribution and not really recommended for first-time Linux users. Users who do use Debian swear by it but for newcomers there are better options.
Mandriva http://www.mandriva.com/
Mandriva is another distribution ideal for Linux newcomers. Mandriva’s aim is to make it as easy as possible to install and manage a Linux system. The latest version, Mandriva 2010, has a strong netbook focus and has been working on boot times. Mandriva 2010 will run on all Asus EEE PC machines as well as most other netbooks. Mandriva is available in a variety of versions including a totally free one, which includes no non-free software, and a version that does include proprietary drivers and plugins that make it easier for less experienced users to get up and running. Mandriva is easy to install and a good choice for new Linux users.
PCLinuxOS http://www.pclinuxos.com/
PCLinuxOS is a derivative of Mandrake which acquired Connectiva in 2005 and renamed itself Mandriva. PCLinuxOS has a very active community and is also aimed at ease-of-use, much like its parent Mandriva. PCLinuxOS doesn’t ship with proprietary drivers but those can be installed after the system is up and running. The distribution ships as both a Live CD and as an installable CD. PCLinux OS is built around the KDE desktop interface so makes a good alternative for users not wanting to run the Gnome desktop, which is the default for many other distributions.
Puppy Linux http://www.puppylinux.com/
In the early days of Linux there was Damn Small Linux. Now there is Puppy Linux which is an ultra-small version of Linux that can be run from a range of media including USB drives and CDs. The core version of Puppy is just over 50MB in size and includes a working desktop. Versions with more capabilities range up to just over 90MB in size. Puppy Linux can be run as a desktop on older PCs with limited resources but its real strength is as a Live version capable of being booted on most systems. Puppy Linux is good for specific applications, including older PCs and small servers. But because it is stripped down to the bare bones, Puppy Linux is not the best choice for first-time users who will need a few basic skills to get the best out of it.
Sabayon http://www.sabayonlinux.org/
Sabayon Linux is a version of Linux based on the Gentoo distribution. Gentoo is famous for building all applications from source code which meant greater optimisations for specific hardware could be achieved. Sabayon is different from Gentoo in that it doesn’t build each application from source code when it is installed but relies on a core of pre-built Gentoo applications. Sabayon ships as both a Live DVD and a smaller mini-edition on CD. Perhaps not the best choice for first-time users as it is aimed at users looking to maximaise their Linux operating system.
10 – CentOS http://www.centos.org/
CentOS is a Linux version aimed at enterprise users, so not the first choice for new users. Cent OS is good, however, for users that that need high-end capabilities. Although CentOS is based on Red Hat it is not connected to Red Hat in any way. It is very popular in shared hosting environments. CentOS developers use the source code of Red Hat to build the distribution although they do remove all proprietary software from the final releases. The one benefit of Cent Os is that it is free, whereas Red Hat is not.
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