Which linux flavour

I have to say my vote goes to Ubuntu too.

It's grudging because i have used SuSE for years a while ago and remain loyal to it, and really liked Mandriva when I tried it out, but Ubuntu was streets ahead in the ease of getting things working out of the box for me and the support available on the 'net.

Chris

I have used Ubuntu and found it works well but particularly user friendly, Kubuntu is easier but still lacks that ease of use. Now using PCLOS in both KDE and Gnome variants and find that its as close to microshaft as you can get and still work. The best feature of these is the almost endless supply of applications both supported and not that is available in the repositories.
One of my major dislikes in the operation of peripherals which is still a painfull experience.

I tried Ubuntu and Kubuntu in various editions, then switched to PClinos gnome. I found it a breeze to install stuff with a packet manager. There have been a couple of issues lately as it's a rolling update, but I will perservere with it as I find it a better o/s in opinion. But each to his/her own. :)

The only thing I would add is load Ubuntu as another o/s so that you can still access Vista if you need. Also top tip: don't delete the hidden recovery drive 10gb or so - because then all the %$^&*(*^&%^^% recovery disks won't work when you try to re-install Vista...:p

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

I have used Ubuntu and found it works well but particularly user friendly, Kubuntu is easier but still lacks that ease of use. Now using PCLOS in both KDE and Gnome variants and find that its as close to microshaft as you can get and still work. The best feature of these is the almost endless supply of applications both supported and not that is available in the repositories.
One of my major dislikes in the operation of peripherals which is still a painfull experience.

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I am not too sure that being closer to MS is a real advantage except during the learning period!

Whether or how much trouble you have with peripherals depends on which peripherals you have - check before changing whether you will have problems (search linux, compatability, your peripheral) and the same if buying new peripherals.

A particular problem is likely to be ISP supplied equipment that 'needs' to run their own software - there is probably a workaround but it may take a while to find. A general rule for such equipment is that if it connects via a network cable there is not likely to be a problem (my satellite modem just plugged in and worked as an example), but if it connects with a USB cable problems are more likely.

John

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

I am not too sure that being closer to MS is a real advantage except during the learning period!

Whether or how much trouble you have with peripherals depends on which peripherals you have - check before changing whether you will have problems (search linux, compatability, your peripheral) and the same if buying new peripherals.

A particular problem is likely to be ISP supplied equipment that 'needs' to run their own software - there is probably a workaround but it may take a while to find. A general rule for such equipment is that if it connects via a network cable there is not likely to be a problem (my satellite modem just plugged in and worked as an example), but if it connects with a USB cable problems are more likely.

John

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You can also check compatibility with peripherals you already own by running Ubuntu from a live CD before you actually install it.

It runs a bit slowly of course because it has to access the CD every now and then, but it does allow you to test that things work.

If everything works, you can then install it with confidence.

Whilst my beloved pclinosgnome is being worked on by the pclin gnome gurus. Whilst I wait I installed Kubuntu 8.10 and installed the bells and whistles of the compiz. I'm finding it fun, but a bit hard to configure in comparison to the pclinuxos gnome I used prior.
I did have a hell of ajob trying to install it on a dual boot with Xp, Couldn;t get the partitioner to do what I wanted, in the end managed to install it on a partition ,but never got to install a swap file. But having heaps o Ram I'll think it'll run ok for a while.;)

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

I am not too sure that being closer to MS is a real advantage except during the learning period!

Whether or how much trouble you have with peripherals depends on which peripherals you have - check before changing whether you will have problems (search linux, compatability, your peripheral) and the same if buying new peripherals.

A particular problem is likely to be ISP supplied equipment that 'needs' to run their own software - there is probably a workaround but it may take a while to find. A general rule for such equipment is that if it connects via a network cable there is not likely to be a problem (my satellite modem just plugged in and worked as an example), but if it connects with a USB cable problems are more likely.

John

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I know what your saying but for the average home pc owner they just want to buy something, plug it in and expect it to work - this is really the thing that lets it down IMHO. For those that like tweaking like me its not so bad cant same the same if you try to get the missus to do something on it that she prevuiously breezed thru on windoze.

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

I know what your saying but for the average home pc owner they just want to buy something, plug it in and expect it to work - this is really the thing that lets it down IMHO. For those that like tweaking like me its not so bad cant same the same if you try to get the missus to do something on it that she prevuiously breezed thru on windoze.

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Yes, but I'm afraid that it is a bit of an illusion that you don't have this sort of thing happens with Windows - for example, I am typing this on my son's computer running Vista - and I do not want anything to do with it again if I can avoid it - it has twice kicked me off, downloaded an update and rebooted while I was in the middle of writing an email, and it will not run the software they were previously using for video editing. And then you have all the problems of viruses, security software etc.

Both have their drawbacks, its just that Linux has less familiar ones.

John

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes, but I'm afraid that it is a bit of an illusion that you don't have this sort of thing happens with Windows - for example, I am typing this on my son's computer running Vista - and I do not want anything to do with it again if I can avoid it - it has twice kicked me off, downloaded an update and rebooted while I was in the middle of writing an email, and it will not run the software they were previously using for video editing. And then you have all the problems of viruses, security software etc.

Both have their drawbacks, its just that Linux has less familiar ones.

John

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Ah but vista is crap, my XP pro has been rock steady for over 7 years .