How virus immune is Linux?

[vertices]

Mint is more Windows like than Ubuntu due to the Unity desktop environment used by Ubuntu. Try Mint 12 and install Cinnamon on it. Very Windows like.

You can also make Mint very OSX like if you install cairo-dock.

These are my opinions of course.

[drdoom]

Thanks. I'm using the Gnome version of Ubuntu 10.10 I think. I might try installing Mint with your suggested gui and tell them I converted the computer to a MAC. Lol.

[wh666-666]

I'm sure there are a lot of opinions on this question but I'll ask anyway. Which version is most Windows like and which is most Apple like? I want to set up the computer to default to Linux when it boots otherwise they will just boot to Windows and that will defeat the purpose of having Linux installed.

You can have any variant you like. You can have clones. As vertices said, Ubuntu is more windows-esq. KDE and Gnome are the interfeace managers of a lot of distros.

Opensuse is nice like 11.4 here, but you may be able to see what I mean about Gnome and KDE distros looking less polished:


Linux mint 9 (I prefer the UI to 12):


Linux mint 12 (I really dislike multiple taskbars) :


Ubuntu 12 (ewwwwww! Many people arent happy on the UI shift in latest releases):


Ubuntu 8-ish (like how Ubuntu used to be):


Then I think things start to get really sexy when you look at xcfe as a UI. I just think it looks more refined and works slightly quicker.

Xubuntu 11:


Dreamlinux is a nice mac clone and very sexy - Used it in the past and loved it:


Thunar is another xcfe distro that looks like mac, but it isnt as nice as dreamlinux IMHO:


Although I reckon vector linux gives dreamlinux a run for its money in v7:


Or even back in v5 gold edition:




But the best thing for you to do is tell us what OS they are most comfortable with, because when it comes to personalisation, there are hundreds of distros out there, ready and waiting to clone the experience of other systems.

[wh666-666]

Vixta looks very close to Vista/win7, very sleek. Very easy to use as it is fedora based, so related somewhat to the likes of Mint, but look at how polished it is and the close approximation:


Then one of the cheekiest clones is YLMF. Put an XP user in front of this and many wont even know they are using linux although they'll all love the increased speed:


Be careful that you get the english and not the chinese version of this distro if you get it, another YLMF screenieshot:



As I said, let us know what interface they feel most comfortable with. I know many people who use and rave about win7 when speaking about MS, but they work quicker and know where everything is in XP because it was around for so long.

[wh666-666]

Thanks. I'm using the Gnome version of Ubuntu 10.10 I think. I might try installing Mint with your suggested gui and tell them I converted the computer to a MAC. Lol.

Lol, I wouldn't recommend Mint for eye candy. It is windows-esq but as shown in the pictures, a cleaner look, which might suit some who want a toned down OS from windows, but not for people also demanding aesthetics on the same level or better.

If they like mac and can use mac OS's, the likes of vectorlinux or dreamlinux are some of the best choices.

What I might recommend, is download a few live discs, after you all look at screenshots you drool over.

Then run those live discs, bearing in mind it will be far slower than when it is installed and may have a few less features and hardware support before you install it.

That may help you to choose one to go forward and install. It will take less time than a windows install anyway. But it is easier to shop around before installing IMHO.

[drdoom]

Damn I'm in OS overload mode. I'll have to find out what they might like best. If they could find their Windows 7 disks I could get the ball rolling on this.
I assume I can download Mint and then once I have it installed install different gui's? Or are all these completely different versions of Linux?

[wh666-666]

Completely different versions ....

However you could install multiple OS's but the whole point of live disc distro's is a try before you install option to see whether you like it before committing yourself.

Feel free to list exactly what you're all looking for from an OS, how much eye candy you want or how toned down you would like it and if you have a mac or windows OS you all like and would like to use, what feels best to you all.


There are so many other distros like pclinuxos, centos, etc etc, that are very popular as well, but I didnt want to overload the thread or yourself, with endless screenshots ....

[drdoom]

Appreciate all the input. Since this is not for my computer I can't answer some of the questions. I'll have to get back on that. Is the available software the same on all versions of Linux or are some better supported than others? It seems Ubuntu and Mint are the most popular currently. Does that mean more software available?

[Vindir]

Appreciate all the input. Since this is not for my computer I can't answer some of the questions. I'll have to get back on that. Is the available software the same on all versions of Linux or are some better supported than others? It seems Ubuntu and Mint are the most popular currently. Does that mean more software available?

To try and make it a simple answer...

• You can install anything on any linux version with a source compile
• To simplify installs you'll want to use one of the major package managers. (for the sake of simplicity I only mention rpm & deb here)
• The repositories can for the most part be used from other distributions when you're using a derivative. ie - most packages in the ubuntu repos will be usable if you need them on Mint, gOS, CrunchBang, etc.. and the same applies to the debian repos.
• Where you will run into problems is when distros modify the basic structure of the typical gnu userspace. So you'll often have problems if you try to steal from SuSE or Mandriva repos for your fedora install.
• Debian based distros are in my experience much better about not screwing around with basic stuff for no good reason.

Nearly anything you'll care to install will be available in every well known distro and the above won't matter to you unless you actually start installing obscure stuff to learn about it.

[wh666-666]

Appreciate all the input. Since this is not for my computer I can't answer some of the questions. I'll have to get back on that.

No probs!

Is the available software the same on all versions of Linux or are some better supported than others? It seems Ubuntu and Mint are the most popular currently. Does that mean more software available?

No not really. Most software is available regardless of what distro is installed. as Vindir says:

Nearly anything you'll care to install will be available in every well known distro

Installation is really easy from the terminal (basic command) or 99.99999% of distros including all the ones mentioned so far, have a software manager.

As Vindir said, it will all be available across all distros unless it is something really obscure.

But at a mouseclick in the software managers, you can install hundreds of games or pretty much any software that you can get under windows, all free and installed in one or two clicks.


Just saying this to re-assure you, if you can install windows and software on it, you can install linux and software on that, modern linux OS's are so much easier to configure.

[drdoom]

Thanks again. Just downloaded and burned Mint 12. So much minty goodness awaits. There is no setup executable like Ubuntu. Do I boot off the DVD to get started?

[wh666-666]

Yep. If you get distros in an image, then just boot off it. It will be slow just working off the disc, but you can play around and then if you want to install, there is usually an icon on the desktop.

[Steven P Jobs]

jesus christ are the linux people ever gonna start caring about typesetting
even windows has this stuff figured out by now

[Vindir]

jesus christ are the linux people ever gonna start caring about typesetting
even windows has this stuff figured out by now

Between TeX, troff, LaTeX, postcript, scribus, etc. a good deal of modern typesetting was born in linux.

I suspect you're trying to point out the failures of typesetting in the modern windowing systems though and just haven't made it clear.

Typesetting in gnome/KDE/Unity would actually be a great topic for discussion, but the way you're posing the question makes you smell like a nasty troll looking to derail the thread. So... if you actually care then start a new thread and discuss, otherwise please refrain from making a mess in the pool.

[bldegle2]

drdoom,

My post isn't about what OS to install, just a post to let you know how I handled screwy users who ruined installs...

My cousins kids did this over and over again, finally, with the last complete redo I separated myself from support and told them I will no longer help, next time they will have to go to a shop and pay...They completely ignored antiviri warnings because it was screwing with their illegal digital downloading (vids and music mostly), actually, they even admitted they disabled the antivirus because it was annoying them...this happened again and again, even with stern warnings...

Four complete OS reinstalls and extra loadups, each time I tried to fix without install, the unit had so many viri it was totally impossible, much like your experience...I know I don't have to tell you the hours involved (support for relatives in my world means FREE)...

They probably have brought the unit to its knees again by now, but I haven't heard from them (bliss)...

In my case, no girlfriend was involved, YMMYV...

Tough love...

Laterzzzz......