Best Linux distros for Windows Users?

**paul** · #1 (**permalink**) 22-02-2010, 07:39

Which Linux distros would be best for Non-Tech savvy Windows Users? The changeover need to be seamless and painless as possible, my couple of friends want to transit from XP to Linux, just wondering what should I recommend?

**DPS Computing** · #2 (**permalink**) 22-02-2010, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul

Which Linux distros would be best for Non-Tech savvy Windows Users? The changeover need to be seamless and painless as possible, my couple of friends want to transit from XP to Linux, just wondering what should I recommend?

Ubuntu - the latest version is quite friendly with a lot of things being able to be done through the GUI.

However with that said, as with any version of Linux, if your scared of the command line you should stick with Windows as I believe it impossible to be able to use Linux effectively without at least on occassion resorting the command line

.

**Ben** · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2010, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPS Computing

Ubuntu - the latest version is quite friendly with a lot of things being able to be done through the GUI.

However with that said, as with any version of Linux, if your scared of the command line you should stick with Windows as I believe it impossible to be able to use Linux effectively without at least on occassion resorting the command line

.

I love Ubuntu, the best Linux distro you can get

. Ubuntu has certainly become easier to install and use in general and the docs have become easier to find answers to WiFi related issues, etc. That said, WiFi support for different wireless adapters / cards is increasing especially since Ubuntu 9.04; before then for the BELKIN F5D7050 you either needed to know how to get NDISwrapper working or either buy a different wireless adapter that worked with at least NDISwrapper workaround. Since Ubuntu 9.04, the BELKIN adapter works out of the box

, and same applies in Ubuntu 9.10 I believe. For things like installing applications its pretty easy (for .deb ones anyway), for the tar ones I don't have a clue myself, and it seemed complicated when I wanted to! (any help on that appreciated).

If I ever wanted to use Linux full time I'd use Ubuntu or at least Linux Mint which is an awesome Ubuntu-based distro.

**paul** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 06:54

Thanks for the suggestions!

One new feature is upcoming with Ubuntu 10.04 (The Desktop in the Cloud Project ) that also grab my attention, it seems better choice at the most, hopefully the installation process should go smoothly..

**Archestic** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 12:45

Ubuntu is pretty much the only thing. Though this is one of the best versions it can still be a little quirky for many windows users making the transfer.

I would suggest dual booting the machine so you can get back to using windows if needs be in the future.

**DPS Computing** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archestic

Ubuntu is pretty much the only thing. Though this is one of the best versions it can still be a little quirky for many windows users making the transfer.

I would suggest dual booting the machine so you can get back to using windows if needs be in the future.

This is definitely a good suggestion and would be wise. Although there are similarities with Windows, Ubuntu is definitely not Windows.

**jc8654** · #7 (**permalink**) 16-04-2010, 17:32

Or run a virtual machine.

Nice and handy and saves you having to reboot into things.

**arclight** · #8 (**permalink**) 20-09-2010, 13:40

I have Ubuntu on a SD card on my netbook, purely for my internet banking. Its not used for anything else, so I have little of no chance of it being compromised by an unknown download from a dodgy site.

And I have Meego, which works beautifully on a netbook, but is nothing like windows