Last days I have tried some Linux distributions. Here is the list:
- Open Suse 11.1
- Mandriva 2009
- PC Linux OS 2009
- Simply Mepis 8.0
- Fedora
- Kubuntu
- Zenwalk
- Dreamlinux 3.0
I must say today is quite easy to install almost any Linux distributions, anyway I recommend you to look for some guides on the net ( official or not ). Also, you will need some partition manager to create .ext2 or .ext3 partitions from Windows, or you could do that with Gparted, as part of Linux installation. I did it before. And you must be careful to choose those partitions for Linux installation. In the contrary, you will erase all data you have on your hard disks.
Interfaces and graphics are really nice and user friendly.
All of distributions I have tried have no problems with drivers recognition. But I have specific internet connection – my PC connects to internet through LAN and with MIRC (?! ) – I must connect to LAN irc server – and only that way I’m connected to internet, which most Linux distros, that I have tried do not support. Of course, maybe I didn’t tried enough hard.
Only problem I’ve had is with Grub bootloader in Simply Mepis (which, at first sight, made deepest impression on me ). Mepis installation ends with no error warnings – all seems as it should be. When I reboot computer, appears Grub menu, but then problem starts – it can’t boot nor Linux, nor Windows. I cant figure what’s the point! I will leave this for later when I become more advanced user.
And then, I have downloaded Dreamlinux, Debian based distro, that fulfilled my all expectations – all that boring and complicated stuff with network and IRC. And guess what? I have installed Skype for Linux, from console. Next tutorial will cover that.
For the end, here is one useful tool if you want to try some of the Linux Live CD’s, and it bother you to restart system. You don’t even need to burn CD / DVD, Moba Live CD run only ISO files. It doesn’t even require an installation. It’s light and allows you to create virtual drive, and save all your live CD sessions.