Best Linux distribution?

[A Gruesome Time]

So - Just came into an Acer Aspire Onenetbook PC, Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM - First step was to wipe out Windows XP and install a linux distribution... It's been sometime since I've used Linux, I've always been a fan of Ubuntu until I tried their latest 2 distros on this machine, 11.10 Untiy desktop sucks - It's much too simplified and non customizable for my like, Precise is just a slight improvement on that. I'm now downloading Mint to try out thinking about Crunchbang also.

Any recommendations?

[ATL_Av8r]

I'm running 11.10 on an Atom netbook with GNOME classic and it is livable. I'm not a fan of Unity either.

[A Gruesome Time]

I'm running 11.10 on an Atom netbook with GNOME classic and it is livable. I'm not a fan of Unity either.

That was the route I ended up taking as well, lol.

[theuean]

Standalone, go with Mint. But really you can slap a new UI onto anything which is the beauty of Linux. Mint will come loaded with a ton of stuff to get you up and running quick but if you want a leaner version (you probably are adventurous if you're customizing your front end) go with a lighter release.

[izzo]

x2 for mint (katya currently, w/ gnome); both @ home and @ work.

[KeiCar]

'nix newb here. I've been trying to get setup a running install using virtualbox on my mac. I agree with the poster above, Unity turned me off to ubuntu, shame too because I was starting to like it. I felt the entire reason I was installing ubuntu in the first place was to tinker around and not have a dumb-ed down UI.

Anyway that led me to try Kubuntu and Linux Mint. I fudged it on my HTPC so that sits now with no OS, I might try it again on my mac in a virtual enviro since I got a new HD and much more space to play with!

good luck. oh and is there any other distro I should look at aside from Ku & mint? Again Im new, so I'll need my hand held thought most of everything.

[izzo]

Most any distribution has a live CD. Download, burn, run it, see if it works for you or not.

[Egilbe]

'nix newb here. I've been trying to get setup a running install using virtualbox on my mac. I agree with the poster above, Unity turned me off to ubuntu, shame too because I was starting to like it. I felt the entire reason I was installing ubuntu in the first place was to tinker around and not have a dumb-ed down UI.

Anyway that led me to try Kubuntu and Linux Mint. I fudged it on my HTPC so that sits now with no OS, I might try it again on my mac in a virtual enviro since I got a new HD and much more space to play with!

good luck. oh and is there any other distro I should look at aside from Ku & mint? Again Im new, so I'll need my hand held thought most of everything.

Lubuntu isn't bad. Puppy Linux is kinda fun.

[O_G]

Not a fan of Linux as a general-purpose desktop OS. The last time I tried Ubuntu it was a mess (unintuitive redundant unstable UI, for instance). That was a few years back, but I doubt it has improved dramatically since then.

Windows users looking for something different may want to try the Hackintosh game. OS X may not be perfect, but it is far superior to the Ubuntu I tried when it comes to general-purpose desktop usage.

[rich!]

ubuntu is a mess with unity - 2 steps back.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Windows users looking for something different may want to try the Hackintosh game. OS X may not be perfect, but it is far superior to the Ubuntu I tried when it comes to general-purpose desktop usage.

This

[Egilbe]

ubuntu is a mess with unity - 2 steps back.

yep, I agree