SimplyMEPIS 7.0 is now in rc2 and is due out in final release any day now. I used it for years. Earlier this year it switched to Ubuntu from Debian, but found that users were running into problems. So it switched back to Debian core. It has taken users for a bit of a roller coaster ride. It fell from 3rd in Distrowatch to way down the list. It is a rock solid distro and should be back to its old self soon.
SimplyMEPIS has outstanding hardward support. For two years I could not install any distro on my system except MEPIS due to all of the new proprietary hardware (HP). Now everything installs on it because the hardware is old. But MEPIS was that good that it worked when nothing else would. This included PCLinuxOS which also has great hardware support. Since you are relatively new to Linux, one of the major considerations of choosing a distro is package management. This determines how applications are installed and de-installed. There are several methods. Some are very hard, such as installing from source code, while others are easy using a menu. Most easy package management falls into two categories DEB or RPM. You can convert from one to the other using a command line program called alien, but it isn't for novices. DEB based distros are Ubuntu, SimplyMEPIS, and Debian and RPM based ones are Mandriva, Suse and Fedora. PCLinuxOS is a version of Mandriva. Your choice of Debian is probably wise for a couple of reasons. Debian is very stable and Deb package management tends to have fewer dependency problems over time. Debian itself is one of the slowest developing distros. Its development cycle is years long, meaning it is not bleeding edge, but it also gives it its stability. If you want bleeding edge with the benefits of Debian's stability opt for a Debian-based distro such as MEPIS, Freespire or Ubuntu. If you deep big repositories (i.e. lots of programs) then you should opt for Ubuntu or one of its family (There are many such as: Kubuntu, Xbuntu, Gobuntu, Edubuntu, CE, Ichthux, JeOS, gOS, Ubuntu Studio, Freespire or Mint and more). Other considerations are the kernel, the file system, the bootloader and the installation method. The kernel is controlled by the founder of Linux, Linus Torvalds, but different distros use different versions of it. Some even still use 2.4x while most use 2.6x. Linux uses a range of file systems, but ext3 is most common. The main boot loaders are grub and lilo. I find grub easier to use and edit. some distros such as Ubuntu, MEPIS and PCLinuxOS use live CDs to install from. These are fully functioning OSes on the CD with no hard drive installation required, but all have the option to install to the HD. Others like Fedora, Mandriva and Suse prefer no live CD, but instead use an installation CD that steps you through a series of questions and steps. Most are now graphical, but some still use a text based installer. ----- Original Message ---- From: tekant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, December 7, 2007 2:50:32 PM Subject: [LINUX_Newbies] a chance to convert a Windows user to Linux Hi Im a Windows user. just bit acquaintance with Linux from Univ years. My computer background is not bad. Ive been usin it since Commodore64 and DOS years. Couple of times attempted for Linux but its very confusing.. Last year I wantted to setup a personal Web server in my attic. I wanted to install Debian and Apache but I gave up and turn to Windows. now server 2000 and IIS working. ( Why Debian? I like its name, also my friend recommended many years ago) There is couple of reason. if you can help me, maybe you can make me a Linux user The system is old. Dual PIII with 440M/B. Dual Hotswap PSU. about 730Mb ECC. Dell Perf Quad 64bit Raid with 128Mb daughterBrd. 5 SCSI in Hotsawp Cage. TapeDrv, DVD, floppy etc.. No problem with Hardware except wireless card. godd**n Airlink 101 card . There was a limited wireless no support for this card at that time. I tried some generic drivers which I found on some linux sites. I dont know how is it now. Then I needed Remoteadmin program like Famatech's Remote Administrator. something let me to see remote desktop visually (from windows machine). last problem was multiple choise linuxs itsef. many desktop, many tool "where is that button?. I used it before. wait it was another program to do same thing. this is better for that but other was better for this". I usually go far from my target while I was finding/trying/ reading. Now I need some advices. - which wireless? should I throw the card. or different linux is a solution. ( maybe piece of cake with newest Debian release) -is there any easy to use remote admin desktop solution which accept me to reach from windows platform to Linux ? - which desktop, which web, admin tools? Or should I forget desktop desktop, visual admin and go for old style Telnet? I want minimal configuration. so I need advice about package content. briefly thats the story .Thanks for your patience. 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