what linux for me ? entheusiast

[Cew27]

hi there
i have always used windows and would like a change
i currently have just build a computer for myself and would like to dual boot 64 bit vista home prem and a linux
firstly hardware compatibility will linux be compatible with all my hardware and run to optimum performance with them
intel core 2 quad q6600
evga 780i sli motherboard
nvidia evga 8800 ultra ko version
seagate barracuda 750 gig with 32 meg cache
3 asus dvd writer drives
2 gig of ocz sli ram at 1066mhz
also would linux be able to run my peripherals
logitech g15 gaming keyboard( this has an lcd display that runs exe applets coded in c++)
aswell as a microsoft fingerprint reader and a microsoft habu mouse?

i think thats all that would play a part in an operating system
moving on
i will be using linux for java programming, photoshop (if it will run) and web design (dreamweaver)
but i would also like to know if it is compatible with the folowing programs
winamp, if not no big deal i will use a linux media player
the microsoft finger print reader software
kasperski antivirus (although i presume i wont need one with linux)
windows live mail
the logitch g15 keyboard and microsoft habu mouse software
and lastly the netbeans java ide (newest release)

what linux would be best for me ?
what would run all i stated above?
lastly it has to look good aswell as run java well

i am also thinking about getting into unix programming but thats way in the future

i understand this post is a rather long one but thank you for reading it and your reply's are much appreciated

[techieMoe]

Welcome to the forums. Many of your questions can be answered by this thread:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

[Cew27]

thanks i read that post but i am still not fully sure
like i said need to compatible with all the above hardware, good for software development (java) and fast i have downloaded the kubuntu live cd but i am not sure what the difference is between kububtu and ubuntu

[i92guboj]

i will be using linux for java programming

No problem.

photoshop (if it will run)

No problem, it works with wine, and, as you can see on winehq, since 3 days ago the cs/2 versions also work. You have some options in linux as well.

Gimp and krita do very well about raster/bitmaps, inkscape is the definitive program for vectors.

and web design (dreamweaver)

I suppose it works... I am not a fan of dreamweaber, though, so I haven't tried. I have the "strange" thought that programming must be done by writing code, rather than drawing it. But that's just me... to each, his/her own.

There is also a crappy dreamweaber-alike project, called nvu, which runs natively in linux. Can't talk about it either. I do all my xhtml/xml/php stuff and the like using a good text editor with xml highlighting, which is faster and cleaner.

but i would also like to know if it is compatible with the folowing programs
winamp, if not no big deal i will use a linux media player

Don't know if it runs on wine, but you should think seriously about one thing: if you are going to be using windows programs all the time, why the heck do you wan't to use linux? Run them natively on windows and save you all the hassle.

Being that said, there are plenty of media players in linux. Some of them, beat the hell out of winamp or any other windows player in which regards usability and features.

the microsoft finger print reader software

There's some effort on linux undergoing about fingerprint readers and the like, but never looked into it, and can't comment on how advanced or usable it is.

kasperski antivirus (although i presume i wont need one with linux)

Linux is more secure by design, but it is no invulnerable to attacks. It is a polity habbit to use av software to filter the mails if you are forwarding them to other people (to save bandwidth and to save them some problem in case they are running a vulnerable os). There are many av's for linux: clamav and bitdefender comes to my mind. I thikn that panda have (or had) also a linux version. Maybe there are some more around.

windows live mail

I don't know what this program does, so I can't help. Is it just a mail client?

the logitch g15 keyboard and microsoft habu mouse software

What software? I you mean, the tools to assign funny actions to the extra buttons, you can do so in linux without any extra software, you just need to configure it yourself.

and lastly the netbeans java ide (newest release)

It is available for linux. You can also use eclipse and probably many more.

what linux would be best for me ?
what would run all i stated above?
lastly it has to look good aswell as run java well

Any modern linux distro will do. YOu can use the same software on any distro (though on some distros, using a given application may take some more work than in others).

Distros that I usually advice to beginners are suse or debian, because they have a good community, a solid base, big repositories and are solid distros.

Which would be better for you can only be discovered by your own experience.

Wellcome.

[Cew27]

thanks for that
about the keyboard i was wondering if i can install the drivers and applets that run on the lcd screen? they are c++ exe's i think they may need a .NET frame work
also the mouse has software that comes with it allowing me to edit everything and create macro's
will these run ?
also will wine slow down the operations?
the fingerprint reader is no biggie and yes wlm is just a mail client
will all the drivers for tha above software run seamlessly?
and lastly what would be the best for intermediate, best gui and looks good
i consider my self an intermediate windows user, is kubuntu good?
and also is ubuntu good?
basically i need an operating system that is all of the below
good gui
non restrictive
fast
for advanced users
and has a large user following
thanks for the replys

oh and the reason i want to run linux is so i have 2 options, talking to people online, web browsing, music amongst other things on linux
and then windows for programming, photoshop, dreamweaver and games

[Freston]

That's quite an elaborate keyboard you have there. I dunno if it'll work
On the other hand... When I installed a Linux distro recently, I only after the install noticed both keyboard and mouse where Logitec wireless infra red. They had been working flawlessly

You might need to program the extra buttons though.

As for your other hardware. The other types of devices you have are not really exotic. DVD-writer, harddisk, motherboard, RAM, CPU, no problems there. The fingerprint reader... heheh... I'm getting my first one next week so I'll be sure to take interest in what others have to say about that. I know they -can- work.

I believe I spotted your graphics card in this list, making this your driver but most distro's will include graphics drivers.

The difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu is the Graphical User Interface (GUI). They have Gnome and KDE respectively. One thing to get used to we don't have a unified Desktop Environment like in Windows or OSX. If you're downloading KDE, I can give you some advice: it'll take a short time to learn your way around, but it'll take a long time to get to know KDE. It's very highly configurable.


The best thing you can do is run from LifeCD first and see if everything works out for you. Once you are comfortable enough that at least the major components work as they should (and I expect),then you can commit to install. The major distro's all set up a dual boot for you. Just pick that option from the installer. Provided of course that Windows is installed first...doing it the other way around is not so easy.

[Cew27]

cheers!
will the graphics drivers that come with linx utilise this $800 graphics card ( i freaking hope so, that would of been a waste of money )
the keyboard and mouse arent too major but it will deffinately be a downfall
also what else is linux usefull for, what does it have over windows ?

[Freston]

what does it have over windows ?

The freedom to own your entire working computer


Oh, and something about -ahem- security *hides*

[Cew27]

cheers!
will the graphics drivers that come with linx utilize this $800 graphics card ( i freaking hope so, that would of been a waste of money )
the keyboard and mouse aren't too major but it will definitely be a downfall
also what else is linux useful for, what does it have over windows ?

aswell as the question above what linux is ultimately the best for the enthusiast?
also what is the difference between mac os and the linux distro's ?
(my brother and dad are mac users and as per usual think they know it all/ have it all)

[Cew27]

ok i just used the dsl live cd i quite liked it but i am downloading the kubuntu one now
i think i have narrowed it down to
kubuntu
ubuntu
suse
and the mandrake one