Need a Recommendation for a Linux Setup

[mspropst]

I have been contemplating switching to Linux for some time now, frankly because I'm tired of the blue screens and viruses, the slow speeds, low customization, new versions of programs coming out after years of waiting, high costs/no sharing. As for Apple, I'm not a fan of Steve Jobs going from share-ware to locked down apps and frankly I despise the whole Apple company for that and its high prices.

Needless to say I'm in a 3rd world country at the moment and my first HP ever crashed (while under warranty and they won't help me out at all) so coming in is a new Dell with details to follow on it - this particular Dell doesn't fit with my habit of getting everything thats the newest thing out, but its close enough to what I had and was a "fast track" item, meaning built and ready to ship. Also, always owned Dells in the past with no problems. I use my computer for movies, music, internet, e-mail, the occasional spreadsheet and word document as well as games that perk my interest every once in a while. I heard Ubuntu would be good, with Wine to be able to run the occasional Windows based program correctly. I was looking at a dual setup which I would switch to a single set-up if I became extremely comfortable with Linux. Below are the new computer details:

Inspiron 15 Notebook (Inspiron 1564)
Intel Core i3 - 330M
4GB,DDR3,1066MHZ,2 DIMM
15.6" HD WLED
Intel®HD Graphics
320G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit
Integrated 10/100 Network Card
8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.2
Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini Card
Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam
6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Any suggestions? Questions before a recommedation is made? Thanks in advance.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

OpenSUSE and Ubuntu are popular choices for notebooks, but any of the top 10 or so distributions found in the page hit ranking list over at DistroWatch.com should work on it.

[mspropst]

Any issues once the full switch is made? For instance if I sent a document from the word processor for Ubuntu to someone with Microsoft Word, would they be able to read it? Or should I just use Wine to run Word, although I've heard there are some issues in doing that and I'd just like to be prepared for any issues that may arise.

[elija]

Open Office is 99% compatible with MS Office. You should have no reason to run the MS one

[mspropst]

"Ubuntu Studio is a variant of Ubuntu aimed at the GNU/Linux audio, video and graphic enthusiast as well as professional. The distribution provides a collection of open-source applications available for multimedia creation."

I'm kind of big on my music and movies (and games when I find one I like, I usually end up playing the same one for like a year or two until something else sways me); does Ubuntu = Ubuntu Studio minus those open-source applications?

Edit: About that 99% compatability, PERFECT. Apparently Ubuntu also has a migration assistant that helps you transition from Windows? That makes me feel a lot more comfortable about making the jump. As much as I want the change, I'd still like to be able to do all the things I currently do on my computer.

[elija]

I have never used the migration assistant so I can't comment on whether it works well or even at all

If you are "testing the waters" as it were, you can install Ubuntu so that you have both operating systems available and choose which one to run at boot time. This might even be the default. It's been so long since I had Windwoes at home I can't remember.

[Jonathan183]

My suggestion is setup dual boot and run with it for a while, it also makes things easier if you have hardware issues and need some assistance while the system is still under warranty.

The default for Ubuntu is to use the whole hard drive and wipe Windows (or it was last time I installed it) so be careful about setting the system up.

You should find OpenOffice works for most things, but if you really need 100% compatability then run Word on Windows