Linux replacing Windows - thought it would be easy!

[Overlap]

Here's the story. Buy new laptop - comes with Vista - runs slower than the old laptop (sound familiar! ) can't downgrade(upgrade!) to XP or send it back so I think - Linux!
so far tried - Novell SUSE Enterprise - won't even install
Xandros - installs but boots slower than windows and is unstable - can't figure out how to install my wireless card as it won't recognise

now I may be a newbie to Linux but compared to most my IT skills aren't bad - i just want a simple system that will boot and work. Even Xandros seems hard to work out !

I actually want to pay for a product to get support but I am surprised with all the development that has gone into Linux none of the ones I've tried work properly out of the box!

please help - what should I try next? I need something that is easy to install hardware/software - no command line here please!

[bigtomrodney]

Linux is not really a drop in replacement for Windows, it's an alternative. There will be a learning curve so I would recommend keeping your Vista partition and running Linux with it a s a dual boot until you are happy you want to switch.

I would recommend Ubuntu 7.04, as the hardware support and configuration are very easy and automatic for the most part. It also has one of the most active communities in the Linux world. It comes on 1 CD which you can download from Ubuntu.com

What problems did you have with Novell SUSE Enterprise? How did it fail on installation?

[Oxygen]

I recommend you try Ubuntu or Kubuntu, they're probably the most user friendly Linux distributions out there.

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu
Kubuntu - The KDE Desktop

[Simpatico]

For the best hardware detection, PCLinuxOS 2007. It was released just this week.

[Overlap]

For the best hardware detection, PCLinuxOS 2007. It was released just this week.

thanks all. was just in the process of burning Mandriva - worth a go?
I think it is hardware that's causing the problem its a samsung r20 with centrino which shouldn't be a problem but the graphics (ATI Radeon express 1250) and wireless seem to be causing problems. Novell was really bad - no error messages - no help just crash after crash. really wanted that to be the one.

will try the other suggestions this evening and wait for the invoice from my ISP!

I don't mind a learning curve but when you type "install hardware" into help in Xandros and try the net etc etc and it comes up with nothing that's not a good enough reason to swap.

main reasons to swap
windows speed
microsoft attitude - software gets more inefficient

already use FFox, Open Office etc etc - just need to get rid of the OS then I'm free !

[techieMoe]

I don't mind a learning curve but when you type "install hardware" into help in Xandros and try the net etc etc and it comes up with nothing that's not a good enough reason to swap.

Well, no offense, but what did you expect to get when you search for such a broad topic? Did you try "install nvidia Xandros" or "install netgear Xandros" or even "install harddrive Xandros"?

Refine your search a bit. You're not going to ever find one save-all uber-tutorial on how to install all hardware known to man. What hardware, specifically, are you trying to install?

[Overlap]

Well, no offense, but what did you expect to get when you search for such a broad topic? Did you try "install nvidia Xandros" or "install netgear Xandros" or even "install harddrive Xandros"?

Refine your search a bit. You're not going to ever find one save-all uber-tutorial on how to install all hardware known to man. What hardware, specifically, are you trying to install?

fair comment. was trying to install the network card. The point was though the search function within Xandros should have some results on "install" or "hardware" - it had none ! So far Mandriva front end is slickest and fastest yet.

my point is much as a loath windows "install hardware" brings up

Connect a printer directly to your computer
Install a USB game controller
Install additional monitors
Install a device
Install a non-Plug and Play device
Install an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device

no matter how hardcore a user you are that is just common sense in my book and I will end up going with the OS that requires least lateral thought - my brain is already overused on a great many other things!

[techieMoe]

fair comment. was trying to install the network card. The point was though the search function within Xandros should have some results on "install" or "hardware" - it had none ! So far Mandriva front end is slickest and fastest yet.

Oh, my mistake. I thought you meant a Google search. I don't usually bother with internal help programs; they're generally woefully inadequate.

no matter how hardcore a user you are that is just common sense in my book and I will end up going with the OS that requires least lateral thought - my brain is already overused on a great many other things!

Hmm, well if you're used to Microsoft Windows then Linux will make you think an awful lot. It's been my personal experience that the more competent someone is in administering a Microsoft Windows machine, the more easily frustrated they get when Linux distributions don't behave "correctly" (meaning "how they expect them to").

Use what works best for you and doesn't get in the way of what you want. For some of us it's Linux, for other it's BSD, for others it's MS Windows or Apple OS X. The only trick is finding what works and sticking to it.

[IsaacKuo]

Since you state speed as one of your main concerns, you should be aware that Mandriva has a reputation for being one of the slower and more bloated Linux distributions.

If you've installed Mandriva and your hardware works, then I'd suggest you stick with it for now...but keep in mind that after you familiarize yourself with Linux you might want to try out some other Linux distributions (it's possible to install more than one version on the same hard drive). Generally, the faster Linux distributions have fewer GUI configuration tools and tend to have less "stuff" installed and running in the background, by default.

I find that for most things, configuration with a text editor is ultimately easier and faster than tediously clicking around in a GUI. It's so easy to do a text search, and you can add helpful comments anywhere. It's trivial to comment out and uncomment lines, so it's easy to experiment with settings. You just comment out the current settings and add in new settings--you can revert them an older setting just by commenting/uncommenting.

But of course, configuration with a text editor is intimidating for people used to GUI tools. It's worth trying out, at least, IMHO. I won't say it's harder or takes longer to learn, because that's not true. It's really about equal...maybe even easier.

[Overlap]

OK Three down now.
Mandriva installed fine but when installed there are no options to "DO" anything. No applications, no file explorer, just terminal and thats it. I am a bit shocked. I thought Linux would at least be able to match Win95 as a front end. I will try Ubuntu next....

For Linux developers - at least have the option of a "muppet" install for window users like myself.