Which Distro Is Right For Me? (Redux)

emelinawe,   to the Linux Community of Bleeping Computer Forums!

So which distro(s) are you currently running? Knowing which you run will help us assist you in the future, and add to the list of distros that's popular with our members. 

Being that you're running Mac at home, it's based from Unix, also from which Linux is as well, so there are some ties between the two brands. 

Please let us know should in the future, you need assistance we'll be happy to do what we can to find a solution for your need.

Cat

Hello all. The quiz said Debian, which I will try. The most fun I've ever had computing was trying to adjusting the config.sys and autoexec.bat files so that I could run Microsoft Flight Simulator on a 386 with 4 MB of RAM, and testing the results.

Edited by Command_Lion, 08 May 2016 - 07:19 PM.

Command_Lion,   to the Linux Community of Bleeping Computer Forums!

If that's simulated on a Linux distro, can you point us to some instructions? I'd love to be able to run Speccy on Linux Mint w/out the use of WINE.

We hope to see you around here as an active participant, there's lots of fun & learning here.

Cat

I was running Speccy on Win7.

That appeared to be the case, though most members gives the link instead.

The other is the appearance (maybe it's the screenshot tool), looks to be larger print than most I've seen & under Graphics, repeating the graphics properties. Of course, Speccy isn't always perfect, sometimes doesn't have my specs quite the way things are. For example, it'll show in the shot that you took that I have three free RAM slots, and in the detailed spec list, will show all four sticks installed, even though at the top, will repeat that I have three free slots.

With those specs, you should be able to run fairly much any 32 bit distro you desire, and 64 bit ones also. Even with 3GB RAM, the 64 bit OS has it's advantages, being more secure on the hardware level are one of the extra features you have. Falling in line with that is the Trusted Execution Technology, which not all 64 bit CPU's has, though in general, all 64 bit CPU's adds a layer of security. Makes it kind of surprising as to why you're running 32 bit Windows 7, missing out on these features by running a 32 bit OS. 

http://ark.intel.com/products/35569/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-P8400-3M-Cache-2_26-GHz-1066-MHz-FSB

Debian that you mentioned should run fine on your hardware.

Cat

Thanks for all the info, Cat. I will post only the link to future Photobucket images. I didn't know my processor could run 64-bit. I bought this Dell Latitude used, and it was loaded with 32-bit Win7.

Three questions: Can 64-bit Debian run Wine and legacy 32-bit Windows programs? With 3 GB of memory, will 64-bit Debian run slowly? Is Debian fun to tinker with once I learn Terminal?

 

 

 With 3 GB of memory, will 64-bit Debian run slowly? 

I've ran Linux Mint 64 bit, even when running a AV scan, often will use less than 1GB of RAM (600-800MB typical). One thing to remember, if you run Google Chrome (or Chromium), be sure to go into the settings, go to the bottom & click Show Advanced Settings & at the very bottom, uncheck the option to 'Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed'. That alone will save a lot of RAM from being used. There are likely other Chromium based browsers where this feature (may be named different) should be deselected. 

BTW, all four of my first computers were also Dell Latitudes (C640 & D610), so am familiar with the series. Some of the later ones, around the D620/630 series, had nVidia GPU issues that were solved in class action lawsuit(s), though there were many resold by then, second hand owners were left out of the settlement(s), yet many still cashed in as the first registered owner. By accepting cash in lieu of repair, all one had to do was prove it was purchased new by them, if registered, notices were mailed & all the owners had to do was opt in to benefit. 

When new, all of these Latitudes were expensive, back in the early to mid 2000's, $1,600 & up was steep for a notebook, and these still are priced higher than most consumer based models of today. This is because of their rugged construction, built from the ground up for businesses on the go. The last of mine came from a hospital in Texas (Kaiser), and Dell sent me reinstall CD's for XP Pro, plus the drivers/utilities CD, as well as the installed media software, one for watching video, another for burning media. Something that they didn't have to do, fortunately I got hold of a compassionate customer service team member, while the call center was still based in the US. At any rate, Dell went above the call of duty in shipping me the package & I received it less than 48 hours after putting in the request. 

Those computers just keeps on kicking, so I feel that you'll actually be extending the life of the computer by installing Debian or any version of Linux, as it's easier on the hardware. Unlike Windows, there's not dozens of processes fighting one another for every morsel of resources possible at startup. Boots faster, and as soon as you're logged in, can open the browser w/out any freezing. 

While I've ran Debian, it was only in a VM, so didn't have to partition for a dual boot. That's going to be the first tricky part you'll have to learn to get started. However once installed, Debian is a rolling release OS, meaning no reinstall necessary, unless the OS becomes broken. Which often happens to newbies, and we all were there at one time.

You'll learn a lot through the University of Hard Knocks, as the rest of us Linux users has.

May have to give Linux Mint Debian a shot in a VM & see how I like it compared to a couple of years back.

Cat

Edited by cat1092, 11 May 2016 - 03:54 AM.

 

I've ran Linux Mint 64 bit, even when running a AV scan,

Personally I just cant see the point. You are better off securing your browser.

I agree with that, securing the browser is the best way on Linux, and Firefox, Google Chrome/Chromium, Vivaldi, Opera (& maybe more) has security extensions that I use.

Unfortunately, the way things are shaping to be, NoScript, arguably the best security extension that any browser has, may disappear once the Firefox transition is complete.

Yet as time changes, we'll find other ways to secure our browsers, and I have little issue with adapting to change (except for W10). I refuse to run an OS that'll spy on me as openly as that one, and fortunately Linux distros doesn't participate in these activities, though with the proper warrant, one can be watched to a certain degree by their ISP. Running Linux (or any OS) in Private Browsing mode doesn't mean that traffic can't be captured/monitored, and one will see this warning whenever using the function. 

I run an AV on Linux because I download software that may be used on my Windows installs, it has to be scanned before placing on a USB stick or burning to CD. Otherwise there's a chance of infection. These Linux security suites serves a purpose, and aren't distributed for the sake of it. Some also uses an email client, and if receiving a lot, needs some type of security. Otherwise, while may not affect the Linux install itself, if there's Windows computers actively running on the same network or a cable cased ISP, the infection can still spread to other computers that may not have good enough security to catch nasty Malware, 

That all goes back to responsible computing. One shouldn't go to sites nor click onto email on Linux that they wouldn't consider while on Windows. 

Cat

Edited by cat1092, 13 May 2016 - 05:09 AM.

This program picked "Linux Lite OS" for me. I looked it up in Google Images, and I really like the image of this OS.

That's interesting, actually. The quiz picked Slackware for me; although I run multiple Puppies, the ones I most enjoy using are Slackware-based.....so it did in fact get things right.

'Slacko' 5.6.0

Mick Amadio's classic 'Slacko' 5.7.0 (absolutely rock-solid and very stable)

'Slacko' 64 5.9.3 (beta for the current 6.3.0), and

'X-Slacko' 2.3.2 ('Slacko' with XFCE).

Nifty.

Mike. 

Edited by Mike_Walsh, 31 May 2016 - 06:27 PM.

FatDog64 is Slackware based also, though I don't use it for the OS, rather to diagnose 64 bit computers with.

Cat

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/41001/which-distro-is-right-for-me/

 

10 years ago (almost to the day) I started that thread to help users new to the Linux

operating system pick a distro that would be good for them based on a short quiz.

Sadly that quiz is gone as most of the distros at the time have moved on or died off.

 

So for 2016 I have located a new quiz over at TuxRadar. Hopefully I can get people 

interested in Linux (at least try it) and maybe get another 10 years out of this thread.

 

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/distro-picker-0

It's really interesting to look at the picker, thank you.

I'm using vanilla Debian but I think that I should at least try one of the recommended by your picker

By the way, I can't get the Debian to the first three lines of the list with almost any parameters set

Is it ok?

Very good quiz!  I always use Xubuntu and the quiz recommended Ubuntu on the first try and Debian on the next, whats funny is that I've been using Debian/ Debian based OS' (kali) as I'm learning pen testing.

I will definitely recommend this to some of my friends

Out of being curious, I took the survey & came up with the distro that I'm running, Linux Mint Mate.

 

 

Your TuxRadar distro match is Mint Linux Format says: 
Since its 2006 debut, Linux Mint has slowly been crawling up everyone's list of favourite desktop distros. One of the major reasons for the distro's success is that, despite being based on Ubuntu, its default desktop is much more traditional than Ubuntu's controversial Unity interface. Linux Mint offers users a choice of two Gnome-based environments, which it has dubbed Mate and Cinnamon. Mate is designed to be a faithful continuation of the outdated Gnome 2 desktop. Cinnamon is a more modern affair, with a neat menu that gives access to all the system's settings and applications in one place. The distro is also pre-loaded with a full complement of audio and video codecs, and has an impressive Software Manager. Verdict: A simple to install and polished desktop that works out of the box. Ideal if the divisive Unity rubs you the wrong way.

You can learn more about them at their project's website here: www.linuxmint.com

Cat