Most usable Linux 2007 - let the battle commense
Usable Linux is going to be my "buzzphrase" of 2007 I think because of the importance I place upon it shifting the operating system landscape. 2007 isn't going to be the year people move to Linux as a primary non-Windows operating system (in my opinion) because it's not *quite* ready yet, but this is the year that will complete what 2006 started. The groundwork is being done to make Linux the easiest computing solution around.
I've covered recently how easy some distros are making "normal" computing and I only see this situation improving over the next 6-12 months
However, who is going to be the poster child of usable Linux in the future? Who can be crowned "most usable Linux distro 2007"? Is Ubuntu going to claim the crown by default because it's the current poster-child or will some other distro perform regicide and take the thrown for itself? There are some key contenders:
Ubuntu
Has to be the favourite at the moment with such a strong community and an undeniably formidable product. There's so many good things due to come out of Feisty when it's released that it has to be the favourite at this early stage. Edgy and Dapper were both excellent and to expect anything other than an excellent release in Feisty would be foolish. The Ubuntu developers have proven themselves numerous times so if you're after a safe bet - here's where your money should be.PCLinuxOS
PCLOS is the underdog who get's my vote. While it doesn't have the massive numbers that Ubuntu has behind it I find it the most intuitive (albeit these judgements are made from non-final releases). I'm also unsure when PCLOS2007 is going to be released which doesn't help but from what I've seen and heard, PCLOS is going to win over some serious numbers this year. I know that a lot of readers on this site have a soft-spot for PCLOS and I have to agree with them. I really think that if you try it once you'll keep it. It's that good.Mepis, Gentoo and others?
The Linux landscape moves so quickly with so many different distros it's hard to keep track of them all. Gentoo and Mepis are both excellent distros and I can't help but think that they'll be donning boxing gloves later this year when their new versions are released. They may not be at the forefront of the usable Linux scene at the moment but all of this can change in a heartbeat. A good release is all it would take in this world.
Usable Linux is key this year because of how much it could change the computing world
I say this because usable Linux is all about making open source operating systems as easy (if not easier) as Windows. It's difficult to argue how easy things are getting - certainly over notoriously awkward media playback (Feisty installing missing codecs on the fly for example). Synaptic package manager is quite the evil thing (as I shall write in a follow up article... watch this space) and allows you to just pick any piece of software, download and install (along with pre-requisits) within 1-2 clicks. This makes life so much easier than any other operating system I've encountered (well, Mac OSX and Windows 95/98/XP/Vista).
Conclusions
This was more of an introduction to the topic and I intend on following it up with more posts discussing the topic as and when new events unfold. Namely, Ubuntu Feisty Fawn lands in a couple of weeks and that's likely to win over some new fans. If you've got something to say about usable Linux in 2007 I'd love to hear your thoughts. You know the normal means of getting in touch - throw it in a comment.
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Started with Mepis-live install and liked. My wireless internet worked out of box as did most else. Loved K and Ubunto but couldn't get my wireless to work. LOVED PUPPY. All worked easily but still having problems downloading and installing software on all. The one's I like I can't seem to get my internet-wireless-linksys to work. The FreeSpire's CNR was the only one I could easily dnld and install software. I've had NO luck trying to figure out taz-tar-deb software downloads and inatalls. I've been using PCLinuxOS 2007 for last month and love. Even all my USB drives work and their windows files read/trans/used. Still bad luck trying to download and install any software other than what is availble on synaptic. Wish I could install and use Synaptic on it. Also, still can't print no matter what drivers and CUPS I try to install. But F-Bill. I'm a happy camper though at 60 I just want to "USE", my computer and not learn how to. And then there is the resitance of my,"limited skills", wife. Wish I was 40 having more time and willingness to learn. Still, I hope and think Linux is the both now and the future of the PC. Thanks to all, their generosity, hard work, past, present, and ongoing!!!! Humans for Humans!
P.S. Still can't figure how the 60mb Puppy, (would have kept had I been able to slow the mouse pointer down), can find and use all my hardware-peripherals when some of the loaded ones, (Ubunto+), can't. Especially wireless internet and sound card. Others can't read windows files or use all or some of my USB HDs.
List of what I've tried: Mepis 6.5 and 7.0, Ubunto 8.04, Kbunto, Suse 11, Freespire, Mandravia, PCLinux2007, Mint, Sabayon, Fedora, plus a few others. I encourage ALL PC users of any age-ability to try Linux distros and become part of this great community. For low ability Windows users I'd start with Puppy on a USB stick and the live installs of other versions. Then move on to a dual boot and use each for a while to familiarize your self while still having your windows files and options open. Again, thanks so much to all who've donated their time and efforts so generously!!
...wait! There it is! A suggestion to review Sabayon (Gentoo) linux! Awesome! I started my exploration of Linux with Mandrake then Mandriva. Liked them very much. A friend gave me a copy of Xandros (Power Pack), it was AWESOME (in the get your friends to try Linux vein. Very user friendly, easy to add new software (sort of), rock solid (of course). Since this all started I’ve tried several live distros (including PPC variants) with the goal of learning enough to make an informed recommendation to my "Win-shackled" (and "Mac-curious) family and friends. Stumbled across Sabayon linux and was amazed! MP3s out of the box, printer, ethernet. Not unusual. Here is the Kicker! Played DVDs out of the box! I was also able to do some very interesting things with DVDs that I couldn’t do with my Mandriva Power Pack (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Didn’t expect that! Also, some fairly advanced games (for linux). It was also aesthetically pleasing (to me), I see I am not alone in noticing Ubuntu’s "Desert Drab". ;_) Please give Sabayon a look, I am interested in independant opinions and will be checking back soon.
My job consist of using openoffice heavily, email, web browser, printing (which is still a pain, my windows and linux cannot share the printers, and sometimes there is problem with CUPS), web publishing, drawing.
Please consider opensuse.
I think "Kubuntu" is as important to review as "Ubuntu" especially since most of your other distros are KDE based (apples to apples). When you are comparing a KDE distro vs. a Gnome distro their differences are great enough that they are like different distributions (as an aside Automatix is imo _essential_ for a ’buntu installation, though as an add-on I understand it should not be counted in this context).
Just a thought.
As far as other distros to consider, I would suggest Freespire (when the 2.0 comes out) primarily because of their CNR.com website/frontend to apt. CNR will additionally be made available to the ’buntus, Debian, Fedora, and OpenSUSE as well as Freespire/Linspire. CNR is unnecessary for most GNU/Linux users but could be very valuable to the joesixpacks/aunt Tillies/windows refugees. Another advantage of CNR is that it gives a way to legally acquire the media codecs, something most of these other distros that are pre-installing codecs are not doing. If that’s important to you ;)
I prefer NOT switching people to paid distros but if that is not a consideration (such as a small business setting) Xandros is probably one of the most Windows like distros out there. They integrate into Windows networks and Windows work-alikeability is their core tenet. It is the most similar to the Windows environment, and easiest to drop into a Windows environment that I have seen. They do (did?) have a community (free) version that lags by a point release.
Maybe Debian itself, it has from rumors I have heard increased it’s "usability" for the new user factor. It is the the fountain from which so many great distros flow.
Others I would recommend have already been mentioned, Mint, SimplyMEMPIS.
For the record I switch others to either Kubuntu or Xandros depending on the situation.
Quick question,I’m sorry, but Gentoo as a "most usable Linux distro", did I miss something? I have never heard anyone say that, most flexible, most customizable, best if you want to learn how linux works, most efficient in terms of speed or only having the sorftware you need installed, but "most usable".
Don’t you mean in part "easiest" as well? Gentoo folks correct me if I am wrong but would you turn your Grandma loose on Gentoo by herself? No offence meant, I honestly don’t believe they themselves would claim that, or intend their distos to be that.
But Gentoo _is_ a great distro for many reasons, so please by all means throw it in the pot.
I prefer NOT switching people to paid distros but if that is not a consideration (such as a small business setting) Xandros is probably one of the most Windows like distros out there. They integrate into Windows networks and Windows work-alikeability is their core tenet. It is the most similar to the Windows environment, and easiest to drop into a Windows environment that I have seen. They do (did?) have a community (free) version that lags by a point release.
Maybe Debian itself, it has from rumors I have heard increased it’s "usability" for the new user factor. It is the the fountain from which so many great distros flow.
Others I would recommend have already been mentioned, Mint, SimplyMEMPIS.
For the record I switch others to either Kubuntu or Xandros depending on the situation.
Quick question,I’m sorry, but Gentoo as a "most usable Linux distro", did I miss something? I have never heard anyone say that, most flexible, most customizable, best if you want to learn how linux works, most efficient in terms of speed or only having the sorftware you need installed, but "most usable".
Don’t you mean in part "easiest" as well? Gentoo folks correct me if I am wrong but would you turn your Grandma loose on Gentoo by herself? No offence meant, I honestly don’t believe they themselves would claim that, or intend their distos to be that.
But Gentoo _is_ a great distro for many reasons, so please by all means throw it in the pot.
Just a thought.
As far as other distros to consider, I would suggest Freespire (when the 2.0 comes out) primarily because of their CNR.com website/frontend to apt. CNR will additionally be made available to the ’buntus, Debian, Fedora, and OpenSUSE as well as Freespire/Linspire. CNR is unnecessary for most GNU/Linux users but could be very valuable to the joesixpacks/aunt Tillies/windows refugees. Another advantage of CNR is that it gives a way to legally acquire the media codecs, something most of these other distros that are pre-installing codecs are not doing. If that’s important to you ;)
I prefer NOT switching people to paid distros but if that is not a consideration (such as a small business setting) Xandros is probably one of the most Windows like distros out there. They integrate into Windows networks and Windows work-alikeability is their core tenet. It is the most similar to the Windows environment, and easiest to drop into a Windows environment that I have seen. They do (did?) have a community (free) version that lags by a point release.
Others I would recommend have already been mentioned, Mint, SimplyMEMPIS.
For the record I switch others to either Kubuntu or Xandros depending on the situation.
I was happy when I sew that PCLOS install ask me for an internet connection. I selected bluetooth coonection, I selected 3G connection ... didn’t work!
I don’t have any other connection for download the packages.
MEPIS and Kubuntu can connect me out-of-the-box, with some row in the console. sig! I hoped .... !!
Great PCLOS control center!!
- It really works
- Is faster on games playing
- Have useful utilities by MEPIS
- Have a not bloated forum that really help you (Kubuntu forum in comparison is incompetent, the Ubuntu forum is heavy spammed with useless comment)
On the other hand I love (K)Ubuntu because:
- Have a great Microsoft-killer marketing (Microsoft must pay for his abuse)
- Is simple enough
- It works (on 7.04 don’t works cron and googleearth)
- Have regular updates
- Ubuntu/Canonical/Shuttleworth actually lead the Linux project
Mike, this is one of the key reasons WHY I have comment boxes, so that people can suggest things that I’ve overlooked or sometimes not even heard of.
There have been numerous calls for me to look into openSUSE and yours is likely to be the one that broke the camels back (as it were). It’s now been added to my list of distros to review.
>> Please, if you have a good distro in mind, please submit it and I’ll hopefully get around to reviewing it. Linux is all about the community so make some noise when you think I’ve missed something.
In my opinion, it blows away all the others I’ve tried.
Personally i use PCLInuxOS 2007 Test 4 ,which is more stable than some final releases I’ve tried.
I’ve used Mandrake and Ubuntu in the past and they also have their good points.
With Vista and the problems it has, now is a good time to use linux, whatever the flavour.
I don’t care if the final takes another year to release. TR4 is rock solid enough to take any Linux distro by the ears and leave them hangin’.
Yes, It’s like combining the lightness of XFCE and the greatness of PCLOS and polish it with some other beautification...........
...and the best...it is FINAL ! ;)