Re: OT: Linux builds
- From: Jim Beard <jdbeard@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:34:40 -0400
Adam B wrote:
I am trying to fight off my 3rd virus/trojen attack in as many months on a windows laptop. I'm done, my next machine will be a mac. But for now is there a good linux build for a relative technotard living in a windows based world. Something with a lot of the windows niceties and pretty small learning curve.(ie installers, pretty gui) 64 bit build a plus (AMD Turion dual core tl-50)
Ubuntu (Gnome desktop I think) and Kubuntu (Ubuntu except KDE desktop, which more closely resembles windows) have been created specifically as alternatives to Micro$loth. This sounds like exactly what you think you want.
If you have a fast Internet connection, Mandriva is more on the "bleeding edge" of new capabilities for the home user. But you
will need to download about 3.5 GB for the install, and round one
of updates to catch the glitches that slipped by the Beta testers
may run 700 MB. There is excellent support at alt.os.linux.mandriva
if you run into problems. If you do get it, install the Gnome desktop or KDE 3.5.9.5 rather than KDE 4. The latter is getting closer to ready for prime time but not quite there. KDE 3.5.9 is rock solid.
Fedora Core is mainly for those interested in servers, or in beta testing for RedHat server software.
Slackware is for "hardcore" Linux users. If you want to join that
crowd, go for it.
Debian and Suse generally are rock solid dependable performers, but it takes months for new versions of programs to go through the testing phase and be made available for ordinary users. When they
do have a problem, it tends to be somewhat esoteric, and you may have to wait a while for a fix rather than fix it yourself.
Debian is generally rated best on security, but I know of no problems with security for any of the Linux distributions, assuming the user sets the security level at "normal" and puts in place a firewall that blocks access initiated from the Wild Wooly Web. I have a firewall in a router between computer and ISP to provide a second layer of protection. The combination of two firewalls and normal security settings should be all you will need. Linux just automatically takes care of the rest, mainly by not being the biggest and most vulnerable piece of rubbish around. (The iMac shares this characteristic.)
64-bit should be available for just about any distribution, but you will run into some Java glitches. Java 1.6 for 64-bit does not support javaws, and Java 1.7 IcedTea is still "preproduction" in Sun's definition and will not work with all Java that is out there.
You can run a 32-bit Firefox browser with the 32-bit Java plugin,
and that solves the major problem for most people. You can run 32-bit programs under the 64-bit OSS. And you can use wrappers to make 32-bit plugins and libraries work with a 64-bit kernel in some cases, but this is sometimes a PITA and not always effective.
I do some indexing that involves, for each session, downloading a software and data package, running a javaws application, and at the end of the session uploading results and wiping out the sandbox I
have been working in. Java 1.6 and javaws required. I installed VirtualBox on my 64-bit mandriva machine and installed a 32-bit version of Mandriva under that. Loads quickly, works fine. The
combination behaves just like another application in another pair of x-windows.
Cheers!
jim b.
--
UNIX is not user unfriendly; it merely
expects users to be computer-friendly.
.
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- From: Adam B
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