I am new to linux and want to know which version of linux would be very easy to use. I am going to use it for gaming with friends, light editing and rendering, and using it for being productive. I would love your feedback.
I AM JUST LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON WHICH VERSION OF LINUX TO USE.
I started with Ubuntu gnome but moved to Ubuntu with XFCE and it seems to work much better with gaming. I only use windows for things like battlefield4 now.
I would probably go with 14.04, some people are having issues with 15.04.
If you're looking for something to work out the box, I'd recommend Linux Mint. That said, any of the main distros are very good these days. As you're a noob, I'd steer clear of Arch and Gentoo.
Check out Distro Watch, you may see something you like.
Link: http://distrowatch.com/
Well on top of that you would not want to use arch nor gentoo for productivity. Too many things could go wrong.
I would recommend opensuse above all others for productivity. The fact that it is so simple to hand select which updates you want to install makes it a really reliable OS. I also like the fact that it installs a minimal rescue DE and will let you log in via a terminal without having to jump through all sorts of stupid hoops.
Fedora workstation is a little bit more bleeding edge and right now I still think that opensuse has a much better package manager, but fedora 22 is coming out in a week or so and will supposedly have a better package manager. So keep an eye out for that.
Going to agree with @Urworstnit3m3r here, for simplicity and user-friendliness Ubuntu and other Ubuntu-based distros take the prize. I recommend you look over this list and see what looks best for you.
OP: please read the guidelines for the linux subforum. No "what distro" threads please, unless for very specific questions that have not yet been discussed in the forum.... search the existing material that's already in the forum, everything you need to know is there in abundance!
Check this thread is has all the info you need:
https://forum.teksyndicate.com/t/1-year-linux-challenge/74682
I would suggest Mint for new guys from what the list gives.
I researched it on the forums and there wasn't one like my question.
I don't know what all of this means, but I think I will go with Ubunto or Linux mint
i just gonne leave this here, follow wendell´s video, very nice starter guide.
Press the link. Its a link to another thread with all the info you are asking about (distros starter guide etc) in the first post. What is it that gets you confused?
I will most likely get linux mint.
I was wondering whether linux mint would be a good thing to use in terms of work. like if I have experience with linux mint does that qualify me to do anything?
Do you like more of a tablet or windows experience? Starting off with linux you want something stable so I'd recommend Ubuntu 14.04. I think Linux Mint or ZorinOS would be the best bet coming over from Windows. Someone else stated to go to Distrowatch. That's also great place to shop by category of what's best for you.
Also keep in mind that in No way should you have to pay for a Linux distribution unless of course you don't know how to mount an ISO to a DVD or USB stick. Then it's like 5 bucks and they'lll mail it to you.
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major (the major releases)
Libre Office is Microsoft Office if that's what you mean? Or do you meant networking and servers? Or computer programming?
In what respect do you mean? It very much depends on the field. Generally in a GNU/Linux system you can do anything despite the distro. Programming you can do with Mint like with any distro, so the distro does not matter. Office tools as well. If you want to be able to learn Kernel programming you can do with any distro as well.
For networking and server on the other hand although you could theoretically use Mint too it is better to chose a distro that is widely used for these fields like Fedora/Red Hat or CentOS and Debian and so on.
when downloading linix mint how do I download it strait to my usb. Can I just drag all the contents from my dvd drive to the stick?
I would avoid GNOME 3 DE like a plague for new Linux users (actually for any user, but that is my own preference, and I can't dictate it towards anyone).
Instead, i would recommend to the OP Cinnamon DE (if possible with Mint), and latter, when he becomes more comfortable with Linux, I would suggest MATE (GNOME 2 fork) as much more efficient DE.
Only after that i would suggest GNOME 3, but at that point, the user alone would not need suggestions from me to begin with, and will probably know what suits him best.
One more point for OP, some (if not all, didn't tested) Ubuntu versions do not have all 32-bit libaries, and that is important for gaming, while Linux Mint 17.1 have all already integrated in system, so you will not need to go via those steps. In reality, for user-friendly OS, Mint is few levels above Ubuntu (even tho it is based on it).
GNOME 3 is no more different than Windows 8 honestly.
Also to install Cinnamon on Ubuntu for those wondering are these commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lestcape/cinnamon
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cinnamonWhich people who shout Cinnamon always fail to mention, you can get it on other distros. Not just Mint.
Here is a great guide from @R00tz31820 on switching desktop environments in Ubuntu (and similar):
https://forum.teksyndicate.com/t/how-to-guide-ubuntu-switching-desktop-environments/76509?u=kai
If I'm not mistaken Debian 8's installer even has it as an option alongside the other desktops.
This is rubbish. Not only is ubuntu Valve's "recommended" distribution (take from that what you will) Steam will automatically install those 32-bit libraries on first start. Saying you should use Mint over that is the biggest load of rubbish I've heard in a while.
Though Steam does prefer Ubuntu 14.04 and it crashes a ton on 15.04 so I recommend LTS... and proprietary drivers when gaming :D