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I upgraded my hard drive so my Operating Systems got wiped out and I have a 'backuped' XP on there that I will re-install. I'll dual boot.
I was looking at the distributions I could install and I was hoping for some advice.
However, please accept my critiques since I'm having trouble and that includes the decision-making.
I tried mostly recent developmental versions so could that contribute to the problems?
Anyway, without further ado, let me summarize the experiences:
1) Kubuntu Karmic LiveCD - worked fine. I usually try to install at least one piece of software and connect to the server. Is that okay? Anyway, it seemed to work okay.
But, I read a lot of complaints about Ubuntu/Kubuntu here and the alleged neglect and poor implementation of KDE by Ubuntu concerns me. I have Kubuntu Intrepid on my desktop, though. I upgraded some of the software but I guess you still would consider it 8.10?
2) OpenSUSE - very promising at first. Some flickering from the screen but it boots fine. It's the KDE version. But, when I try to access software management, it can't reach the server. No matter what. I am not sure whether I should consider that a deal breaker but VERY ANNOYING.
3) Mandriva 2010 - I found it only has an installer and not a Live CD or DVD. Deal Breaker, sorry. I guess you have to use a previous version of Mandriva 2009 (perhaps?) if you want to try a Live version?
4) Ubuntu - I list it last since it was the only Gnome desktop I tried. It was fine until it FROZE every single time I tried it. I thought I better try it multiple times to make sure it is not just some random glitch or by chance. But, just doing hardly anything would eventually lead to a total system freeze. So, POS and good-bye.
I am open to either desktop, KDE or Gnome. I don't favor either but I am more familiar with KDE, even KDE 4.
But, I am wondering about the resources or memory hungry allegations that KDE 4 has. Anyway, I have read of users being happy with KDE 4 on Centrino Pentium M laptops so maybe KDE 4 is okay and won't bog stuff down.
Any other choices or am I silly trying developmental versions? Maybe try a previous version and install the newest one when it comes out? What do you recommend for a Thinkpad T41? My HDD is 120GB and I use a variety of software applications including Kaffeine, Firefox, Amarok, K3b (a lot are KDE-based?) and my favourite package manager is Synaptic. I am flexible, though and willing to try other programs or desktops although maybe I might still prefer KDE? However, given this is on an older laptop, maybe consider a Gnome-based distro?
Any recommendations?
I was looking at the distributions I could install and I was hoping for some advice.
However, please accept my critiques since I'm having trouble and that includes the decision-making.
I tried mostly recent developmental versions so could that contribute to the problems?
Anyway, without further ado, let me summarize the experiences:
1) Kubuntu Karmic LiveCD - worked fine. I usually try to install at least one piece of software and connect to the server. Is that okay? Anyway, it seemed to work okay.
But, I read a lot of complaints about Ubuntu/Kubuntu here and the alleged neglect and poor implementation of KDE by Ubuntu concerns me. I have Kubuntu Intrepid on my desktop, though. I upgraded some of the software but I guess you still would consider it 8.10?
2) OpenSUSE - very promising at first. Some flickering from the screen but it boots fine. It's the KDE version. But, when I try to access software management, it can't reach the server. No matter what. I am not sure whether I should consider that a deal breaker but VERY ANNOYING.
3) Mandriva 2010 - I found it only has an installer and not a Live CD or DVD. Deal Breaker, sorry. I guess you have to use a previous version of Mandriva 2009 (perhaps?) if you want to try a Live version?
4) Ubuntu - I list it last since it was the only Gnome desktop I tried. It was fine until it FROZE every single time I tried it. I thought I better try it multiple times to make sure it is not just some random glitch or by chance. But, just doing hardly anything would eventually lead to a total system freeze. So, POS and good-bye.
I am open to either desktop, KDE or Gnome. I don't favor either but I am more familiar with KDE, even KDE 4.
But, I am wondering about the resources or memory hungry allegations that KDE 4 has. Anyway, I have read of users being happy with KDE 4 on Centrino Pentium M laptops so maybe KDE 4 is okay and won't bog stuff down.
Any other choices or am I silly trying developmental versions? Maybe try a previous version and install the newest one when it comes out? What do you recommend for a Thinkpad T41? My HDD is 120GB and I use a variety of software applications including Kaffeine, Firefox, Amarok, K3b (a lot are KDE-based?) and my favourite package manager is Synaptic. I am flexible, though and willing to try other programs or desktops although maybe I might still prefer KDE? However, given this is on an older laptop, maybe consider a Gnome-based distro?
Any recommendations?
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