Jumping back into Linux

[cwiz]

i'm a linux noob, though i have tried it before. i installed KDE probably 3 years ago... i liked it alot, i got better peformace out of my pc, never really had to reboot, etc. i got frustrated though because i couldnt figure out how to do vital things like run java apps, install and run wine, and just using the command window in general (i forget the name of it).

is there a version that is more noob friendly than the others? i want something that will install/remove programs easily and allow me to run windows games and stuff easily thru an emulator like wine (thats generally what turned me off to it in the first place)

[macdude425]

When it comes to Wine, no, there's really no distro that's just incredibly easy to use. Your best bet would be dual booting or Cedega (which, unfortunately, costs money.)

However, some games out there have guides for working with Wine, if you're patient.

I recommend Ubuntu.

[fotno_]

SUSE is really simple also.

[macdude425]

I, personally, do NOT recommend SuSE. It uses RPM, which is klunky to start with, but there is no apt or yum interface provided by default - you are forced to use YaST and the CDs provided.

It also reacts negatively to hardware changes, like insertions of USB PCI cards or even some printers - something I have never seen other distros do.

[Nitestick]

i also reccommend ubuntu. game compatibility is a problem but it's easily solved by dual booting. i know that all ID software games install fine natively in linux e.g. Quake 4 and Doom 3. Prey works in wine.

[jakec]

Kubuntu
Kubuntu - The KDE Desktop


Mandriva
Mandriva One - Mandriva Linux


PCLinuxOS .92
FTP archive directory /pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distr...glish/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
MEPIS | an OS for the 21st Century

Blag
blag linux and gnu downloads

Jake

[Skuzzle]

As said already, kubuntu would work well for you seeing as you like KDE.
Ubuntu would be my choice, but its the same just with Gnome instead of KDE.

Wine is not as much of a problem as most say unless you are running dual screen as its buggy with that at the moment

[cwiz]

thanks alot for the suggestions
so is kubuntu the same as KDE?
if so, is there a difference between kubuntu and ubuntu?

[macdude425]

Kubuntu is NOT the same as KDE. KDE is a window manager; Kubuntu is a Linux distro that USES KDE.

Personally, I prefer KDE, but I seem to be in the minority here.

[Skuzzle]

Originally Posted by macdude425

Kubuntu is NOT the same as KDE. KDE is a window manager; Kubuntu is a Linux distro that USES KDE.

Personally, I prefer KDE, but I seem to be in the minority here.

ubuntu is the version that usees gnome window manager.

Kubuntu would probably be your best bet