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+1; this was my thought as well. The problem, though, is that I can no longer say to people, "you should try Linux! Ubuntu is predictable, stable, and easy to

+1; this was my thought as well. The problem, though, is that I can no longer say to people, "you should try Linux! Ubuntu is predictable, stable, and easy to use." I don't know if Debian has a similarly friendly desktop distribution, but unless they do, I'll now point people to Linux Mint. Granted... I think this has been a better choice since Unity came into the big picture, not because it's bad, but because it's unfamiliar.

keithpeter 14y ago
"I don't know if Debian has a similarly friendly desktop distribution" Debian Wheezy (currently testing but which will be the stable release soonish) provides Gnome 3.4 desktop but with the options of xfce4, KDE and lxde. A recent install using defaults onto a low spec netbook was basically easy. See http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/pages/linux_debian-wheezy-install-from-dvd1.html http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/pages/linux_debian-wheezy-instal... When Wheezy goes stable there will be live images which can be installed from.
- obviouslygreen 14y ago
  Thanks; I'm aware of Debian's release cycle, but am not entirely sure how "non-Linux-person-friendly" the stable release is. Which is my own fault, since I've settled for Ubuntu for so long. It's great to hear it installs well on netbooks! I'm typing this on an Ubuntu Aspire One, though I always use OpenBox to replace whatever Ubuntu comes with since I'm comfortable with it. Will definitely check out Debian stable as an alternative (which is a bit funny coming from Ubuntu... an alternative to an alternative).
  - keithpeter 14y ago
    I'm a 'non-windows-admin' user and recently had to install Win7 and drivers on a thinkpad T60 for my sister as my usual CentOS/Ubuntu/Debian wasn't what she wanted. Took me a bit of time and some googling. I think anyone that can reinstall Windows with drivers could manage a Debian install provided they check the wifi card (available firmware) and graphics drivers (not Optimus basically) first. Gnome 3.4 with Gnome Shell is perhaps a bit heavy for an Atom based netbook although I find it usable.

keithpeter 14y ago

"I don't know if Debian has a similarly friendly desktop distribution" Debian Wheezy (currently testing but which will be the stable release soonish) provides Gnome 3.4 desktop but with the options of xfce4, KDE and lxde. A recent install using defaults onto a low spec netbook was basically easy. See http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/pages/linux_debian-wheezy-install-from-dvd1.html http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/pages/linux_debian-wheezy-instal... When Wheezy goes stable there will be live images which can be installed from.

obviouslygreen 14y ago
Thanks; I'm aware of Debian's release cycle, but am not entirely sure how "non-Linux-person-friendly" the stable release is. Which is my own fault, since I've settled for Ubuntu for so long. It's great to hear it installs well on netbooks! I'm typing this on an Ubuntu Aspire One, though I always use OpenBox to replace whatever Ubuntu comes with since I'm comfortable with it. Will definitely check out Debian stable as an alternative (which is a bit funny coming from Ubuntu... an alternative to an alternative).
- keithpeter 14y ago
  I'm a 'non-windows-admin' user and recently had to install Win7 and drivers on a thinkpad T60 for my sister as my usual CentOS/Ubuntu/Debian wasn't what she wanted. Took me a bit of time and some googling. I think anyone that can reinstall Windows with drivers could manage a Debian install provided they check the wifi card (available firmware) and graphics drivers (not Optimus basically) first. Gnome 3.4 with Gnome Shell is perhaps a bit heavy for an Atom based netbook although I find it usable.