Re: [tlug] Free Linux for Desktop Newbies ?

[Scott Robbins <scottro@example.com>]

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On Wed, Dec 21, 2005 at 04:08:27PM +0900, bofh@example.com wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I have a guest room that visitors stay in, which has had a WinXP machine in
> it for some time now. After some recent troubles with the XP box, I've
> decided that I want to try a Linux distro instead. So I'm looking for a Linux
> distro for a desktop/workstation which will be used mainly for websurfing,
> email, Skype, etc. by users with any level of computer knowledge (assuming
> basic keyboard and mouse knowledge as a lowest common denominator :)  ).
> 


Heh, those ninjers will probably break the box in frustration.  I'd say
your two best bets for that sort of audience, who, unless those mailing
lists have changed greatly since I've been on them are primarily
aol-ers, would be Mepis or Ubuntu.  You can test Mepis as a LiveCD, and
I believe that's true for Ubuntu as well.

Another possibility would be PCBSD, which, as the name indicates, is
based on FreeBSD (6.x now.  If you're more comfortable with 5.x there's
also DesktopBSD, which, the last time I played with it, was a bit harder
to install.)

PCBSD also has these things called pbi's, binary packages for some
popular multimedia apps--they aren't yet integrated with /var/db/pkg
though, so sometimes, you can run into conflicts.  

Their forums might irritate you as there are a bunch of newcomers.  You
can easily get Japanese working on it with the ports (see my pages, the
FreeBSD section is the one that is always the most current--heh,
current, get it?)


So, as I type, I think that as you're most comfortable with FreeBSD,
PCBSD might be the way to go.


> 
> Thanks, and Happy Holidays to all,

And to you too--Naoko's actually in Japan right now, and did mention you
as one of the people she was sorry she wouldn't be able to see, as she's
not going to be in Tokyo at all.


- -- 

Scott Robbins

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