Many business and home computer problems can be solved by simply switching from Windows XP or Windows 7 to Linux. If you are considering trying Linux, Which version should you try?
Linux Mint LTS is the best Linux choice.
Before you fire up your e-mail client to send me a nasty-gram, follow my thoughts.
Linux offers reliability, stability, and frugality.
It has a rich range of applications, yet can run on computers considered obsolete by Windows users. The majority of software is free, as is Linux. Free in the sense of free speech (you can see how it works, and change it to suit your needs) and free as in beer. Most distribution of Linux are free, and the only cost is professional support.
There are dozens, if not hundreds of Linux distributions. A distribution (or distro) is a collection of Linux tools, utilities, drivers and applications assembled as a single CD or DVD that contain someone’s idea of a perfect Linux install. Many have a specific target in mind. It may be specifically designed as a web server, file server, firewall, Proxy server or a desktop PC like most users and businesses want.
Some Linux Versions are More Equal than Others
A visit to the Distro Watch web site reveals that a few distributions rule.
At the moment the top distros are: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian and Open Suse.
Here is a quick summary of each:
- Ubuntu – Designed for the desktop user, and very popular
- Linux Mint – Based on Ubuntu, but focusing on getting users moving from Windows working quicky.
- Fedora – Popular and well supported, but it is the guinea pig for new ideas before they are incorporated in Red Hat Linux.
- Debian – Reliable, and the base for many other versions, including Ubuntu. But it is not beginner friendly
- Open Suse - A reliable desktop, but now quite main-stream and perhaps lacking is support.
So my choice is Linux Mint. It is easy to install, has lots of support and is new user friendly. Because it is based on Ubuntu, both the Ubuntu and Mint community can help with problems. There is a wide range of software available. It looks nice.
But notice that I said Linux Mint LTS. Ubuntu and Mint each release a version every two years that they promise to support for three years. This means you can install one of these versions and not have to worry about updating it for at least three years. This is perfect if you want a computer that just works, and works, and works.
That describes the average business and home user.
So I recommend installing Linux Mint 9 LTS. It will be supported until the middle of 2013 with patches, updates and fixes. After that time it will be relatively simple, and free, to upgrade to the next version.
angry-linux-tux – by oddsock – http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsock/
I’ve been using Linux Mint since version 7 and I have to state that the current best version right now, in my opinion, is the main edition of version 10. I use both 10 and 11, 10 on my daily computing desktop and 11 on my work laptop. I put 11 on my laptop as it seems to work best with all the hardware of the Dell Vostro V130 but 10 just seems to be cleaner and more graphically pleasing.
I agree the latest version is cleaner looking, and has more up to date applications.
But for a user looking for simplicity and stability, Mint 9 has the advantage of 3 years of support and automatic upgrades. Many Windows users, especially those struggling with security and stability issues because they have older computers using Windows XP will want stability and simplicity.
Most people buying a new Windows 7 PC will stay with Windows 7. It works well, and is much better than Windows XP. It does what they want. Until that start having to pay multiple subscription fees or have virus/trojan issues they will not change.
One of my customers is an elderly, but very intelligent lady. She is not very computer literate, but was quite happy when I solved a Windows XP crash (she had no disks) by installing Mint Linux 9 a couple of years ago.
Recently she bought a new laptop with Windows 7. It works fine. Now she is calling because she is getting pop-ups demanding payment for upgrades and licences for software she does not want. I have had to make several visits to un-install software. Fortunately for her we have become such good friends that my fee is usually coffee and biscuits (one reason I have stopped Windows support, I just feel sorry for people who do not understand).
Eventually she will give in to the blackmail / stupidity tax of this adware, or I will switch her back to Mint. In her case, the latest version, because her new computer can handle it.
Thanks Ed.