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i'm thinking about switching to linux/FreeBSD or even SolarisX

I own a VAIO A317M (which must be designated VGN-Axxx for you american (Asus Z series OEMed)) and i thinking to switch to linux for the Day2day use: Music (mainly AAC+ Ipod)/mail/work/net browsing.

any good advise about what distribution to choose?

If your a windoze user like me, then Linspire is for you. It's basically linux with a windowsish lookine shell on it.

Can't go wrong with Ubuntu, though I started on Mandriva 2005 Limited Edition then SUSE 10.0. A new version of Ubuntu comes out soon enough too.

I'd avoid Linspire, since paying for free software is fucking retarded for a Windows stylesheet (why the hell would you want something to look like flamingly gay XP anyway?) even if they have contributed to the OSS community.

I must throw my hat in for Ubuntu. The installer is slick and fast, and the default setup is reasonably well-thought-out, especially if you're new to Linux. Hell, I managed to get my fiancee to start using Ubuntu, and she hates computers as a matter of course!

i'm willing to shell the 65€ for the box version of SUSE 10.x if it can give me a nifty support.

for support of PDA (Ipaq 3850) is there any program out there?

I'm currently DLing uBuntu,however, I need to know because this is a make or break feature for me. Does it have built in NTFS read support?

Ace Pace wrote:I'm currently DLing uBuntu,however, I need to know because this is a make or break feature for me. Does it have built in NTFS read support?

Naturally, all major Linux distros have had this feature for ages now. It's writing to NTFS that is still rare, though no longer as experimental. Ubuntu is toying with read/write NTFS for Dapper Drake, IIRC, but I just really want the XGL system set right.

Admiral Valdemar wrote:

Ace Pace wrote:I'm currently DLing uBuntu,however, I need to know because this is a make or break feature for me. Does it have built in NTFS read support?

Naturally, all major Linux distros have had this feature for ages now. It's writing to NTFS that is still rare, though no longer as experimental. Ubuntu is toying with read/write NTFS for Dapper Drake, IIRC, but I just really want the XGL system set right.

3

My Fedora core 4 didn't have it, of course that distro was nuked. However my knoppix has it so i'm using it as much as I can(not much) to get used to it.

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Can't go wrong with Ubuntu, though I started on Mandriva 2005 Limited Edition then SUSE 10.0. A new version of Ubuntu comes out soon enough too.

I'd avoid Linspire, since paying for free software is fucking retarded for a Windows stylesheet (why the hell would you want something to look like flamingly gay XP anyway?) even if they have contributed to the OSS community.

Well when I picked it up it was still free and under the name "Lindows".

I'm personally a fan of Fedora: Core 5 has just been released, and I'm enjoying playing with it. There is also a lot of community support offered for it, which is nice.
I did try SuSE, and wasn't all that impressed, although I suspect that was at least partially because I couldn't be bothered to get used to it.