linux distributions on laptop
 

Anyone running linux on a laptop these days? It has been a long time since I messed with linux (ran redhat on a server back in the late 90's) but I need to play with a pure open source setup. Ubuntu looks to be viable (along with Open Office, etc).

Thoughts?

I've been a Slackware junkie since it first appeared, but I use RedHat (Fedora) as well. Ubuntu is easy to use on a laptop.

Dave

Got an Intel MacBook?

I'm currently doing a SUSE server config for a collaboration tool I'm building.

I have both Parralles and VM's Fusion.

Prefer the Parralles product but VM has a ton of prebuilt VM applications available for download.

I grabbed the SUSE server VM and it saved me a ton of time.

For Ubuntu I run it in Parralles straight from the iso.

I have a buddy running Gentoo on a Dell lattitude.

Ubuntu.

BTW,

Do you have a specific need for it or is it to keep your feet wet?

Fedora and Suse are getting kind of bloated on the resource level, and a little error prone. Ubuntu is still easy to use while running off of next to nothing on the resource level.

mostly keep my feet wet. I collaborate with people working in developing countries and there is a fair amount of linux penetration there. I still will end up using my mac for most of my productivity (especially media creation/editing) but worth spending some of my time living full open source to see how that flies.

Ubuntu on the wife's Dell D520. Upgraded the wirless to Intel for driver support when I bought it, otherwise stock. Also Ubuntu on my desktop at work and home.

I'd recommend downloading the latest Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com) and booting the CD and seeing what you get. The installer is a livecd with full desktop, etc. including OpenOffice and other handy apps...

Of course, the joke is typically along the lines of "Ubuntu is a word in several African dialects meaning 'people who can't install Debian'" :)

And Debian is what I run on my servers (file sharing at work, "cool stuff' - webcams, etc and my hosted domain server)

Just remove your existing HD, buy a new one, and install Ubuntu. If you don't like it, pop the other drive back in. BTW, you may as well upgrade to a 7200RPM drive if you do not have one.

Yep, Ubuntu, but I do like SuSe. Now I'm getting used to run more of Linux based things right in OS-X, I guess it depends on what you need.

I ran Ubuntu for a wile then Slakware then CentOS and then back to Ubuntu.

Hang an external firewire drive with Linux on it.

I use these enclosures, small and portable. http://macally.com/EN/Product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=100

Have found them as cheap as $30 on NewEgg.

Just put in a big a55 7200 rpm and you are good to go.

Avoid the USB only enclosures, you either need a wallwart or use two USB ports to get enough power to them. I run up to 3 of the Firewire enclosures off one port.

I tried both Ubuntu and OpenSUSE as recently as 4 months ago. Both installed without a problem though you will have to "fiddle" to get media file support for things like mp3. I had some real problems with Ubuntu Feisty Fawn, v 7.0.4 I believe, as Mozilla would routinely crash the OS when I encountered sites with Flash (youtube). I recently bumped to the newer version and have not seen the problem since. Both distributions come with OpenOffice which I also use on my XP box. Excellent stuff.

Just watch the "track changes" when moving docs from Open Office to Word.

Had some version control nightmares with a developer that was running OO.

Other than that great product, can't beat the price.

Sorry, I'm not in to Pokemon. :D

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/not_really_into_pokemon.png

If you want one that "just works" try PCLinuxOS. It's very beginner but it's also very easy. Even wireless N was a breeze to set up; no need to muck about with ndiswrapper, it has a front end to it in it's Network Setup utility. It's not for anyone who likes to tinker with the OS, it's for those who want to install and not worry about it. Mandriva is another easy one to install and use. (K)Ubuntu is another one as mentioned before.

What font do you guys use in Ubuntu? I don't like the appearance of the default Ubuntu font. I would like something similar to XP's default font whatever that is.

I use the Cratch font: http://www.dafont.com/cratch.font :D