Linux Help For Beginners
Debian GNU/Linux
Website
This distro was the first one I tried (the one that started it all!) because I was a hopeless newb without a clue and this is one of the ones that kept popping up when I searched for a distro based on not having much RAM (only 256 MB at the time). On a side note, I used the distro choosers from the First Steps page.
Debian GNU/Linux facts:
All in all I give Debian Linux a B+, a little hard to learn to use, but pretty easy to use (uh, that nonsense means once you've figured out how to install it, when it's up and running it's relatively easy to use.) And I did come back to it as my main OS several times after trying out other distros.
This distro was the first one I tried (the one that started it all!) because I was a hopeless newb without a clue and this is one of the ones that kept popping up when I searched for a distro based on not having much RAM (only 256 MB at the time). On a side note, I used the distro choosers from the First Steps page.
Debian GNU/Linux facts:
- Debian is named for the creator, Ian and his wife Debbie. (One of the fun things about Linux is the crazy names!)
- Debian only uses open-source software, which is not for everyone. I love my Opera browser, which highly supports open-source but is still proprietary at this point. Flashplayer by Adobe is also proprietary so it is not included and the work-around is pretty difficult as far as newbies go.
- I am also a command-line moron, which is a big part of Linux, so a graphical user interface (GUI) is very important to me..(What is it? basically–point and click.)
- Debian uses the Gnome desktop. This means my first venture into Linux-land was to use Gnome. I have heard it said that Gnome resembles Mac, while KDE resembles Windows. However it is, I like Gnome. Things are easy to find, easy to tweak, and looks professional. It ran faster than my old Windows XP did despite my lack of memory at the time.
- Debian has, I believe, the largest package repository (place to get "packages" which is how applications come) in all of Linux-dom, so as long as it is not proprietary (owned by someone and not copyable) Debian has it!
- Gnome! It is a very intuitive desktop. I had no problems finding all the 'basic necessities' within a few minutes. Many things are self-explanatory and the help feature is VAST! Right clicking on the desktop will allow you to change the aspects of it; different themes, wallpapers, colors, fonts..I'm easily amused, the color picker was fun to play with.
- Force-quit!! Probably my absolute favourite Gnome application ever..an application freezes? No problem; just click on force-quit and then click on what is frozen. Any Windows refugee can appreciate this!
- Debian means stable! Arguably, in all of Linux-dom, Debian is the most well-known for stability.
- Debian "just works!" <--One of the most important phrases in Linux.
- .deb packages!!!!! These are great because if you get an application in a deb package, the Gdebi installer will put all the files in all the right places for you at a click! (Great for us non-command-line savvy folks)
- Debian IS open-source. If you love the fact of free for all, then Debian has it covered. No hogging the info here!
- Debian is community driven. Many people, all dedicated to making and keeping Debian at the top of its game.
- The install takes just this side of forever
- The installation process is not very newbie friendly--at all. I stumbled a lot on this one.
- Debian support forums are HUGE but they are definitely in tech-speak. I might be able to go there now and figure my way around some things and learn quite a bit but a brand-new newbie will be lost.
All in all I give Debian Linux a B+, a little hard to learn to use, but pretty easy to use (uh, that nonsense means once you've figured out how to install it, when it's up and running it's relatively easy to use.) And I did come back to it as my main OS several times after trying out other distros.