What Distro of Ubuntu do I get?

I've only installed Ubuntu once before and my wireless network card wasn't supported natively and had to use ndiswrapper. But I hear that great strides that have been made since then and am wondering what would be a good fit for my laptop.

2.8 P4 400 MHZ (not a mobile processor)
1 Gig of ram
Crappy Intel Video Chipset with 64mb
1024x768 resolution screen.

Please help me! Thanks

Get 9.04 that is the most recent version that came out a few days ago. Just get the x86 desktop edition. Your laptop is more then capable of running the desktop edition. Don't need to get the netbook version.

^^ +1

I would not go with KDE given your hardware. So regular old (new) Ubuntu is the correct answer.

Fedora is another fine linux flavor, btw. You cant go wrong with either, imho.


When you get it (either one) downloaded and burn the .ISO, check these out:

Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 9.04

Perfect Desktop - Fedora 10

You still might have to ndiswrapper though, it shouldn't be a big deal.

I would wait for Mint 7 an ubuntu derivative which has by default better media support and hardwear support out of the box imho

My laptop has bits of hardwear which work out of the box in Mint but need added effort to make work under ubuntu

UnseenMenace said:

I would wait for Mint 7 an ubuntu derivative which has by default better media support and hardwear support out of the box imho

My laptop has bits of hardwear which work out of the box in Mint but need added effort to make work under ubuntu

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I definately agree! However we don't really have an ETA on Mint 7. As soon as it comes out I am definately switching. It has the reputation for being "Ubuntu done right"

Stratus_ss said:

I definately agree! However we don't really have an ETA on Mint 7. As soon as it comes out I am definately switching. It has the reputation for being "Ubuntu done right"

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Mints the reason im not installing the latest Ubuntu, im still using Mint6 and will do so until 7 turns up, im a big Ubuntu fan but i like the finish of Mint so much more as you say "its ubuntu done right"

Unseen, can Mint handle a Multi drive SW Raid without getting sacrifices to deities involved?

Im loving it on my NC6000 (to quote a coworker: damn thats a big netbook) and want to get it setup on the intermediate FS/bedroom rig.

ive not actually tried Mint with software raid but if its an area which has been worked on by the Mint team I would expect it to work reasonably well, its simply ubuntu with a bit more care taken on certain area's

TalRW said:

Get 9.04 that is the most recent version that came out a few days ago. Just get the x86 desktop edition. Your laptop is more then capable of running the desktop edition. Don't need to get the netbook version.

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I don't necessarily agree. I've seen a lot of laptop users on the Ubuntu forums complaining about this or that driver not being fully implemented yet.

In my opinion, Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid is better for laptops at this time. Wait a month or so, then ask around the forums for opinions on 9.04's maturity... THEN use the built in Ubuntu upgrade tool to upgrade to 9.04. My main gaming rig is 8.10 upgraded to 9.04 and speaking from a very picky Overclocker's standpoint, there was no loss in performance or stability using the upgrade tool. It's not like windows update at all. Ubuntu Update is flawless.

You aren't missing out on a whole lot by not using the bleeding edge Ubuntu version the moment it comes out. Laptops take time to make drivers for and even my Wife's System 76 Pangolin (Native Linux Performance Laptop) has issues with 9.04.

So please, save yourself a lot of time and headaches and just wait on 9.04 for at least a month. You'll thank me later.

updawg said:

I've only installed Ubuntu once before and my wireless network card wasn't supported natively and had to use ndiswrapper. But I hear that great strides that have been made since then and am wondering what would be a good fit for my laptop.

2.8 P4 400 MHZ (not a mobile processor)
1 Gig of ram
Crappy Intel Video Chipset with 64mb
1024x768 resolution screen.

Please help me! Thanks

Click to expand...

Thats better then the laptop I have and I am running Mint without an issue.

Be careful with 9.04 there is issues with the newest Intel video drivers.