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I am currently taking a beginners level Linux course for my degree and a project we're working on is finding and installing 4 different versions of Linux.
It is completely up to us on which versions we use and the goal is to get a basic feel for the OS while doing common tasks (Get it connected to the internet, install a printer, etc).
The only version of Linux we are not allowed to use is Fedora, as it is the one we use in class.
While it is extremely easy to find tons of different versions of Linux by just Googling, I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions.
A few things to keep in mind:
1) It needs to be 4 different 'families' of Linux
2) The lighter the better, the computers we're installing it on are pretty slow.
3) The more user friendly the better as it is a beginning level course.
For now I am just going to start off with whichever the most common version is. Thanks!
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5673 Posts
Ubuntu (Debian Family)
Slax (Slackware)
OpenSUSE (SUSE)
PCLinuxOS (Mandriva)
Most if not all of those have Live CDs as well, and all are pretty beginner friendly.  Good luck!
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Canada9720 Posts
four different and important linux distros that will give you a good sample of what's our there:
debian (or ubuntu)
gentoo
slackware
open suse
suse is related slackware but still different enough that i think it counts as it's own group
have fun!
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On December 05 2009 02:35 CTStalker wrote:
four different and important linux distros that will give you a good sample of what's our there:
debian (or ubuntu)
gentoo
slackware
open suse
suse is related slackware but still different enough that i think it counts as it's own group
have fun!
I like Gentoo but in this case I wouldn't recommend it. It is time consuming because every piece of software has to be compiled from source.
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ubuntu
red hat
gentoo
suse
try and get them in different flavors to use some different windowing environments (kde, gnome, xfce, fluxbox). I know ubuntu comes in all those but im not sure if the others do. In any case, those four are sufficiently different to give you a sense of the different flavors of linux. Ranges from hard(lol compile everything) to ezpz (ubuntu, everything is handed to you on a silver platter, unless you want flash or proprietary code lol).
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Ubuntu is the shyte, I used it when I was having windows related problems and I have to say it beat windows distros in every single thing apart from gaming 
Very nice looking and easy to use IMO, although I´ve heard other Linux systems are pretty user friendly too these days.
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From my experience:
Mandriva - extremely user friendly (if you want, you can also pay like 20USD or something to get Mandriva Extreme which is even friendlier as it comes with restricted packages already on board)
openSUSE - using it now, very nice and a lot of help available on the web
Slackware - used to be the king when it comes to running on low-end machines, don't know how is it now
Damn Small Linux - most likely the new king of low-end machines, been hearing good things about it.
Other things you might want to check out:
Knoppix - primarily designed to run as a LiveCD. Possible HDD installation implemented too 
Linux Mint - supposed to be very light and very nice distro.
FreeBSD - not technically a Linux but if you can work on it, you can work on every Linux out there.
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I'll second the "don't do gentoo" vote.
I think if you're looking for different "families" maybe it would be nice to use distros with different desktop environments:
OpenSUSE (KDE, suse-based)
Zenwalk (XFCE, slax-based)
Linux Mint (GNOME, deb/ubu-based)
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You guys are the best! I didnt even know where to begin and am seeing a lot of repeats (means it must be popular).
Thanks!
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a good page to stay up to date with linux distros is distrowatch.com
There are descriptions for all kinds of distros
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Gentoo will cause you to learn the most, but it is not practical to install it on a school computer when you don't know linux at all. Most of these others I agree with.
Obviously either debian or ubuntu is good, pclinuxos is good, knoppix is good. Freebsd is not linux, but it is worth attempting, and I don't think your prof would mind.
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I have been playing around with centos, seems pretty stable, easy to use so far. I would say it is worth a try if you still are looking.
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On December 05 2009 03:09 Mothra wrote:Show nested quote +On December 05 2009 02:35 CTStalker wrote:
four different and important linux distros that will give you a good sample of what's our there:
debian (or ubuntu)
gentoo
slackware
open suse
suse is related slackware but still different enough that i think it counts as it's own group
have fun!
I like Gentoo but in this case I wouldn't recommend it. It is time consuming because every piece of software has to be compiled from source.
I agree to that. Installing Gentoo can be a nightmare for beginners, and really time comsuming. But other than that Gentoo is amazing. Its extremly fast once its set up, very reliable, and has a rather big and knowledgeable community.
I learned linux by installing and using Gentoo, and you learn ALOT more from that than by installing and using other easier distributions.
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If you want to know how all the components of an operating system link in togeather, and how it all works, I don't think I can recommend Arch Linux more than anything else.
After using it my knowledge of linux increased like 10 fold.
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archlinux is good for people who want to learn a bit about non-installer linux (well, you can use the installer but there are more options that you can chose at the start).
gentoo is way beyond any beginners.
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On December 05 2009 17:45 haduken wrote:
gentoo is way beyond any beginners.
nonsense. gentoo was the first distro I ever installed, and that was when I could barely be called a power user even in windows land. it's fine for a beginner as long as said beginner doesn't avoid reading documentation.
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give it a try to Puppy Linux.
Is very simple, very small, and very diferent to most of the distros. I use it on an 1gb flash disk, mainly to boot and repair any kind of machine. I think is slackware... but i am not sure... im sure is not fedora nor debian.
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EPT
