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I installed Ubuntu x64 on my measly Celeron M 520 laptop yesterday, and some shit problem with the way the kernel handles pci irqs caused be to revert to 32 bit. I thought I was good, but then stupid internet and wireless totally stopped working for some unknown reason. Now, I'm a little pissed off, and would like to know what GNOME based Linux distro would be suitable for use as a Vista replacement. I would like something that preferably doesn't break after 30 minutes of use.

Ubuntu (32 bit).

Why did you want 64 bit anyway?

Actually nvm, it seems that this rant is moot and pointless, everything is working now, and all is well.

Ubuntu 7.10 + nVidia 8800gt + compiz fusion + kiba + AWN + many many other awesomes = uberpwn vista replacement. However, the bare essentials of any linux distro serves as a suitable vista replacement due to the superior way in which linux distros are made, and the maximum sucktitude programed into vista by m$.

actually kiki is right

Actually I think if you want a replacement for Windows, imho you should switch to Mac OS X. A *nix system is very different from Windows, and you are prone to be frustrated because every time something doesn't work you'll think "damn this, in Windows it would only be doubleclick-next-next-next-finish".

I think what he meant by "Vista Replacement" is "I have a computer designed for 64 bit Vista, what version of Linux should I use on it."

Boirunner wrote:Actually I think if you want a replacement for Windows, imho you should switch to Mac OS X. A *nix system is very different from Windows, and you are prone to be frustrated because every time something doesn't work you'll think "damn this, in Windows it would only be doubleclick-next-next-next-finish".

Mac OS X is way different from Windows, Linux with Gnome or KDE is not.

Yeah, Linux with Gnome or KDE is just like Windows... until you try to set up a printer, or use your MP3 player, or set up a network, or install non-standard software, or update your graphics drivers, or get your scanner to work, or basically do anything that doesn't work out of the box.

Don't get me wrong, I use Linux and think it's an excellent OS. But it's only really for computer scientists and freaks. People who just want their system to work with minimal effort should not use Linux imho.

And yes, now it's lightyears better than it used to be, and maybe in five years I can recommend Linux to everyone. But now, no way.

Boirunner wrote:Yeah, Linux with Gnome or KDE is just like Windows... until you try to set up a printer, or use your MP3 player, or set up a network, or install non-standard software, or update your graphics drivers, or get your scanner to work, or basically do anything that doesn't work out of the box.

Don't get me wrong, I use Linux and think it's an excellent OS. But it's only really for computer scientists and freaks. People who just want their system to work with minimal effort should not use Linux imho.

And yes, now it's lightyears better than it used to be, and maybe in five years I can recommend Linux to everyone. But now, no way.

I didn't write that it was easy to use, I wrote that it was more similar to Windows, this is true, to summarize:

Mac OS X is application based over window based
Mac OS X has deskop icons on the right side
Mac OS X has a interface designed around the use of a single mouse button
Mac OS X has the menu bar placed at the top always
Mac OS X has nothing close to a start menu

Also, Mac OS X and Linux are just as difficult to use from my experiences. If I hadn't used Windows for so long, I probably would've said that that too is as difficult to use as the others.

ZellSF wrote:Mac OS X has a interface designed around the use of a single mouse button

Not True because A, you can use windows perfectly well and never use the right mouse button and B, OSX has better right mouse-context support then windows XP in my opinion (I was very surprised the first time I hooked up the 2 button USB mouse with scroll-wheel to my brother in laws apple {had come with a single button no scrollwheel mouse} and suddenly I had context menus and scrolling... it's like they designed the OS for it but didn't bother mentioning it because of aesthetics.)

Uh, just because you can use a two button mouse on Mac OS X does not mean the system and applications weren't designed around being easy to use for a one button mouse. That the OS is designed with a 1 button mouse in mind isn't just a random thing I'm saying here, why would they ship Macs with 1 button mice for several years if that wasn't what the OS was designed for?

System tray icons usually being configured exclusively with right click on Windows are one of the things I can think of as examples, as well as right clicking title bars in Windows has context menus, Mac OS X does not.

The trash button being on an always available place and the extensive drag and drop support could also be seen as design decisions to make less needed use for a right mouse button.

Also that reminds me of more entries to my list:
Mac OS X has zoom, Linux/Windows has maximize
Mac OS X has the titlebar buttons on the left, Linux/Windows on the right
Mac OS X has no address bar

ZellSF wrote:Uh, just because you can use a two button mouse on Mac OS X does not mean the system and applications weren't designed around being easy to use for a one button mouse. That the OS is designed with a 1 button mouse in mind isn't just a random thing I'm saying here, why would they ship Macs with 1 button mice for several years if that wasn't what the OS was designed for?

System tray icons usually being configured exclusively with right click on Windows are one of the things I can think of as examples, as well as right clicking title bars in Windows has context menus, Mac OS X does not.

The trash button being on an always available place and the extensive drag and drop support could also be seen as design decisions to make less needed use for a right mouse button.

Your correction has been accepted.

Zell, you are reducing similarity to the window manager layout. I think adjusting to that is a lot easier than adjusting to a completely different mindset.

Windows and Mac OS are products for end users. Linux is a community project made for the people who are making it. I think that is a far larger difference than the number of mouse buttons used.

The interface is how you interact with the OS, it is the largest mindset adjustment you'll have to make, and it's largest with Mac OS X. Any of those so called mindset adjustments you'll have to make for Linux are very minor in comparison.

Actually, mac is a good plan since windows vista is basically a worsened version of mac osx. Codenamed housecat.

The Mac operating systems and programs are for the most part designed such that any operation can be done using one mouse button through buttons or menu items. With windows operating systems there are many things that can only be done using the second mouse button and the contextual menus. So switching one way you have to learn to right click all over the place and switching the other way you have to learn to look through menus.
All operating systems, programs, help documents, etc have a mindset with which it is easiest to use them. If your mindset does not match that of the thing you are using you will most likely get frustrated. So try many of the operating systems out there and stick with the ones that others require you to, support the programs you need, and you find easiest to work with.

but OSX has situations where you need to hold a mod key when clicking a button to duplicate the effect of the right mouse, I would argue that this constitutes designing for a second mouse button.

DandyGnome wrote:The Mac operating systems and programs are for the most part designed such that any operation can be done using one mouse button through buttons or menu items. With windows operating systems there are many things that can only be done using the second mouse button and the contextual menus. So switching one way you have to learn to right click all over the place and switching the other way you have to learn to look through menus.
All operating systems, programs, help documents, etc have a mindset with which it is easiest to use them. If your mindset does not match that of the thing you are using you will most likely get frustrated. So try many of the operating systems out there and stick with the ones that others require you to, support the programs you need, and you find easiest to work with.

Or go linux and rock your face off with no mouse or 50 buttons, or anything in between.

Restated for its ultimate truth:

UBUNTU+XGL+COMPIZ-FUSION+AWN+KIBADOCK+CONKY=pure win

Nothing could possibly pwn vista moar than the above stated combination of the elements of awesome.