I am thinking of getting a version of Linux since Windows Vista drains my PC's memory too much and battles with other apps when they ask for a bit ("Please sir, may I have some more RAM?") but there are about a hundred different versions and I was just wondering if anyone here knows what the best one is, i.e similiar functioning to Windows.

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Best?

I dunno.

I just installed Ubuntu on its own partition (compy dual boots between Vista and Ubuntu right now) and it was pretty easy. I'm not crazy about the default color scheme, but that's a minor irritation. I've read that the GUI is more like OS X (I think) but it was easy enough to navigate.

You can always run off a live CD for a few days to see which distro fits your tastes.

I may still burn a Kubuntu CD and have a play with that before I find out how to get KDE as the desktop.

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Kathryn :o)
The BOINC FAQ Service
The Unofficial BOINC Wiki
The Trac System
More BOINC information than you can shake a stick of RAM at.

I use Fedora Core 3 and 6 on three computers. I have no trouble with them. I have not worked out how to upgrade version 3 to 6 yet and I might not seeing as 3 is working fine (if it isn't broke leave it alone).
I am not Linux savy yet but using the GUI rather than the command line it is not much different to clicking around Windows.
My other 2 Windows machines are staying on XP, I wont be upgrading to Vista as I don't have the need to do so.

Any of the major releases will be fine to use and all now have fairly easy installs or even dual booting if you want to keep Windows for games.

You have a choice:-

Fedora also called Fedora Core
CentOS
SUSE (pronouced suza, also called openSUSE)
Debian/GNU
Ubuntu
PCLinuxOS
SimplyMepis
Mandriva
Damn Small Linux (can work out of 50 MB with basic install)
Gentoo
Slackware
Knoppix
xandros

In fact you have lots of choices, as this is only the main distributions, there are many others.

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Best?

I dunno.

I just installed Ubuntu on its own partition (compy dual boots between Vista and Ubuntu right now) and it was pretty easy. I'm not crazy about the default color scheme, but that's a minor irritation. I've read that the GUI is more like OS X (I think) but it was easy enough to navigate.

You can always run off a live CD for a few days to see which distro fits your tastes.

I may still burn a Kubuntu CD and have a play with that before I find out how to get KDE as the desktop.

@Kathryn

If you decide you like KDE better than Gnome: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kde

I did this with Xubuntu to get Gnome and KDE.......choose at boot up which session to use.

I still prefer Ubuntu......was easier to install everything.....SSH, VNC, yada yada.

Have fun.....better get that second "dedicated" Linux box.....LOL

I tried to install Ubuntu as a live disk. Took a while to get to the, very brown welcome screen. I then had to click on 1 of 2-3 icons, but my mouse didn't work. I could not get any further.

Booted the machine back to XP.

Right now, I have a working Linux box to play with, (I didn't set it up). I have managed to get BOINC on and running, but have to have the console open as well as BOINC Manager. I tried the & trick which worked with emacs, but didn't with BM. I'd obviously prefer it to run in the tray like it does in Windows.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

I tried to install Ubuntu as a live disk. Took a while to get to the, very brown welcome screen. I then had to click on 1 of 2-3 icons, but my mouse didn't work. I could not get any further.

Booted the machine back to XP.

Right now, I have a working Linux box to play with, (I didn't set it up). I have managed to get BOINC on and running, but have to have the console open as well as BOINC Manager. I tried the & trick which worked with emacs, but didn't with BM. I'd obviously prefer it to run in the tray like it does in Windows.

Which version of Linux?

Which version of BOINC Client?

As Katherine said grab yourself some Live CDs and see which one you like and that it recognises and works with all your hardware. Then check out its help pages and forums. If each of the above passes muster then install it to your harddrive - welcome to the club :)

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Well thankyou, i will have a go :)

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