I know there is a Linux thread for Linux experts but ... there are 17 pages already.

Could someone form there please make a simple recco of which Linux and exactly how to go about installing Linux.

I wish to install on an XP driven Netbook. So no CD drive.

I could install a SSD.

2MB of memory.

I want/need Google Chrome. I want Avast. Happy to use Google on the cloud software - Docs, Sheet, Keep, Gmail, Slides, Calendar ...


Seeing the Chrome page

https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrom...platform=linux

it says

For Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/openSUSE)

So which one of these? Can you recco a malware free site to download? What about drivers? Equivalent of windows update?

I understand I could download the software and then install off a USB drive.

Once I have got going I will definitely read the long Linux thread.

I'd recommend Ubuntu or Mint - and you won't need Avast when using Linux.

Just download the ISO file from their official sites.

I'm sure someone else on here can recommend the best way to install it or you.

Make a bootable USB flash (4GB or more) and boot from it.

If you set persistence you can keep XP for a while.

When happy, Install your distro permanently.

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

Thanks.

There would have been no issue with you posting in the Linux thread, thats whats its for.


You can try before you commit to a install, as has already been pointed out by RobinOfLoxley.

Getting the impression you havent touched Linux at all?
you will be presented with a choice of desktop enviroments, so defo best to try them 1st.

http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce

http://distrowatch.com/index.php?dataspan=13
look for the list on the right, it will give you a list/link to lots of Linux OS.


the fedora and opensuse are not the top newbie friendly ones, Debian is the basic one that just needs a few things adding, flash/codecs etc.

if you want true user friendly its Ubuntu or Mint.

you may be looking at the lighter usage xfce or lxde versions for youre hardware.

You could try Zorin 32 Bit, I tried this for a replacement for XP.
This looks like XP desktop.

Another good XP replacement would be LXLE
http://lxle.net/
Easy to use and light on RAM usage.Includes a very comprehensive range of software such as used for internet browsing, office software and playing of various media.

With Google Chrome you've got the choice of installing Chromium from the Repository/Software Centre in your chosen distribution, or the Linux version of Chrome proper from the Chrome site.

Chromium should be fine, and works the same as Chrome, but in some distros it comes without Flash support now, so you could try Chrome proper instead.

For most software on Linux, the Software Centre is the first stop, rather than trawling individual websites.

Another vote for Mint, its the easiest for existing Windows users to migrate from. Not saying there is no learning curve but its not that bad, a long weekend and you will be up and running.

Installer is pretty easy, its detected virtually all the hardware on the dozen or so systems I have installed, all the way from netbooks with atom CPU and 1GB or RAM to latest i7 desktops.

The image comes as a ISO and can be booted from CD if you want to give it a try, or converted to USB or SD card. If you decide to use it, its very easy to install and will even install a boot loader allowing you to choose between existing windows installation and linux.

No need to worry about drivers. The Linux kernel has them built-in already, so your hardware will likely "just work".

For updates the various updating methods Linux distros use have been superior to Windows Update for 20 odd years. Not only will it update your system software but it will update all installed applications too.

Thanks all again. I am sure many will use this thread to move from XP to Linux in the next few months. So not just for me.

The processor is Intel Atom N270 with 2 GB of RAM

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/lapto...specifications

On the back of reccos here for Mint I found this

Linux Mint 15 How To Install Google Chrome for Beginners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYwP3g0h8I

As Chrome and the Google ecosystem is my main need I am inclined to go for Mint 15 - now to find it.

How about a Media Player? Is that built-in?

Mint comes with everything you will need.
From media players to CD burner etc etc.

Plus there's loafs of different media players etc available for free. Through the software ctr..

http://linuxmint.com/
What desktop version are you going for.
http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-linux/kde-gnome-or-xfce

Been using it on a Asus netbook with 1GB RAM no problem. Even picked up all the function keys.


Mint 16 is now available. I believe v13 is classed as a longer support model with v16 being 6 months.

As for media player, I use VLC which can easily be installed via the built in package manager.

You won't need to do much to install Chrome.

Once Mint is installed just open up Firefox and go to: http://google.com/chrome and it will automatically detect what you're running and offer the correct package.

Chrome is usually one of the first things i install on Mint.

Once downloaded open the terminal and type:

hit the tab button to autocomplete the name and hit return. It'll ask for your password. Enter it and hit return again.

Mint has a missing Chrome dependancy but after installing Chrome type
into the terminal and hit return and it will install.

Now Chrome's ready to run.

He doesn't need to do anything in the terminal to install a .deb file. He just needs to double click the file.
No need to complicate things for a newbie.

And I'm using Chrome proper in Mint 16, without needing to install any missing dependencies?

This looks good

"Ubuntu vs. Mint: Which Linux Distro Is Better for Beginners?"

http://lifehacker.com/5993297/ubuntu...-for-beginners

and seems to confirm that Mint is best for refugees from XP.

Yours and others new to Linux will have the headache of choosing which desktop version they will want to use.

http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce

But as they are all free, and all do the same thing, just in different ways and looks, its down to trial and error.

Have you actually got to download a ISO yet?
http://www.linuxmint.com/

I thought it would probably install by double-clicking, but i've always done it the terminal way so didn't want to say without being sure.

The Cinnamon edition of Mint 16 definitely has libcurl3 missing because i always have to install it when installing Chrome, but perhaps double-clicking installing Chrome installs the dependancy too.

You're probably more experienced than me, but I just installed it from the site, without problems.
What does libcur13 do?

On Mint 15 (or was it 14?) I just used Chromium, but I noticed on 16 that Flash didn't work. That's why I installed Chrome. I still use Chromium on most distros, including Ubuntu 13.10.

cURL is a command-line tool for transferring data. Maybe Chrome doesn't need it for day-to-day operations, i don't know.

Try opening a terminal and running:
This will simulate an install of missing dependancies, but not actually make any changes to your system. If libcurl3 is listed there then i guess Chrome doesn't need it to run but has it included as a dependancy for some reason.


Chromium uses the system-installed version of Flash which Adobe stopped making new Linux releases of a couple of years back. Chrome bundles its own version (on Windows and OS X too) which is the newest version.

Mint 16 had no issues at all with Chrome. It just installed straight away. I'd recommend v.16 anyway as it's the current version and it's pretty aces.

No it's not listed, so presumably the .deb handles the installation of it automatically?

I had to Google ISO as I imagine it has nothing to do with my camera settings ...

I think I'm going for Cinnamon primarily because ... I love cinnamon on my coffee and ice cream ... Mate could give me a headache ... Though KDE sounds like it is closest to Windows.

I imagine in Linux there is aslo a windows-style / multi-tasking operation with several frames open at the same time.

OK I'm coming over. Can you all keep an eye out for the Microsoft border guards and provide cover fire ...

Cinnamon makes an awesome desktop.

OK Downloading "Linux Mint 16 “Petra” Cinnamon" ISO from the University of Kent mirror as per

http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2489

1.1 GB and an hour to download. Presumably I boot up the netbook with this USB in it, hit F10 (IIRC) and see what happens.