I just got a laptop and it's a compaq Presario F700, and it runs Vista, so far I'm not too fond of Vista, the only thing I like on it is microsoft word 2007, but I only have a trial use so thats not going to last long. I am comsidering downloading a distobution fo linux on to my new laptop to replace Vista. I usually use my laptop for downloading music, talking to people on aim, web design, word prosessing and school projects. I did some research on linux distrobutions and I was considering Ubuntu but I heard that it doesn't support I-tunes and I kinda need that for my I-pod. I like to think that I am pretty good with computers and can do most things on them so it doesn't necessarily have to be the easyest distrobution to use, I just want one that will forfill my needs, I would also like it to be one of the free distrobutions and would prefer one that would have a live disk so I can test it out before I start using it.

Best Answer

Look, most sensible people who are just starting on Linux dual boot. Linux is a whole other operating system. In fact, it is a UNIX-derived system and you learn about that command line stuff people are always complaining about by typing "UNIX tutorial" into your search engine. It takes time to adjust to the world of UNIX.

That means you should keep Windoze if you can for dual boot.;

I don't use I-tunes. But I have two thoughts on the matter. One is the above: you probably need at least a year of dual booting, and two is the other issue: I've met Ubuntu and Edubuntu developers who talk more about security than anything else and seem to indicate that except in outside projects like edubuntu (which has just been reorganized) their focus seems to be on Security and on updates, on the path of getting packages onto your computers. They exactly do NOT do all that Bells and whistles OS stuff, except they negotiate with other companies.

The interface you will get on Ubuntu is provided by the X.Org Foundation, the Gnome Foundation (or KDE or XFCE people -- they aren't exactly a foundation) and the Compiz Fusion people if that's what you want on your desktop. Things get on Ubuntu's desktop early not because they put them there but because they don't stand in the way of them getting there. It's not likely that I-tunes will run on other distros before it runs on Ubuntu. Shuttleworth, the man behind Ubuntu, has no doubt held discussions about getting it and will no doubt be proactive as soon as it looks like they are going to release it for ANY Linux distribution.

You might consider installing rather than partitioning it. I heard about something called wubi here, it's at

http://www.wubi-installer.org

And it runs Ubuntu on top of Windows. I recommended it to someone who thanked me but someone else here has complained that since Windows is less stable than Linux (and especially Ubuntu Linux) it will occasionally freeze up and you can't do anything because it's windows causing the trouble.

Definitely read about repartitioning your hard drive: about shrinking the Vista partition and putting Ubuntu on the excess. Read about it before doing it. You can downlowad ubuntu cds from www.ubuntu.com.

A VERY similar distro with a KDE interface which is optimized for computer professionals is available at http://www.knoppix.com That one is a livecd only, whereas the Ubuntu disks, though not good live cds are live cds you can install from.

Hope these thoughts help.