What is the best Desktop Linux 64 Bit in your opinion in term of user friendly? Please give your reason.

The Distribution must be at least as user friendly as Vista (which is not so user friendly )

Thanks for your comment bro. I open it because it just want to be specific with this question and this question only.

As for KDE, I find that its quite a bit different form windows (KDE 4). As for Ubuntu 8.10, I don't seems to find it user friendly enough. Especially for a total stranger to Linux like most of the people.

Actually I want Linux distribution that is simple so that even my dad know who handle it. Heard PCLinuxOS is user friendly but it got no 64 bit version. Any thought?

Are you sure its that simple?

Anyway, which one do you think is the best that suit my requirement in this thread?

What do you like about it and what do you think special about it? Would love to hear you personal opinion. Thanks.

I also heard that it has one of the easiest GUI. Still waiting for the latest 64 bit version though coz the recently released was 32 bit version.

How about hardware compatibility? Any thought?

Anyone have any thought?

Good question. Its because I want to use all of my 4GB RAM and in turn would make it easier for me to run virtual machine and install Windows in it. In short I want to move to Linux but that Linux must be Windows Like so that the learning curve is not that high. I will only use Windows when its absolutely necessary.

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Added on January 1, 2009, 9:13 pmI believe Mandriva is not 64 bit. But is it easy to use?

As for OpenSUSE, I believe I have briefly tried the latest one but it can't seem to detect my Broadcom wireless but Ubuntu can do it with no issue. Its just Ubuntu is a bit hard to use for me.

This post has been edited by Spade: Jan 1 2009, 09:13 PM

Many thanks for your input bro.

I think I need to clear some things up to avoid confusion. What I meant it that sentence is that the GUI is Windows-Like. So that you will feel more at home. I have tried a few of the well-known 64 bit Desktop Linux but have yet to found the one that I like. I don't mine even if I have to pay for it as long as its easy to use. All I want is an alternative to MS Windows. Even after I have found a suitable and easy to use desktop Linux, I will still use my Windows albeit in a form of virtual machine running on a Linux system.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have briefly tried openSUSE 11.1 and it looks very good. But the main let down is that it can't detect my Broadcom WiFi thus I will need to be some kind of geek to make it run which not what I wanted since I don't have time to waste.

This post has been edited by Spade: Jan 2 2009, 12:07 AM

I just don't like the command prompt thingy when all you need is just to install a software. Any idea in the least use of command prompt version? Actually at first I will not spend that much time on Linux since I intend to run Windows on a virtual Machine (Virtual Box or something) for Linux. So my first target it to get a Linux that can be easily setup to work with my computer. Once it done I can slowly climb the learning curve.

He use it for any other normal Windows use their comp. I don't mind if a Linux distribution have a full feature as long as its basic/normal features (that most of Windows users want) are user-friendly enough.

This post has been edited by Spade: Jan 2 2009, 10:49 AM

Ubuntu 8.10 did not detect my sound and with Ubuntu can't really surfing the net properly out-of-the-box since it wont allow layman to install plugins required when you surf to the site like lowyat.net and all other since they strictly allow 100% free software.

Of course I will run my Windows Vista Ultimate on Linux using the Virtual Box.

Some Linux fail to detect my Broadcom Wireless (only the broadcom) while others fail to my sound (only sound). So far I haven't found one that can detect both Broadcom wireless AND sound.

As for learning. Yes I do want to learn but I want to first setup the Linux machine up and running and install my Vista on it using Virtual Box so that I can use it for my daily routine and do my work. After my basic necessity has been fulfiled ONLY THEN I will slowly learn the Linux and eventually will STOP using Vista at some point (I hope).

You can suggest me any Linux even the commercial one coz I don't mind paying. All I want is just an alternative to MS Operating System.

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Added on January 2, 2009, 8:59 pmYeah, my desktop running fine too but my notebooks isn't. The thing is I want to get rid of my desktop and just start using notebook 100%. That is why now I have 2 notebook where one is exclusively for torrent + encoding job.

This post has been edited by Spade: Jan 2 2009, 09:00 PM

As far as I know those 3 Linux distribution hasn't been updated to new Kernel for years. New Kernel usually means better hardware support especially a new hardware.

As for learning yes, setting up a perfect running Linux is part of the learning but it should be simple. At least as simple as setting up a Windows.

Its because the one that you tried is 100% OSS version. You should try the one with proprietary software then you can do many thing like play movies, mp3 and surfing internet with java function and other plugins. But still, my quest is to find the most user friendly Linux.

Any other suggestion gentlemen?

Now waiting for Linux Mint 7 64Bit edition.

Mint 8 seems nice. Anyone have any thought on it?

anyone currently using the latest Linux Mint? Please share info.