Question Repurpose W7 box to Linux...

[Kabobb]

The ole Win7 box, functionally done in the WinWorld, , is still a nice box per its hardware. It's a repetitively zippy I5-2500K(integratedGraghics) on an Asus P8H67(H8 mobo,, 16G mem, Intell 500GB SSD & WD500 HardDisd. - but has been replaced with win10box and a Win11box - and is totally unused and available for repurpose --> like a nice little zippy dedicated Linux box. .

I haven't been round Linux since ~2005 or so, but did get to know & like Suse Linux quite well. I messed round with various distros, spent days & weeks downloading/building.installing em - then got fed up with time & trial & error and bought a complete/boxed/packaged Suse Linux from CompUSA(like $29)..
Wowsa, I liked that packaged Suse Linux, twas Nice, Full instructs, full dist with 7 CD,s, fist being a Guided Installation/Maintenance disk(YAST) - Plus at that time(early/mid 2000's) Suse wasn't licensed Per Machine! One could install Suse on Any Machine they wanted - Legally!
Now that's what i'm lookin for today!
( And full Suse aint like that any more, It's only licensed to the machine now( I think) - openSuse maybe?
A nice, simple, smooth, reliable (well organized), Installable Linux right OutaTheBox - That's what I'm lookin for!

So, With Linux today and my ole Win7 box - What's the best, smoothest OutaThe Box Linux Install & User experience?
It's for a versatile general & personal biz box/system... Not a gaming sys, but a nice little personal/social sys, capable of being totally integrated with my personal/inhouse LAN, win boxes, Sam Tabs & Phones and Synology NAS.

 

[dmroeder]

My preference is Kubuntu. I like the KDE desktop environment.

Any of the Mint variants are good.

 

[Kabobb]

"My preference is Kubuntu. I like the KDE desktop environment." - Thanks...
Checked out Kubuntu, Looks like a solid NIx Distro, plus an install Mgr, tis a possibility

Nix isn't an immediate priority but is on the near short term plan.
Got to ole W7box fired up & back on the Lan, can RDP in & most runs ok.

Also checked out openSuse as i've have experience( and success) with older Suse. .
NIX, it's a rabbitHole - and a NiceToHaveAround...
And current research is also a RatHole - all seam to have "Free Trial: Free Download" and a dedicated "Store" for the distro supported apps - Whoops, sure looks like a real Rat's Nest!

OhMan, i gotta gotta get back with some ole NIX friends or am gonna get into time killin Trial & Err
And I Hate Trial&Err...
May just fire up OpenSuse just to get started & refreached.
That ole M7box with a i5-2500 & a SSD oughta be pretty zippy firin up Nix.
Soon as time allows...

 

[Grobe]

Maybe I can give you some advice's regarding what distro to choose, but I'd need some inputs on what you want first.

• You prefer most stability or rather have cutting edge packages ?
• You need to have a desktop that have a windows lokalike appearance, or can you adjust to something different ?
• Do you want to have a ton of setting (i.e. like KDE) or you want to keep it simple (like Gnome) ?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Linux Lite

Linux Lite Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System

Linux Lite is a free easy to use linux based operating system that is suitable for people who are new to linux.

www.linuxliteos.com

 

[Kabobb]

Inputs on wants:.

• Stability
• windows lookalike and similar/easy operation
• simple...e Gnome

Plus RDP - need to be able to Remote into and from Windows
And as mention needs to be integrated into the Lan well.

Amazingly My Sam Tabs & Phones "See" and integrate very well with shares on the lan using android's X-Plorr and TotalCommander, moves files very easily to/from Win & NAS.. Even some wireless devices(TV's, Printers and the SiliconDust HdHome network TV Tuner/DVR is detected and oppreational. are detected
The Nix bix has to see the network TV Tuner - Thats Manditory! Gotta have live TV on the Box...
Plus a good Office like suite, Email outlookLike (POP management/archive))

A nice surfin, fundamental/basic Nix box will do...
Are there any real con's/ disadvantages to openSuse?

Aren't most all Nix distros basickly the same per functionality?
Like, like most all common linux software /programs/commands will run on all distros? (under the covers anyway?)

I do have a little bias per Suse cause it did fire up pretty easy & well of me ( in the past), Twasn't bad at all,

Now if there's are some good reasons/disadvantages to avoid Suse now, I'm open....

Plus per my basic motivation per firin up a Nice Nix Box: IS the cost of of keepin 4-5 Win machines in the household is gettin out of proportion! (M$ is just gettin too much $$$$ out our family, and the outlook don't look good...)
.

 

[Grobe]

Inputs on wants:.

• Stability
• windows lookalike and similar/easy operation
• simple...e Gnome

This points in direction Mint. You can also test LMDE (also Mint) that is said to be even more stable because it's based on Debian.

Plus RDP - need to be able to Remote into and from Windows
And as mention needs to be integrated into the Lan well.

Well, on this - that is in very little to no degree up to each single distro. And to be honest, Windows and it's closed protocols is made for communication between Windows computers.
If two kids don't play along very nice, it's more often reasonable to assume the golden child create the most problems, and in this case Windows are the golden child.

Aren't most all Nix distros basickly the same per functionality?

Yes. However extra packages and custom kernels may give some differences.

Like, like most all common linux software /programs/commands will run on all distros? (under the covers anyway?)

Well, it depends. Most major distros have their own software repository, and because of this, one distro may offer newer versions of certain packages (i.e. software) than others - translating to different philosophy regarding stability vs. recent versions of packages.

 

[Kabobb]

Suse's got RPD Both to&from Windows
(but the doc is from SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop - not openSuse...
https://www.suse.com/support/kb/doc/?id=000016214 - examples Included)

Ubuntu's got RDP into Windows - documented! 2 options...
https://phoenixnap.com/kb/ubuntu-rdp-to-windows

Option 1: Install Remmina client on Ubuntu​

***​

Alotta search results for best Nix distro's suggest Ubuntu has a LARGEest support, community, functionality and doc/example base!

RDP's a Must! Even my SamTab's have/do it - better have a sharp point capacitive pointer! Tis tuff on 10.5" screen at any resolution and the virtual keyboard is FunkieeeAtBest - but it Does Work!

Ubuntu, ??? - maybe, a digital adventure...