A HS student's first foray into Linux

Unbuntu was the first Linux distro I used. The distro was easy to understand because it has a simple user interface. It was easy to access to the applications and it was easily booted from the CD drive. Because of Unbuntu's simplicity it would be a perfect distro for new users, who are interested in Linux, to try.
In addition to its simplicity, Unbuntu contains many great features that are nearly the same as the features on Windows. Examples are Firefox and OpenOffice. Firefox is the web browser used in Unbuntu. Firefox operates just like it would for any operating systems and it did not have problems functioning on the laptop. Firefox was able to load websites quickly and did not seem to lag at any point when it is being used on Unbuntu. There are only a few missing plugins, which can be easily downloaded for free online. As for OpenOffice, it is almost exactly the same as Microsoft Office. It contains Writer (same as Word), Presentation (Powerpoint), spreadsheet (excel), and many other applications that works exactly the same as Microsoft Office. Hence, with the similarities to Windows operating systems, Unbuntu would fit perfectly for any new users.

Tasks performed:
-Browsing internet using Firefox: Excellent speed when loading websites. Does not lag or glitch.
-OpenOffice (primarily Writer): Application loaded quickly and has almost the same concepts and features of Microsoft Word.
-Tested other applications: Calculator (simple understanding)
?-Tried the Character Map: Showed many different language characters (Chinese, Hiragana, Katakana, etc.)
-Tried CD/DVD Creator: Same as a simple CD/DVD writer. Simply drag files to the window and write to the disc.
-Booting: 1-2 minutes

Ratings: 1(worse)-5(best)
Ease of use and understanding: 5
Function ability: 4
Recommended for new user?: Yes

SimplyMepis is the current distro I am using right now as I type this report. Just like Unbuntu, SimplyMepis is easy to use and has almost the same functions as Unbuntu. However, one thing that SimplyMepis tops Unbuntu, is the graphics and display. It has many display and graphic options for the user to set. Although SimplyMepis is similar to Unbuntu, it should be recommended that new users try out Unbuntu first to get an idea of how the distro works.
This distro also uses Firefox as an internet browser and has almost every same application as Unbuntu. Every application in SimplyMepis is easily accessible through the menu located on the bottom left hand corner on the taskbar. Users who are familiar with Windows or Unbuntu would have no problem understanding the features of SimplyMepis.
SimplyMepis is so simple to use that even during startup (when booting it from CD), a user would not have to worry about selecting the wrong options and having to start over. Therefore, just like Unbuntu, SimplyMepis is highly recommended for new users of Linux distros.

Tasks Performed:
-Browsing Internet (Firefox): Fast and was able to navigate easily through many websites without a problem.
-Using OpenOffice: Everything from Writer to Presentation was easy to use and it was compatible with many file extensions.
-Tried out some of the games on the distro.
-Booting: 1-2 minutes

Ratings: 1(worse)-5(best)
Ease of use and understanding:5
Function ability: 5
Recommended for new user?: Yes

Unlike SimplyMepis and Unbuntu, OpenSuSe requires a bit more expertise in using. OpenSuSe takes a long time to boot up from the CD and if a new user is going to test it, he/she might accidently select the wrong option on the OpenSuSe boot screen. This distro also lacks function abilities when compared to Unbuntu and SimplyMepis. The applications list is different than that of Windows and a new user would have a hard time trying to figure out where are the rest of the applications are.
Another flaw in OpenSuSe is that even though it uses Firefox as its internet browser, the websites load really slowly. It takes about a minutes (sometimes more), to load a website that would usually load in a couple of seconds on Unbuntu and SimplyMepis.
There hasn?t seem to be a problem recognizing hardware of the computer but OpenSuSe is not recommended for new users because of the weak function ability. As for ease of understanding, a new user would have to use it for a bit in order to understand how everything works, in contrast to the quick and easy understanding of the previous two distros mentioned.

Tasks Performed:
-Browsing Internet (Firefox): Takes a long time to load a website (ex. Google). Sometimes so slow that the browser may have to be restarted.
-OpenOffice: Writer was easily found. But other Office applications such as Calc (excel) were in different places.
OpenOffice programs (excluding Writer) also take longer to open than it would take in any other distros.
-Booting: About 3 minutes. Computer had to be restarted once.

Ratings: 1(worse)-5(best)
Ease of use and understanding: 3
Function ability: 2
Recommended for new user?: No

Just like OpenSuSe, Mandriva take a long time to boot and start up. Also, there are a lot of options to select from during the start up process which might be confusing to new users. Mandriva contains many features that are just the same as all the Linux distros mentioned before and nearly all the same applications. These applications are easily accessed unlike OpenSuSe.
When using Firefox on Mandriva, the websites also takes a long time to load. It sometimes lags and glitches to the point where the whole browser might be restarted. Hence, the function ability for the internet is really bad. As for the OpenOffice application, it is no difference than Microsoft Office. So if a user is familiar with Microsoft Office, then OpenOffice would not be a problem.

Tasks Performed:
-Browsing Internet (Firefox): Firefox on Mandriva has terrible speed. It takes roughly 2 minutes or more to load a single website such as Google. When loading the website, the browser might freeze and must be restarted. This glitch also can be only fixed by restarting the computer.
-OpenOffice: Programs also takes a long time to load. But concepts are generally the same as Microsoft Office
-Booting: 3-4 minutes

Ratings: 1(worse)-5(best)
Ease of use and understanding: 3
Function ability: 1
Recommended for new user?: No

Out of all the Linux distros, Knoppix took the longest to boot and start up. Although there aren?t any options to select during the startup process, it takes way too long and sometimes the computer as to be restarted again in order for Knoppix to come up. Therefore, Knoppix proves that it has a hard time functioning with the computer.
However, even with the slow startup, the applications and other settings of the distro are easy to understand and use. Knoppix does not use Firefox as an internet browser. Instead, it uses its own browser known as Iceweasel. Iceweasel pulls up websites really quickly just like Firefox in Unbuntu and SimplyMepis.
Many of the settings are the same as the settings in Windows, which means a new user would have an easy time figuring out how to use Knoppix. Just like all of the distros mentioned above, Knoppix contains the same applications and settings, except for the difference in graphics and display options.

Tasks Performed:
-Browsing Internet (Iceweasel): Fast and really quick when loading websites. There are no problems when browsing websites with Iceweasel.
-OpenOffice: All the programs in OpenOffice took a while to load. But, in Knoppix, OpenOffice contains the most programs, including a math writer. The math writer allows a person to write equations and other math related subjects into the document.
-Tried Command Prompt/Line: Does not seem to have the same function ability as Command Prompt in Microsoft Windows. When ?ipconfig? was typed in, a message appears indicating the command is not found.
-Booting: about 4 minutes.

Ratings: 1(worst)-5(best)
Ease of use and understanding: 4
Function ability: 2
Recommended for new user?: Yes

...except for the ones doing the slashing.

I suppose it is just a further proof of the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules!

Honestly, I would love to see a program started where high school students do some sort of apprenticeship in various fields (such as technology....hello home grown talent, good bye controversial visas and money leaving the country) as part of their education.

Oh well.