[ILUG] A reliable Distribution

[PhilipQuinlan]

Josh Glover wrote:
> On 28/11/06, Thomas Meehan <thom.meehan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Could anyone suggest a reliable distribution
Never ask that question, it leads to interminable threads of personal 
opinion masquerading as fact ;)
>> that will allow a newbie to
>> have normal computer usage, such as internet and full multimedia, with
>> freedom to explore Linux from there?
>
There are other distributions that specialize in being, "un-linuxy" such 
as Mepis and Linspire/Freespire, that said however I would agree with 
Josh that Ubuntu is a great combination of usability and introduction to 
Linux.
> Ubuntu? You will have to install some packages yourself to give
> yourself DVD / DViX / XViD / WMF / etc. playback, but surely there
> must be a decent guide to doing just that.
>
Better than that, there's a package, just one, which downloads and 
installs all the codec's that are protected by patent in the US and so 
can't be installed in a free Os by default.

Download easyubuntu.deb from http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/ and 
follow the directions on their site

OR
in a terminal enter the following commands:

    wget http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/files/easyubuntu-3.023.tar.gz
    tar -zxf easyubuntu-3.023.tar.gz
    cd easyubuntu
    sudo python easyubuntu.in


> Maybe another list member can point you to just such a reference.
>
> -Josh
Hope this helps, Philip