Windows look and introductory distros Re: Copy of Kubuntu/Ubuntu?

[Bill Ricker]

While not being able to help with

> I had a request from a person in Barrington, NH who
> wants to try Linux for the first time.  I was
> scheduled to be in Portsmouth, NH this morning, for an
> appointment, but ended up re-scheduling for next week.
> Is there anyone from SLUG who might be able to get him
> a cd before then?

the above request, since I'm in BLU territory, however I'll comment on
the underlying request -

> He asked that the "flavor"
> be "As similar to 'Windows' as possible..."  I was
> going to bring Kubuntu or Ubuntu, but he isn't being
> picky.

Ubuntu is pretty good as a starter / switcher distro. A recent UK
"Linux Format" special issue, which may still be on major newstands,
focuses on switching from Windows to Ubuntu 6.06 "Daper Drake LTS".
That's a keeper issue.

However, in recent UK linux magazines (Format? User/Pro? I grab both
at MicroCenter, so I forget which) I've seen both PCLinuxOS [1] and
SimplyMepis [2]  reviewed as being simple, Windows-look-alike, good
first-Linux distros.  Mepis is now based on Ubuntu 6.06 instead of
Debian.  I don't use either of these myself, but might try SimplyMEPIS
for such a purpose, since I'm used to the Debian/Ubuntu.

[1] http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=PCLinuxOS
[2] http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mepis

-- 
Bill
n1vux at arrl.net bill.n1vux at gmail.com