Which version for a linux newbie?

[Altrdst8]

Looking into which version of Linux would be best for someone that really has not played around with the OS previously. Could anyone possibly give me a nudge in the right direction?

[zeromx]

Originally Posted by Altrdst8 Looking into which version of Linux would be best for someone that really has not played around with the OS previously. Could anyone possibly give me a nudge in the right direction?

try ubuntu, nice and easy GUI. http://psubuntu.com/ for more info and a good tutorial step by step.

[jsking75]

I wanted to install Ubuntu on my ps3 but I read in a couple of other forums that there are files left on your system after removing the OS. Can the OS be completely removed from the ps3 without harming data on the drive?

[kengreen]

All linux distro's require a bootloader called otheros.bld be installed on the game side of the PS3. It cannot be removed but takes only 4GB of flash memory. Most distro's require that you format the PS3 Hard Drive to allow 10GB for the "otheros." That 10GB partition can be removed and all the hard drive space used for the game system.

Anytime you alter the format of the Hard Drive, you should back up your saved games. As to which linux distro to install, that is a matter of choice. I use Yellow Dog Linux 6.2 because it is the newest, and in my opinion, it is the easiest to install and get working for the novice. There is a huge forum devoted to helping YDL users. Ubuntu, Gentoo and Fedora have their forums also,

[bighead77]

Try Yellow Dog for PS3.

[kengreen]

Fixstars has announced the availability of "YDL on a stick", a 16 GB USB drive with YDL. It can run from the USB stick. It does not require the user to back up the game data, reformat the hard drive, install yellow dog linux just to see if you like linux. This comes at a price, however, of $60 for the USB drive. It also would be useful for those whose PS3 Blu-ray drive has died.

[Connor1207]

I had downloaded Ubuntu before on my laptop, but found I didn't use it and uninstalled it, I found uninstalling it harder than installing! I just downloaded Yellow Dog Linux 6.1 on my ps3 there, and it was relitively easy. I just need to change the resolution a bit to fit my screen because there's a black border, but I'm sure I'll fix that. I changed the 'desktop type' to GNOME because thats what I had seen before, and In my opinion it is best to do this if your used to Windows.

[brodudeman]

what's the difference between ubuntu and yellow dog?

[kengreen]

Ubuntu is based on Debian while Yellow Dog is based on Red Hat/Centos distros. Ubuntu is usually more "up to date" while Yellow Dog is more "stable", reflecting its origin in Centos, a distro aimed at corporate users rather than the "hobbyist" distro Debian/Ubuntu.
I am sure that others will have more opinions.

[derpaux]

Originally Posted by Altrdst8 Looking into which version of Linux would be best for someone that really has not played around with the OS previously. Could anyone possibly give me a nudge in the right direction?

I'm a total newbie myself, and I have tried a couple of days with Gentoo and find it too advanced for me. Tried YDL 6.2 on my ps3 now, and it was really easy to install and use. A bit slow, but I don't have much to compare with.