08-22-2011, 08:14 PM
It's not the distro that's clean - each distro comes with a pre-installed DE (Desktop Environment), except a few like Gentoo for example, but those are out of reach for you I believe.
If you want to get a 'clean' DE, I recommend one of the three most common used ones (or four):
Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, etc., distros like those <-- have always *by default* been using GNOME, but you always have the option to install the others.
Ubuntu has other distributions similar to itself with the same repositories for installing software such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, which come with KDE or Xfce respectively.
GNOME is in the middle of X (xfce) and KDE, being semi lightweight while at the same time being at ease of use for customization if you want to make it look cooler. I prefer to have it left alone.
Xfce is more lightweight and offers less hardcore editing of the look, and KDE is more heavy weight and has a lot of options. I never liked KDE or Xfce though.
There are also WM's that run without it seeming like you're on the DE (Wm = Window Manager), such as Fluxbox/Openbox, these are incredibly lightweight however they offer some pretty cool customization options, I use those once in a while but they are a pain, really. They have a right click menu for all of your applications, and stuff like that.
Another thing you might be interested in is Conky. It's not a DE or WM but if you get a cool conky script it shows stuff like /dev/sd* space, disk usage, RAM, etc.
I recommend you use Mint or Ubuntu to start though, both have great installers for selecting to install side by side with Windows. I believe they both install a Linux boot loader so when you sign onto your computer (post-boot) it'll be Linux offering Ubuntu or Windows.
If you want to get a 'clean' DE, I recommend one of the three most common used ones (or four):
- GNOME
- KDE
- Xfce
- Unity
Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, etc., distros like those <-- have always *by default* been using GNOME, but you always have the option to install the others.
Ubuntu has other distributions similar to itself with the same repositories for installing software such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, which come with KDE or Xfce respectively.
GNOME is in the middle of X (xfce) and KDE, being semi lightweight while at the same time being at ease of use for customization if you want to make it look cooler. I prefer to have it left alone.
Xfce is more lightweight and offers less hardcore editing of the look, and KDE is more heavy weight and has a lot of options. I never liked KDE or Xfce though.
There are also WM's that run without it seeming like you're on the DE (Wm = Window Manager), such as Fluxbox/Openbox, these are incredibly lightweight however they offer some pretty cool customization options, I use those once in a while but they are a pain, really. They have a right click menu for all of your applications, and stuff like that.
Another thing you might be interested in is Conky. It's not a DE or WM but if you get a cool conky script it shows stuff like /dev/sd* space, disk usage, RAM, etc.
I recommend you use Mint or Ubuntu to start though, both have great installers for selecting to install side by side with Windows. I believe they both install a Linux boot loader so when you sign onto your computer (post-boot) it'll be Linux offering Ubuntu or Windows.