[darkcloud23]

i got a dell mini 10 running xp atm and im wanting to put ubuntu on it. i was just wondering what version of ubuntu is the best and how do i install it.

[lswartz]

That is the nice thing about Ubuntu, you can try it out without installing & see for yourself. It also installs quickly so you might just do an install & take it for a test drive for a week or so. I use 10.04 which is a long term support (LTS) of 3 years. It is the net book version which gives you a different desktop. My son wanted the standard desktop for his Mini 10 & I would recommend it.

You will have to connect to the Internet via Ethernet to download the broadcom wireless driver in 10.04. It isn't a issue in later releases.

Follow the guidance here http://www.ubuntu.com/download for installation.

Choices are great aren't they.

[fdalbor]

Depends on which Mini 10 you have; the 1010; 1011; 1012; or the 1018. It makes a difference. Lswartz is right about 10.04 and it does offer long term support and it is the ubuntu I use on my 1010. You have more choices with the other mini 10's as they have a different chip set than the 1010. fdalbor

[darkcloud23]

thanks guys. i tried 11.10 and it didnt work on my mini 10. but then i googled the problem and it seems no one could get it to work. so im gonna download 10.04. and use it.
not sure what mini 10 i have. i thought they was just one kind besides the 10v or w.e. how can i find out which 10 it is?

[fdalbor]

On the bottom of the mini there is a service tag number. Go to the Dell web site and put in that number and it will tell you exactly which mini you have.

There are other ways to tell but you have to do a little digging. The 1010 has the GMA 500 chip set and the Z series processor. Also it is the only mini that has the HDMI video connector. The 1011 or 10V is the value version of the Mini 1010 it has the regular atom processor and a VGA connector and you could not get very many options on it like you could with the 1010. It was popular because you could run the Apple OS on it because of the 900 series chip set in it.

The 1012 is a horse of a different color with another different chip set and a different processor than the 1010 or 1011. Also you could get alot of options on the 1012.The 1018 is the value version of the 1012.
I have used all of them and too me the best built one is the 1010. The 1012 is nice; but I have always thought the 1010 was a better looking machine and better fitted than the others. fdalbor

[darkcloud23]

thanks dude. that helps alot. i got a mini 1010