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Contempt+ - Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:59 pm
Post subject: Which linux distro?

I'm wanting to install Linux on my computer, but I'm not sure which distro to get. I used Mandrake 7-9 years ago and really like it, so I want to get something similar to it that's new. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should get?

Mine GO BOOM - Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:45 pm
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Like GUI? Ubuntu
Like pretty GUI? Ubuntu + Compiz
Plan on using the console a lot? Gentoo

Lots of other distros are great, but those two get the most attention from me because they have the best backing. Gentoo's user base is great, most documentation on how to get something in Linux working is usually related to Gentoo (and for good reason, too). Ubuntu, with its Debian base and tons of money supporting the project, can and will be a very successful distro for the next couple of years.

Now, if you want servers, there are some good ones to list (CentOS), but those two are the ones I prefer for a desktop system.

TL;DR version: either beige or royal blue/purple.

Contempt+ - Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:24 pm
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Well, I tried Ubuntu, and I also tried Kubuntu, and I didn't really like the GUI as much. I played with a Live CD of SuSE and I really liked it, but when I installed it on my computer, the video went crappy. I'm thinking about trying Fedora Core 6, but I want to get more inputs before I make my decision.

Mine GO BOOM - Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:17 pm
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When I started into Linux, I burned 8 different distros onto CDs and tried out a bunch. In fact, I have a test machine with XP, Vista, FreeBSD, Ubuntu, Xubuntu (I like Xfce better), Gentoo, Debian testing, Arch Linux, CentOS (other Redhats seem to suck more), and SuSE.

When learning, try out a bunch. If needed, use a virtual machine if you don't have a spare to learn with. I ended up with Gentoo for my main linux machine because emerge had all the software, including testing version. It being only a private server, I don't mind if it breaks. For servers, I enjoyed Debian's ability to not die constantly, but wanted something a bit more up to date than even their testing, so went with Ubuntu's LTS server install for this machine you are connected to now.

For GUI, most distros will be very similar. Their package manager and the default choice is generally the biggest difference. Try out Xfce, I enjoy it much more than Gnome/KDE. Bonus is it isn't as obscure as using other light weight window managers (I like blackbox for Windows better than Linux), so there is generally less conflict with applications that won't normally place nice outside Gnome/KDE.

Having four different Linux installs on one machine isn't that bad. Make sure you use a separate boot partition so the auto-grub editing distros won't override other auto-grub editing distros. Bonus is if one distro gets broken, you can just choose a different one and chroot to fix it without needing a LiveCD.

Animate Dreams - Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:51 am
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Fedora Core will be a good one to start with, and is the prettiest looking. Debian's GUI is very ugly, I don't like it so much. Gentoo is simple, and has great documentation. If I were going to use Linux as my own computer, I would use Fedora Core 6, because the package manager is great and it has a great GUI, which is probably more important to me than it should be. But for running servers(or similar things), I think I'd suggest Gentoo, if for nothing other than their great documentation. I can spend hours looking for Fedora documentation and coming up with nothing, at least nothing current. Gentoo also has a great package manager, I should add.

However, I am no Linux pro. This might actually make me a better person to take advice from, though, since you'll be in the same boat as me. I haven't tried out a whole lot of versions, but this is what I've gotten from what I have. Um... I don't know what to say about Debian, one of my friends loves it, but I just can't figure out why. He knows a TON about Linux, though, so I'm sure he has some reason.

But mainly, I don't like the color. Purple. >_>

Doc Flabby - Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:08 am
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debian is good for servers, i personally wouldnt run it on a desktop machine, i tried that it didnt work out for me.

gentoo is good apart from it takes hours everytime u install a program as they have to be compiled from source...

i like ubuntu on my laptop. is the first linux distrubution ive installed that auto detected my wireless card during installation

ive not got much expereince of any ofther dists (tried suse that was sloooow)

Anonymous - Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:19 pm
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I have been a firm redhat/fedora user since redhat 6 and eventually fedora. Just about any distro will do just some are easier to get familiar with then others, for example I wouldnt recommend running openbsd/freebsd from the start. Any distro can be a solid OS for both server/desktop just depends on the user, but I would still take fedora as the easiest to adapt to for a newer user.

Contempt+ - Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:39 pm
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Alright. I downloaded Fedora Core 6 and I'm going to try that out later tonight, and if I don't like it, then I'll try something else. More suggestions are welcome, if there are any =P

D1st0rt - Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:15 pm
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I've tried Ubuntu and Fedora 3-5. Now I roll Gentoo.

Anonymous - Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:45 pm
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A friend of mine said that I could try XandrOS. What's the word on this one?

Mine GO BOOM - Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:07 pm
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Source: Wikipedia

Quote:

Free Editions

* Xandros Open Circulation Edition (OCE) is a freely redistributable edition for non-commercial use. This edition has a limited set of additional software. For example: in Xandros File Manager, CD burning speed is limited to the minimum burning speed of the CD drive (usually 4x speed); it comes with a 30-day trial of CrossOver Office instead of the full version included in the Deluxe and Business editions; there is no e-mail support or user guide. As with other versions, the Open Circulation Edition includes Mozilla Corporation's Firefox and Thunderbird web browser and e-mail client. Previous version of Xandros OCE were generally released about 4 months after the release of the commercial versions. However, since a product activation code is now required for Xandros Networks to be functional in the Home Edition and Home Edition Premium version, it is doubtful that an Open Circulation Edition of Xandros Home Edition will ever be released.

Sounds like you should just skip Xandros.

Contempt+ - Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:15 pm
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Yeah, I did some research on a SuSE Forums, and found a way to fix my problem. I really don't understand what it did, but it worked. I'm currently using SuSE 10.1.