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So, I've been playing around with Linux since May, and so far I've pretty much stuck with Ubuntu (and other Debian-based distros), plus a foray into PCLOS.
I'm wondering if some of you Linux users can sell me on other distros, or at least give me the pros and cons of distros you've tried.
Brian,Originally Posted by Brian96
I've heard good things about Cent, but can't vouch for it myself. I've been out of the Linux scene for a bit. I believe there's a Louisiana Tech Linux User Group. I see their paraphanellia in Nethken all the time. Let me see if I can find the the URL to their page. I'll edit this in a bit...
Thank you.
I'm a little late here, but thought I would chime in.
I've been an Ubuntu user for just over two years, and its my distro of choice. You may want to try out Linux Mint, which is built on Ubuntu. It has a few nice additions like a new applications menu and mp3 support out of the box. If you ever feel like branching out from Debian based distros then Zenwalk (slackware base) is a good one. Its super fast and very stable. Its great for older machines.
I am running the BleedTechBlue.com website on a CentOS box. I have had no problems out of it. Nice and lean.
JFord
Ubuntu remains my distro of choice, though I am running LinuxMint on my laptop. It may become my distro of choice, but I'm actually not a huge fan of the Windows-esque menu, and I typically move my panel to the right and make it transparent. This works great in Ubuntu, but it does weird things in LinuxMint. Nevertheless, next LM release I may give it a test run on my desktop.
Thanks, I'll look into that and Zenwalk.
I used to be a Redhat guy. Started Ubuntu with Feisty Fawn and I'm still in love with it. (Despite some basic issues I have with all Linux OSes) I've also used Mandrake/Mandriva and didn't have any complaints, it's just that Ubuntu has such an established user base and support. It's also really easy to install. For regular use, I can't come up wih a good reason to use another distribution.
Yeah, I've been on Ubuntu for a few years now. It's also what I use at work. It's very very nice.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt
So it seems like I sort of started at the top of the heap, and now that I want to branch out there is nowhere to go but down.
I burned Zenwalk the other day and may poke around in that. I have two main interests in Linux distros: out-of-the-box usability (including as much scalability and control from the GUI as possible) and being very small and efficient. If I can find one that does both without much of a trade-off I will be in heaven.
I tried installing a server edition of Ubuntu and adding components to it, but when I compared my Feisty install like that with a plain install of Gutsy there wasn't much performance difference.
As fare as Zenwalk being faster, does that hold true if you use one of the bigger DEs, like Gnome? I have come to prefer Gnome, but it is bulky. In the past I have tried installing an Ubuntu command-line system and adding just minimal Gnome and other packages, but the performance difference between that and a full Ubuntu install is rather modest.
I wonder, though, if Gnome in Zenwalk should be faster than Ubuntu. What are your thoughts?
I installed Fedora this past weekend and have been liking it. It's been a while since I've run any Linux distro, so I don't know how the others are now. I didn't have any headache installing anything with it. The biggest problem was getting the driver for my HP Color LaserJet 2600N, but that was just a matter of finding it and following the directions.
I can almost guarantee that it would run faster. I've tried Xubuntu, which uses the same window manager as Zenwalk and Zenwalk blew it away. However, if you want to install gnome, I would recommend using plain old Slackware (which is what Zenwalk is based on).
I keep planning on trying Zenwalk or Slackware. I burned a Zenwalk CD, but couldn't get it to recognize my virtual disk. I am hesitant to install it on "bare metal" before trying it in a VM, mainly because I'm nervous about Lilo and how well it will play with my other installed OSes. Slackware seems a little primitive for my limited experience with Linux.
I still vacillate between wanting a system that "just works," e.g., a slightly bloated full Ubuntu install, or one that is "just the basics" that may run a little more efficiently and has "only" the packages and programs I really use. At present I am satisfied with a full-on Gutsy install, and really don't notice much performance difference between it and my scaled down Feisty install on the same machine.
In any event, this has been really fun for me, and I am continually amazed at how much you can do for free these days (and without violating any licenses or copyright laws).
I'm in the same boat you're in. For daily use, I choose Ubuntu cause it "just works". On my older machines and servers, however, I tend to lean more towards faster distros for obvious reasons. I go back and forth with different OSes. Its just fun to tinker around with it.
On a side note, since you're using Ubuntu
Have you tried "Remastersys" for Ubuntu/Mint systems?
You run it, and it basically backs up your entire OS (config files, shortcuts, wallpaper, and everything) and spits out an iso that can be burned to a cd or dvd. You can then boot off the cd exactly like you would the ubuntu live cd, and there is your customized desktop. You can play around in the live environment or install it. I've been playing with it for about a month and its a great way to backup your stuff in case something goes crazy.
check it out when you get the time
http://www.remastersys.klikit.org/
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