Best Linux Distro (and reasoning)

The Ender · Aug 15, 2005, 10:02 AM

Ok, I'm sure you're sick of these, but I'm looking for more. I'm going to install a Linux distro on my laptop. Currently I have Fedora Core 3 on my desktop, but I'm not on that computer enough to get to mess around with it. FC3 was nice and all, but didn't impress me that much. I'm still new to Linux, but I'm willing to learn whatever it takes to use the best distro. I've read these forums, and seen a lot about Gentoo. If you guys wouldn't mind, what distro do you recommend, and specifically why is it better than others? Thanks.

waterloo · Aug 16, 2005, 09:29 AM

Gentoo ROCKS!!! I using it. Gentoo because you get to make your own kernel, literally built the computer your way. A noobish take on Gentoo would be vidalinux. Gentoo very customizable. I love it. Used Mandriva, Fedora, Ubuntu, and lots more but Gentoo is the best.

Hint: Gentoo is pretty hard though but if u follow the documents and RTFM *READ THE F****** MANUAL* you'll be fine.

RIV@NVX · Aug 16, 2005, 01:03 PM

Gentoo is great, but you will spend a lot of time compiling stuff. If you want something simpler that is easy to install and "just works", Ubuntu is better choice.
Both are great distros, so you can't really go wrong either way.

DamentZ · Aug 16, 2005, 01:11 PM

I like Mepis and Kanotix

Mepis is very stable and best suited if you dont want to fiddle with configuration when you first install, its also a live cd so you can install while surfing the net =)

Kanotix is also a live cd but its based on knoppix but it feels very very fast and stable, but they are still developing it and hte hardware detection is not that great, i mean not to say it sbad, it just doesnt really support older/less popular nic cards (couldnt get it the nic to work on my second comp w/ a sis 735 based motherboard). If you have a decent machine then by all means go for kanotix

waterloo · Aug 16, 2005, 02:29 PM

No GENTOO!!
GENTOO MORE STABLE! GENTOO MORE DOCUMENTS! GENTOO MORE SUPPORT!
GENTOO!

EcPercy · Aug 31, 2005, 01:06 AM

Someone got me to try archlinux recently and I am just about to migrate my mandriva box to it. Arch linux is i686 optimized and runs extremely well on my system.

I have tried Gentoo and I do not like it when compared to Arch. Gentoo takes a lot of time (and I do mean a lot of time) to compile various applications. I can install and reinstall Arch several times in the time it takes to do a single stage 3 install of Gentoo.

Seeing that Arch is i686 optimized, all of the packages are already compiled. Arch is much like Gentoo where you have to make a lot of the config files yourself. This way you still get a really good understanding of what files do what. Arch has a great user community and they also have a wiki : http://wiki.archlinux.org : so most of the things you need answers for are only a search away.

I would recommend Arch Linux or Ubuntu before Gentoo. Sorry, but the insanely long installation time coupled with the long compile times does not appeal to me.

Kombatant · Aug 31, 2005, 05:41 AM

I love gentoo, but I got a bit tired of compiling times, so I switched to Ubuntu. 100% happy with my choice

waterloo · Aug 31, 2005, 05:36 PM

Ubuntu on 64 is pain in the arse. Compilin on 64 anit long. Took me about 4 hours to get basic Gentoo with Gnome. Anyway Linux on amd64 at the moment is a bit painful. If ur newbie to linux get ready to read tons! I recommend ubuntu too, archlinux is almost same as Gentoo. Archlinux and gentoo is for users who are OK with using terminals and operatre witout gnome or kde or gdm or kdm etc.

EcPercy · Aug 31, 2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterloo

Ubuntu on 64 is pain in the arse. Compilin on 64 anit long. Took me about 4 hours to get basic Gentoo with Gnome. Anyway Linux on amd64 at the moment is a bit painful. If ur newbie to linux get ready to read tons! I recommend ubuntu too, archlinux is almost same as Gentoo. Archlinux and gentoo is for users who are OK with using terminals and operatre witout gnome or kde or gdm or kdm etc.

I do agree with your statement to a degree. Gentoo and Archlinux require a particular understanding of linux, but there is a wealth of knowledge for each concerning the config files and various system configurations. Gentoo and Archlinux can be setup to use KDE and Gnome and once you have the system up.. updates are a breeze. That is one of the better features I have seen in the linux dists that are somewhat difficult to configure. As soon as ArchLinux moves to version .8 I will be migrating to it full time.

I would say to use something like ubuntu, fedora, or mandriva until you get a feel for the platform and then move to something like gentoo or archlinux.

I will stop now, because it is really hard to say which distro is better than another. They all have their pro's and con's. It just depends on what you want out of the distro. I would look at http://www.distrowatch.com to get some more information on the different distros.

Good Luck with whichever distro you decide to use!

md5 · Sep 5, 2005, 04:30 PM

Locking this thread, there's already a similar thread here:
Linux? Which one?

plus I've made a sticky post about this topic