Best Linux Distro (and reasoning)

The Ender · Aug 15, 2005, 04:02 PM

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, 03:29 PM

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, 07:03 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, 07:11 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, 08:29 PM

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

EcPercy · Aug 31, 2005, 07:06 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, 11:41 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, 11:36 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 · Sep 1, 2005, 02:58 AM

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, 10:30 PM

Locking this thread, there's already a similar thread here:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/linux-operating-systems/79317-linux-one.html

plus I've made a sticky post about this topic

Aug 15, 2005, 04:02 PM	#1
The Ender The Last of the Eld Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 62 Rep Power: 0	Best Linux Distro (and reasoning) 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. __________________ "I'm not chaotic evil, I'm chaotic practical." -Asus K8V SE Deluxe K8T800 Mobo -AMD 3200+ 64-bit Processor -1024 MB Kingston HyperX RAM (PC4000) -ATI 256MB X800XL AGP 8x -Western Digital 300GB HD 7200 RPM -Western Digital 250GB HD 7200 RPM -SoundBlaster Audigy2 ZS -Lite-On 16x DVDROM -Norcent 52x24x52 CD-RW -Antec True 550 Power Supply -Windows XP Home

Aug 16, 2005, 03:29 PM	#2
waterloo Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 337 Rep Power: 0	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. __________________ Motherboard: DFI Lan Party UT nF4 Ultra-D Modded to SLI Bios: 07/06/05 (File name - 704-2bt) CPU Cooler: Aritc Freezer 64 CPU: AMD 64 3800 Memory: OCZ 2GB Graphics Processor: ASUS EN6200GE Hard Drives: 2 X 160 IDE Western Digital, 320 SATA, 16GB SCSI Power Supply: Enermax Noisetaker 480 Watt Case:Antec CS600 Tower Case Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1/SB LIVE/SB X-FI Optical Drive: 2 X LG GSA-4167B

Aug 16, 2005, 07:03 PM	#3
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	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. __________________ -- Vedran

Aug 16, 2005, 08:29 PM	#5
waterloo Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 337 Rep Power: 0	No GENTOO!! GENTOO MORE STABLE! GENTOO MORE DOCUMENTS! GENTOO MORE SUPPORT! GENTOO! __________________ Motherboard: DFI Lan Party UT nF4 Ultra-D Modded to SLI Bios: 07/06/05 (File name - 704-2bt) CPU Cooler: Aritc Freezer 64 CPU: AMD 64 3800 Memory: OCZ 2GB Graphics Processor: ASUS EN6200GE Hard Drives: 2 X 160 IDE Western Digital, 320 SATA, 16GB SCSI Power Supply: Enermax Noisetaker 480 Watt Case:Antec CS600 Tower Case Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1/SB LIVE/SB X-FI Optical Drive: 2 X LG GSA-4167B

Aug 31, 2005, 07:06 AM	#6
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	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. Last edited by EcPercy; Aug 31, 2005 at 10:22 AM.

Aug 16, 2005, 07:11 PM	#4
DamentZ damentz.dontexist.net Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 93 Rep Power: 0	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

Aug 31, 2005, 11:41 AM	#7
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	I love gentoo, but I got a bit tired of compiling times, so I switched to Ubuntu. 100% happy with my choice __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair

Aug 31, 2005, 11:36 PM	#8
waterloo Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 337 Rep Power: 0	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. __________________ Motherboard: DFI Lan Party UT nF4 Ultra-D Modded to SLI Bios: 07/06/05 (File name - 704-2bt) CPU Cooler: Aritc Freezer 64 CPU: AMD 64 3800 Memory: OCZ 2GB Graphics Processor: ASUS EN6200GE Hard Drives: 2 X 160 IDE Western Digital, 320 SATA, 16GB SCSI Power Supply: Enermax Noisetaker 480 Watt Case:Antec CS600 Tower Case Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1/SB LIVE/SB X-FI Optical Drive: 2 X LG GSA-4167B

Sep 5, 2005, 10:30 PM	#10
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	Locking this thread, there's already a similar thread here: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/linux-operating-systems/79317-linux-one.html plus I've made a sticky post about this topic __________________