[distro choice] - Computers

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distro choice
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Posted by: simple

i just wanted to know the opinions of different linux users. i have personally used mandriva, fedora core, centos, dsl, knoppix.
in the "small" segment i would say i was impressed with DSL.
and i find mandriva's control center to be really awesome. fedora takes some time to get ones hands on just like centos but both are rich when it comes to programming tools.
i tried using ubuntu but i wasn't that impressed.
so i wanted different opinions as to "WHY" debian or any other distro is really good.
any response is genuinely appreciated!! c ya!!

Posted by: The General

The main choice maker for me is the package management.

Posted by: simple

thanks for replying. but could you elaborate on "package management" you specified. i mean what packages do you find lacking in non debian linux distros.
( i specifically mention "non debian" because i have observed quite a few posts from you and i think you are a big fan of debian). :)

Posted by: macdude425

RPM = bleh. Messy, slow, and doesn't have an apt-like tool by default. Apt-rpm isn't really a solution.

TGZ (Slackware package management system) = very good, but not for the weak of heart, as is most of Slackware.

Portage (Gentoo) = excellent; as good as, if not better, than apt. However, it can be slow, since you're essentially compiling things tailored to your system.

And then, there's straight compile, the granddaddy of them all, which is slow, frustrating, apt to fail, but something EVERY user needs to know for the sake of new software (like Audacious) and kernel recompiles (which, when done properly, make your system's boot time shrink like mad).

Why Debian? It's customizable, apt is God, it runs on nearly everything (only Gentoo/LFS runs on more), and netinstall is unparalleled. Defiantly not for noobs, but for more experienced users like me who don't need the absolute control of Gentoo (which basically compiles EVERYTHING tailored to your system) or Linux from Scratch (in which YOU compile everything tailored to your system).

Posted by: The General

Yeah.

Debian is for cool people who know what they are doing.

Gentoo is for dorks who know what they are doing.

Linux From Scratch is for pale weirdos who never get laid and wish they knew what they were doing. People whose ideals exceed what is rational.

Compiling everything by hand is absurd, I don't know why anyone would ever want to do that.

Posted by: CalcProgrammer1

Ubuntu is great, I used to use it on my Athlon XP desktop until my second HDD broke and I couldn't figure out how to dual boot it with Windows XP (stupid HP cd's don't allow for partitions, they just factory image the disk). For small distros, DSL is excellent, but I couldn't get it to run on HDD. Currently I'm trying Xubuntu's Alternate install on my P133 FTP server machine because win95 couldn't access the 40GB HDD that is in it...but xubuntu keeps having file problems like failed md5 checking on half of everything it installs. The HDD might be bad though, as it was in a ruined laptop my friend found and gave me.

Posted by: The General

^ What you'd need to do, and this is all doable with just the Ubuntu disc, is install Windows on the entire harddrive. Then boot up the Ubuntu disc, and go to System -> Administration -> GNOME Partition Editors and that will allow you to resize your Windows partition, therefore creating space for Ubuntu to install. :)

Posted by: jakec

Kubuntu
[url]http://www.kubuntu.org/[/url]

Mandriva
[url]http://www.mandriva.com/community/mandrivaone[/url]

PCLinuxOS .92
[url]http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/[/url]
[url]ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/[/url]

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
[url]http://www.mepis.org/[/url]

Blag
[url]http://www.blagblagblag.org/download/[/url]

Distros for older Hardware:

Vector Linux 4.3
[url]http://www.vectorlinux.com/[/url]

DSL
[url]http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/[/url]

Puppy Linux
[url]http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=3[/url]

Slackware
[url]http://www.slackware.com/[/url]

SLAX Live CD
[url]http://www.slax.org/[/url]

BeaFanatIX
[url]http://bea.cabarel.com/[/url]

Elive:
[url]http://www.elivecd.org/[/url]

Luit Linux
[url]http://luitlinux.sarovar.org/[/url]

Posted by: simple

thanks for replying guys!!
[QUOTE]TGZ (Slackware package management system) = very good, but not for the weak of heart, as is most of Slackware.[/QUOTE]
could you elaborate on that?
also the apt may be a great tool but otherwise what flaws do you find in fedora core or centos which make you choose debian always. in my case i rarely install new software and so i dont mind compiling or rpms. is the apt the only difference between these distros?
also i would like to know which distro is most customizable? by customizable i mean i can put on cool themes or toolbar applets or cool widget like stuff.
thanks again!! c ya!!

Posted by: simple

i made a search and found that some people think "gooeylinux" is the most customizable distro. i wanted to know if anyone here in the forum is familiar with this distro. c ya!

Posted by: Raekwon

Kiba-dock
Beryl

with those you can build yourself a mightily customised desktop.
I've got them both running without too much trouble on Ubuntu, though you could do it on debian just as easily probably.