thebuzz Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Ppl vote with this in mind: 1. User-friendliness 2. Stability 3. Software available for it 4. Customizibility 5. Looks matter too u know Thebuzz :alien: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the evn show Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Stability should be the same (more or less) across the board. the software should be the same, just because you can always compile form source if there isn't a package available for your distribution. Customizability is pretty much the same: they're all using KDE or GNOME and you can always tweak the source code too. Looks are sort of a wash because you can configure them all to the same extent to look however you like, unless you're talking about the default theme which is rather silly. That leaves user friendly: IMO that's a subjective opinion. Is installing software by apt-get easier than using rpm or emerge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrStaticVoid Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Is installing software by apt-get easier than using rpm or emerge? I didn't know it was possible to use RPM and emerge in the same sentence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MulletRobZ Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 I have tried eight different Linux distributions (including different versions, no joke here) and I found that Slackware 9.0 is the most stable, fastest, and user-friendly of the group. If you don't like the looks, just change the damn graphics, LOL! Meanwhile, here is my critique of all of them in brief: Mandrake (8.0, 8.2, and 9.0): These versions as they progressed with the upgrading were all very promising and Mandrake 9.0 (what I'm using now) was actually the first OS I used as a standalone other than Windows. It's true that the scanner needed to be configured manually, but the only thing that really ticks me off is setting up the NVidia drivers, especially if it's not version 1.0-3123 as I said in other posts. Mandrake turned out to be easy to use and is relatively fast, so I recommend this for newbies that don't have the patience to try Slackware. Mandrake 9.1: Couldn't set up my ADSL connection properly and the Mandrake Control Centre is screwed up! I'll give Mandrake 10.0 a try to see if MandrakeSoft has improved in the categories listed, but at least Mandrake 9.1 could use the scanner right out of the box. Slackware 9.0: CUPS needed to be downloaded off another website, but once it was set up, the rest of the functions were easy. The scanner worked out of the box and setting up the latest NVidia drivers (1.0-5336) did not cause any problems. Everything in Slackware was fast and relatively easy, but having to manually mount and unmount the devices in the console can be a b**** sometimes! This is why I voted Slackware in this poll. I only use Mandrake 9.0 because someone else borrowed my Slackware disk and I was fed up with stuff that didn't work like Slackware 9.1 and Fedora. Slackware 9.1: The printer would not work in non-KDE applications, even though CUPS was automatically included by default! There are some other problems with this OS as well but it does set up the latest NVidia drivers didn cause problems and it wasn't that much different than Slackware 9.0. Fedora 2 Test 1: Everything worked out of the box as well as setting up the latest NVidia drivers, but the reason I was turned off by this OS was as soon as I put on a few extra fonts, I lost total functionality of the computer. This is not as user-friendly as Mandrake and Slackware, but it's not bad, giving consideration that it is a test release. Knoppix STD 0.1b: A bit slow as a result of booting from CD-ROM, but it has most of the applications one needs and I could use the Internet without any problems with it. It's too bad Knoppix couldn't include NVidia and ATI drivers unless one decided to install this OS. But this is a good way to learn Linux if you don't like to mess around with partitions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 That leaves user friendly: IMO that's a subjective opinion. Is installing software by apt-get easier than using rpm or emerge? Yes, apt-get is easier than using rpm or emerge. KPackage is a GUI front end for apt-get that allows you to point and click your way to your desired updates. Like any apt-get system it handles the dependencies automatically. Personally, I prefer to use Synaptic Package Manager which is an even easier front-end for Apt-Get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal_dragen Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 As the evn show said, most of your criteria are pretty standard across the board because they all use the same "base". That being said, and I agree with evn's conclusion that it leaves user-friendliness, it is very subjective. However, I find that Gentoo, Debian, or Arch are the most user-friendly distros I've used. Arch probably more-so that Gentoo or Debian, simply because it's installer is much less complicated that Debian's (which needless to say, sucks), and far less time-consuming than either Gentoo or Debian. Aside from the install, all 3 are easy enough to install software on. Gentoo takes the lead here for me, because both Debian and Arch will require you to add sources to a list to be able to retrieve "unofficial" or "testing" branch software. Gentoo built this functionality straight into Portage through the use of "masks", which mark packages as stable or unstable on a per-package basis. They even have a global mask file that "hard-masks" certain packages if they are very unstable or don't work with a current version of some library/package in the tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 Knoppix STD 0.1b: A bit slow as a result of booting from CD-ROM, but it has most of the applications one needs and I could use the Internet without any problems with it. It's too bad Knoppix couldn't include NVidia and ATI drivers unless one decided to install this OS. But this is a good way to learn Linux if you don't like to mess around with partitions. Knoppix Version 3.3 included ATI Radeon drivers and it autodetected all of my hardware correctly. You are also posting about versions of Mandrake that are years past. I don't see how this is particularly helpful to other users. To paraphrase: "2 years ago this distro sucked!" Knoppix is slow running from the CD as one should expect. Since you obiously bothered to install the other seven distros then you should have installed Knoppix too. It comes with an easy to use, although text-based, install script. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SintaX Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 I'm surprised Gentoo isn't one of the options, but then again, I think Slackware is much better than Gentoo. By far. Slackware is the best linux distro ever, IMO. Not too noob-friendly though, if you have a basic linux understanding it's good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 Aside from the install, all 3 are easy enough to install software on. Gentoo takes the lead here for me, because both Debian and Arch will require you to add sources to a list to be able to retrieve "unofficial" or "testing" branch software. Knoppix has this functionality built into it's version of Debian too. (And Knoppix has a better install script than the regular Debian too). You can also use a graphical package manager to add or remove repositories without editing a text file (unless you want to). IMO, Knoppix is a easier and better way to install Debian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 Ppl vote with this in mind:1. User-friendliness 2. Stability 3. Software available for it 4. Customizibility 5. Looks matter too u know Thebuzz :alien: 1. Knoppix is user friendly. You can boot from CD and preview your hardware detection and have a look-see before you commit to installing it. 2. Knoppix/Debian is a stable as you want. Knoppix already begins on the testing branch of Debian but that branch is more stable than most distros. You can set you package manager to use the stable, testing, experimental and other branches for updates. I myself use experimental but that's me. Debian is known to be the most stable distribution. 3. The Apt-Get system allows access to rediculous amounts of Linux applications. Point and Click with a GUI front-end and you're off to the races. 4. Customizibility. I like the experimental branch. It gives me access to KDE 3.2 and other newer toys. Some may not need this. I run a dist-upgrade every day to stay current. 5. Looks matter. Well you can do what you like to Linux. Knoppix comes with a rediculous amount of window managers and desktop environments preinstalled so you can have your pick. I like Fluxbox and XFce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemical Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 I'm surprised Gentoo isn't one of the options, but then again, I think Slackware is much better than Gentoo. By far.Slackware is the best linux distro ever, IMO. Not too noob-friendly though, if you have a basic linux understanding it's good. i love you and your slack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTR Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Knoppix is the best in all means. Its perfect recovery cd when run from cd, and once installed its the most stable debian distro. What I love in Debian is easy updates, huge software repositories. In fact Sid is much more stable than Redhat or SuSE, not to say about Mandrake. But anyway they badly need some kinda Control Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gism0 Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 love slackware :) i really hate red hat etc, i started on slackware and it was a great basis for learning AND general use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kongit Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Slackware :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKer Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Personally I find Debian best at home and SUSE at work, as anyone can do simple administration of a SUSE server (even non-unix people with minimal training) and Debian just has a ridiculously vast selection of packages, so it is really fun and easy to use, once it's set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted March 5, 2004 Veteran Share Posted March 5, 2004 Personally I find Debian best at home and SUSE at work, as anyone can do simple administration of a SUSE server (even non-unix people with minimal training) and Debian just has a ridiculously vast selection of packages, so it is really fun and easy to use, once it's set up. If you like Debian but find it difficult to get set up then use Knoppix to get to Debian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xp1ode Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 knoppix so far has been the best for me, aside from not detecting my sound drivers, everything else was recognized with no problem, but the most important reason and the most obvious as to why i like it is because it runs off the cd, no installation and no hassle (althought i have installed it) Mandrake, well now mandrake the more they upgrade the better it gets imo, so far i've only been into mandrake since 8.2 and not really into it but i have used it partially. I must say manrake 10 rc1 has been very good to my laptop, im enjoying playing around with it and also trying to get it to recognize my network card. Fedora core, i thought fedora was good too, didnt use it for long but the short time i did use i had fun with it, is quick to install on a old laptop, it runs nice, and i like the packeging as with the rest of the distro's i've tried. I'l be sure to check out FC2 once is final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splatnix Posted March 6, 2004 Share Posted March 6, 2004 My 2 cents. For all things considered, Slackware is my pick. Add swaret for apt-like dependency checking or just hitup linuxpackages.net for Slackware packages (if you don't want to compile from source). Dropline GNOME for i686+Slackware optimized GNOME. Points 2/3/4/5 are thoroughly covered, though you could also say this covers all points. Slackware recieved my vote. If you're looking for uber user-friendliness, in the capacity that there is a pretty GUI for configuring aspects of the computer (from hardware setup, to SAMBA, to Apache, etc), then I would have to recommend Fedora Core 1. My experience with it on multiple machines has been very stable, very fast (get a 2.6 kernel for a nice speed boost), and overall Linux goodness. Do NOT go the Fedora Core 2 test route - get Fedora Core 1. If you want stability, stick to offical releases (that's just common sense though) - installing a test/Beta release and expecting stable results is doublepluscrazy. I can't put FC above Slackware in my opinion, but it is a very close 2nd to my longtime friend. I use Slack. My fiancee uses Fedora. Both just work. If you want to tweak from the CLI: Slackware If you want to tweak from the GUI: Fedora Core Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revvo Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I'm surprised that Debian or Gentoo aren't in that list but I have to say slackware without hesitation. The reason is because it's cli(command line interface) oriented and that it's rock solid. Main reason I'm using it is to learn linux (the most of it anyway). I've used redhat/mandrake before. GUI is very nice but if it does all the job for you, eventually you want to know what the heck it's doing in the background so I decided to move with something more hardcore. It depends of your needs. You want to learn? Debian, Slackware or Gentoo (just cause of installation). You want something to use for normal use and easy to use? Mandrake is a good choice although Fedora is getting alot of attention from the newcommers which isn't a very good thing :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MulletRobZ Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Whoever chose Lindows, I'd have to kick his or her butt, LOL! :D Also, I wouldn't recommend upgrading the Kernel via Slackware packages since when I tried that, I couldn't access my system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kongit Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I would never upgrade my kernel via a packages. Common sense says that is a nono. How do they know what I have or how I want it configured? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderDX Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I would have to say SuSE qualifies in each of those. Yast is the best util ever. It will even take care of installing the new KDE 3.2 from the web, downloading all required rpm's and inserting them in the correct order. You can even add installation sources, and they have an expansion pack available that lets you play Windows games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NetRyder Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Another vote for Slackware :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordHatrus Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I said Slack, but I'm surprised there's no Gentoo, no Turbolinux, no Fedora, Arch Linux, TSL, Yellow Dog stuff, and maybe some BSD options... Of course, now that I've said that, that would be a hell of a lot of options to put in poll :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longwilli Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 lol you have just posted the front list from linuxISO.org Anyway Fedora is redhat, and the others arnt that major that they must be on the list so one or two can click them (if any) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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