The Definitive "WHICH LINUX DISTRO?" Thread

[Spyder Veteran]

you forgot the poll figgy!

[MulletRobZ]

I felt setting up the sound was about the same difficulty in Slackware as compared to Fedora and Mandrake and therefore, it wasn?t very difficult. All that had to be done was to activate the master volume. I use a SoundBlaster Live 5.1, in case if anyone questions. As for the NVidia problems in Mandrake, I heard a lot of complaints on NVNews? forums concerning NVidia and Mandrake; and while there are those who can get it working no problem, fine. It?s just to show that Linux can sometimes be inconsistent and that is my only gripe of the entire matter.

[BxBoy]

Ahh.. a definitive thread.. deserves a NIP! ;)

Thread NIP'ed #207

[Fred Derf Veteran]

:laugh: finally a sticky on "which distro" .. bet some n00bs still make a which distro thread :)

Post this then:

[Rockett15]

Post this then:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/fun/invite.jpg

:laugh:

[null_]

For newbies, I'd go with Mandrake or Fedora. I've never tried SuSE.

For more experienced users, give Gentoo a try :woot:

[HPMCommander]

I'm going to ****ing shoot someone in the ass the next time I see a "definitive" thread. It ****es me off.

[gawdflesh]

slackware owns all :D

Preach it, brother.

Get Slack.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

I'm going to ****ing shoot someone in the ass the next time I see a "definitive" thread. It ****es me off.

To paraphrase recent felon Martha:

"Anger management. It's a good thing."

[null_]

How good is Fedora Core 1? Im looking at running it because it supports my hardware alot better than Mandrake does...anything I should beware of with Fedora?

[Bwizzel-B]

I guess it depends upon what you're going to do with it, and what level of development support you need. I've been running DNS/FTP/HTTP/NNTP/SMTP/POP3 servers on Redhat since '96, and as time has gone on Redhat has never failed to deliver. Nowadays I deploy servers with SLES8 and RHEL 3.0, as I need development support for some of the applications that I put into service from time to time. Not much point to using these at home for a desktop OS :no:

Gentoo is a decent home user version, along with Mandrake and Suse Pro. You really aren't going to go wrong with just about any of the newer distributions for a desktop OS. How much you are willing to invest to actually learn the Linux environment is far more relevant question when deciding which one to use. :argh:

[null_]

Heres a list of what I do right now and what I know I'll be able to do in Linux.. I just need to know if Fedora is a good choice (downloading the ISOs as we speak):

• Chat using IRC and Instant Messenger services (MSN, ICQ, and AIM)
  
• Graphics design (I could use the GIMP for this)
  
• Listen to music (I could use XMMS and the MP3 package for this)
  
• Play the occasional game of Wolfenstein ET
  
• HTML Coding (I dont have enough fingers to count the choices for this one)
  
• Browse the web & send email (Like I said above, too many choices, not enough fingers)
  

Thats all I can think of at the moment..

[markwolfe Veteran]

The only thing that makes RH/FC different than most other distros for doing the things on your list is that RedHat does not come with MP3 support built-in. The MP3 algorithm is patented, so RedHat does not include these. There are easy to find RPMs that will add it in for you. ;)

[mrbass]

How about best Linux Live CD distros? In the past week or so I've downloaded about 60 or so of them...about 20GB worth of downloading. A huge stack of cheap cds.

Best IMHO are

Knoppix 3.3

Security

Knoppix-STD, Phlak, Insert, L.A.S.

Dinky

Damn Small, ByzantineOS (kiosk mozilla 1.6)

[nivek7]

i need help with sound, but im not sure what card i have. how do you find out? in windows, there are a ton of cards listed for some reason : sound blaster live, cmedia pci something etc.

[kongit]

go to the console or terminal and type lspci and paste the results if you still need help.

[nivek7]

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] AMD-760 [iGD4-1P] System Controller (rev 13)

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] AMD-760 [iGD4-1P] AGP Bridge

00:04.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 40)

00:04.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/B/686A/B PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)

00:04.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 16)

00:04.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 16)

00:04.4 Non-VGA unclassified device: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 40)

00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CM8738 (rev 10)

00:09.0 Communication controller: Rockwell International HSF 56k Data/Fax/Voice Modem (rev 01)

00:0b.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 07)

00:0b.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! MIDI/Game Port (rev 07)

00:0c.0 Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3c900B-TPO [Etherlink XL TPO] (rev 04)

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation: Unknown device 0322 (rev a1)

[kongit]

00:0b.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 07)

there is your audio card.

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation: Unknown device 0322 (rev a1)

Additionally it appears that you have an nvidia card that isn't working yet. I have never done anything with nvidia and linux, but I have heard that they are tuff to get to work.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Additionally it appears that you have an nvidia card that isn't working yet. I have never done anything with nvidia and linux, but I have heard that they are tuff to get to work.

Nah! nVidia is easy. You just download and run their program, and you have vendor-supplied 3D tasty-ness! :yes:

[kongit]

never tried it but easy is better (Y)

[nivek7]

nope, i have no problems with my vid card. after i installed the drivers, everything was fine. wonder why it says i have problems with it...

[kongit]

what do you get when you run glxinfo in the terminal.

[nivek7]

name of display: :0.0

display: :0 screen: 0

direct rendering: Yes

server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation

server glx version string: 1.3

server glx extensions:

GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,

GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,

GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer

client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation

client glx version string: 1.3

client glx extensions:

GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info,

GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync,

GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer,

GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_NV_float_buffer

GLX extensions:

GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,

GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,

GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address

OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation

OpenGL renderer string: GeForce FX 5200/AGP/3DNOW!

OpenGL version string: 1.4.1 NVIDIA 53.36

OpenGL extensions:

GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_fragment_program, GL_ARB_imaging,

GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_occlusion_query,

GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_shadow,

GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, GL_ARB_texture_compression,

GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, GL_ARB_texture_env_add,

GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3,

GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_ARB_transpose_matrix,

GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_window_pos,

GL_S3_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra,

GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, GL_EXT_blend_minmax,

GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array,

GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays,

GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_paletted_texture, GL_EXT_point_parameters,

GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_EXT_secondary_color,

GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs,

GL_EXT_shared_texture_palette, GL_EXT_stencil_two_side,

GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc,

GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp,

GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3,

GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_texture_lod,

GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_vertex_array,

GL_HP_occlusion_test, GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip,

GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_KTX_buffer_region, GL_NV_blend_square,

GL_NV_copy_depth_to_color, GL_NV_depth_clamp, GL_NV_fence,

GL_NV_float_buffer, GL_NV_fog_distance, GL_NV_fragment_program,

GL_NV_half_float, GL_NV_light_max_exponent, GL_NV_multisample_filter_hint,

GL_NV_occlusion_query, GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_pixel_data_range,

GL_NV_point_sprite, GL_NV_primitive_restart, GL_NV_register_combiners,

GL_NV_register_combiners2, GL_NV_texgen_reflection,

GL_NV_texture_compression_vtc, GL_NV_texture_env_combine4,

GL_NV_texture_expand_normal, GL_NV_texture_rectangle,

GL_NV_texture_shader, GL_NV_texture_shader2, GL_NV_texture_shader3,

GL_NV_vertex_array_range, GL_NV_vertex_array_range2, GL_NV_vertex_program,

GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_NV_vertex_program2, GL_NVX_ycrcb,

GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SGIX_depth_texture,

GL_SGIX_shadow, GL_SUN_slice_accum

glu version: 1.3

glu extensions:

GLU_EXT_nurbs_tessellator, GLU_EXT_object_space_tess

visual x bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer ms cav

id dep cl sp sz l ci b ro r g b a bf th cl r g b a ns b eat

----------------------------------------------------------------------

0x21 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x22 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x23 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x24 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x25 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x26 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x27 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x28 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x29 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x2a 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x2b 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x2c 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x2d 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x2e 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x2f 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x30 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x31 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x32 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x33 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x34 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x35 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x36 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x37 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x38 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x39 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3a 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3b 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3c 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3d 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3e 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x3f 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x40 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

0x41 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x42 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x43 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x44 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x45 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x46 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon

0x47 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

0x48 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

and can you tell me what you did to get the SB live! sound card working? i installed the emu10k1 thing but it still doesnt work

[kongit]

:blink: wierd about that video card.

And I don't have a clue on that sound card, but I bet it isn't hard. google, or if your distro has decent documentation look through them. I just thought you wanted to know what type of card you have :)

[shimon]

Well i am tring mandrake fedore suse and debain when i get me com in like a week