DEFINITIVE: Which Linux Distro? (poll)

By markwolfe
in Linux

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Which Linux Distro do you prefer?  

773 members have voted

  1. 1. Which Linux Distro do you prefer?

    • Slackware (or derivatives)
      33
    • Debian
      56
    • SUSE Linux (or derivatives)
      99
    • Fedora Core (or Redhat, or RHEL)
      120
    • Gentoo (or derivatives)
      86
    • Ubuntu
      273
    • Other Debian Derivative (Mepis, Kanotix, etc)
      25
    • Arch
      19
    • Linspire
      22
    • Mandriva
      40

Recommended Posts

Veteran

Crimson Behelit

Posted
Posted

I jumped ship from WinXP directly into Mandriva.

Mandriva is an EXCELLENT distro for beginners.

Wanting to try Linux, going to use as dual boot, what distro would i recomend?

Used for internet, IM, and generaly trying it.

Though i'd ask you guys before i download a random one, thanks alot.

585799344[/snapback]

Experienced

Erftek

Posted
Posted

I have a HP Pavilion zt1175 notebook and would like to install linux on it. I am a bit of a n00b when it comes to linux. I was thinking of installing Ubuntu, but I've only installed it on a desktop, and I don't know how well in installs on laptops. Which distro do you recommend for laptops with the least install problems?

PS. I have been to the linux on laptops website, but I didn't find it very helpful considering the only thing they installed (on one like mine) is Red Hat.

Mentor

[idkfa]

Posted
Posted

Nearly ever distro will run on your notebook, but one will be more work to set up, the other one less.

I suggest you google for some tutorials/howtos/descriptions about linux on your notebook, and then you'll decide which distro to take.

As you already are familiar with Ubuntu, you can also just have a go and install it, and then check if you have problems like non-working card reader, 3d acceleration, whatever :)

Explorer

ipridian

Posted
Posted
Wanting to try Linux, going to use as dual boot, what distro would i recomend?

Well, try Fedora Core first maybe ? And then if you're really into it, then try to switch to Gentoo, or at least try to install it (.. very interesting install procedure ^^)

Experienced

Tiftof

Posted
Posted

I'm a linux noob too and using a laptop too. After some reading I decided to give ubuntu a go. It installs just fine, had some troubles with partition magic saying that my hd is bad (I'm dual booting with xp) but that looks like it's just a problem with partition magic... Ubuntu runs very well on my laptop. It even detects my two external hard disks without a problem. Only thing is that there's no graphics accelaration for my radeon mobility 9600 because when I move a window around it lags a bit by 'redrawing' the screen. Not a major problem and it's the only thing I noticed

Grand Master

MulletRobZ

Posted
Posted

Installing Fedora Core 3 on my Toshiba Satellite 4090XDVD went all right. There are only two issues I had with it. First, I had to use a certain framebuffer (1024 by 768). Secondly, I had to install the xmms-mp3 plugin as Red Hat had a licensing problem concerning MP3's.

Grand Master

Barney T. Administrators

Posted
  • Administrators
Posted
I'm using Suse 9.2 on mine.  Was easy to set up and configure. 

585837693[/snapback]

Agree with this totally. I have SuSE 9.2 Pro on my Gateway Solo 9500 and it saw and configured everything (including wireless).

Barney

Experienced

Alex Shenoy

Posted
Posted

Gentoo is the only distribution I have ever used that did what I wanted it to do 100% of the time. I haven't tried Ubuntu yet, but I am afraid to because I don't want to temp fate. Gentoo is a learning process, but it definitely has its good points. And the forums there are the best place to find help. Before that I had used RedHat7.0 - 9. Then Fedora Core 1 then Knoppix, then FC2. then Gentoo. Somewhere in there I also used Madrake 6.5 and 10.

I don't know if MarkJensen remembers me asking him for help with Fedora in August/September(yum repositories), but after a couple weeks I decided to switch. One of the students here was a real proponent of Gentoo and had me try it out. Then, I found it. It took me a couple of days to install it. And then I was hooked. I got this rush from compiling everything. The only problem, it didn't boot. So I switched to Vida till the summer when i could more time to installing Gentoo. But I do love portage

--Alex

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