DEFINITIVE: Which Linux Distro? (poll for 2007-08)


The Definitive Linux Poll for 2007!  

881 members have voted

  1. 1. Which Linux Distro?

    • Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu
      533
    • Debian/Shift/Mepis/Knoppix/Kanotix/Xandros/Elive
      53
    • Fedora Core/Redhat/RHEL/CentOS/WBEL
      73
    • OpenSUSE/SUSE/Novell
      76
    • Gentoo/Sabayon
      46
    • Mandriva/PCLinuxOS
      23
    • Slackware/Slax/Zenwalk
      20
    • Arch
      47
    • Linspire/Freespire
      2
    • Damn Small/Puppy
      8
  2. 2. Which destop environment / window manager?

    • GNOME
      532
    • KDE
      203
    • fluxbox/openbox/blackbox
      33
    • Xfce
      37
    • Enlightenment/E17
      8
    • IceVM
      2
    • TWM or something equally basic
      1
    • GUI? pft. CLI or die!
      18
    • other
      18
    • whatever my distro came with. Is there a choice?
      29
  3. 3. I use Linux primarily as a...

    • Desktop (for school, work, home, games)
      385
    • Media Centre (primarily for videos & music)
      8
    • Server (web,ftp,file/print)
      58
    • Desktop/Media Centre Mixed Use
      85
    • Desktop/Server Mixed Use
      55
    • Media Centre/Server Mixed Use
      3
    • Desktop/Media Centre/Server (I use it for everything)
      89
    • I don't really use it for anything but learning Linux
      171
    • Other
      27


Recommended Posts

Here we go for 2007. Poll options are directly based on the 2006 poll:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=416313

I squeezed all the non-Ubuntu Debian derivatives into one line so as to make room for Damn Small Linux / Puppy (okay, unlike the others they are only related by the fact they are both small).

If you don't see your distro listed specifically then pick one that is close. Many distros are derivatives of others anyway. I think I have the main ones covered.

The Desktop Environment / Window Manager poll is exactly the same. Perhaps the votes will be different than last year.

I added a new question asking what you use Linux for (a desktop, a media centre, a server?)

Edit: I added WBEL (White Box Enterprise Linux) to the RedHat list

Edited by Fred Derf
  • 1 month later...

I've become such a Debian convert......... Debian 3.1 Etch is fast, easy, and the repos rock! Like Fred said in the last thread.... Ubuntu repos are ok, but Debian has the smorgasbord of repos! :woot:

Barney

I actually lied on this poll. I voted Debian but I do have Ubuntu Server currently installed. I don't prefer it however, and I will probably switch back to Debian soon. So I should end up running Debian for most of the year just like I ran it (well, Knoppix) last year.

We use SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 & 10 on our servers at work, along with Novell OES, and I love it. Very easy to use and configure. Very stable too :yes:

The only problem we've had was when we went to install SLES9 on one of our servers, we got the message we were installing a 32-Bit OS on 64-Bit hardware, which isn't true. The Xeon processors we have in this particular server are strictly 32-Bit. When we went to upgrade the server to SLES10 we didn't get the message again, so I assume it was just a bug.

Ubuntu repos are ok, but Debian has the smorgasbord of repos! :woot:

I've added Universe and Multiverse and it's still really frustrating.

Minefield isn't offered. Wesnoth is still at 1.1.8 even though 2.0 was released on December 23rd. I just checked Debian unstable and they have it.

Sure, Wesnoth isn't important but it seems to be typical of everything else. I have to ditch Ubuntu and go back to Debian.

In Debian I could find something to upgrade just about every other day. In Ubuntu, a week can go by with nothing.

BTW, Wesnoth for Linux is faster on a AMD Duron 1200 with 512MB RAM than Wesnoth for Windows (Vista) on my Athlon 64 3000+ with 1GB RAM. It's probably not a fair test of anything but I thought I'd mention that.

Debian, KDE and Server for me. I tend to use Linux while developing and Debian provides all the software I need, KDE the necessary functionality and applications (GNOME just doesn't do what I want), and I mainly use Linux at work as a server/workstation, never as an everyday desktop.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I noticed this was already happening within my organization; my teams location will change between remote and on-site without me having to do anything. Is it possible this is live already for select customers?
    • I wonder what it will show when I'm plugged in with my ethernet cable at home and not using WiFi.
    • While LibreOffice is not pleased to see a new competitor, they are absolutely correct in stating that Euro-Office using a MS file standard as a default is not being truly "European." Using a MS standard just means Euro-Office is just a "bastardized MS Office Suite." (Wasn't a major purpose of Euro-Office was to get away from being captive and enslaved to MS's Office Suite??)
    • Microsoft continues its long-term policy of spying on their users--despite vehement denials. That feature will be disabled (or removed) either "elegantly" with MS providing a true way to disable it, or "quick and dirty" via a third-party who WILL come up with a way to disable it. Your choice MS...
    • Helium Browser 0.13.3.1 by Razvan Serea Helium is a private, fast, and honest Chromium-based web browser — built for people, with love. It offers the best privacy by default, unbiased ad-blocking, and a clean experience free from bloat and noise. Proudly based on Ungoogled-Chromium, Helium removes Google’s clutter while keeping a fast, efficient development pipeline. With thoughtful touches like native !bangs and split view, Helium is a people-first, fully open-source browser that puts control back in your hands. Privacy, security, and control come first. Ads, trackers, and third-party cookies are blocked automatically, HTTPS is enforced everywhere, and all Chromium extensions work seamlessly — while Google can’t track your activity. Helium’s 13,000+ offline-ready !bangs let you jump straight to sites or AI tools like ChatGPT instantly. Open-source, people-first, and unbiased, Helium delivers a browsing experience that’s fast, secure, and free from noise, ads, and compromises. Helium Browser key features: Performance Fast, efficient, and lightweight — built on Chromium’s optimized engine. Energy-saving and consistent — stays fast over time without slowing down. No bloat — stripped of unnecessary components for maximum speed. Minimalist interface — compact, clean, and distraction-free. Customizable toolbar — hide elements you don’t need. Smooth and stable — no flicker, lag, or animation glitches. Comfort-focused experience — intuitive and unobtrusive. Privacy & Security Best privacy by default — blocks ads, trackers, phishing, and third-party cookies. Unbiased ad-blocking — powered by community filters and uBlock Origin. No telemetry or analytics — zero background web requests on first launch. Strict HTTPS enforcement — warns for insecure sites. Passkeys supported — modern authentication made simple. No built-in password manager or cloud sync — your data stays yours. Extension Compatibility Full Chromium extension support — including MV2 extensions. Anonymized Chrome Web Store requests — Google can’t track extension installs. Extended MV2 support — maintained for as long as possible. Smart Features Native !bangs — browse faster using 13,000+ offline-ready shortcuts. AI integration — use !chatgpt and others directly from the address bar. Offline functionality — bangs work without an Internet connection. Philosophy People-first design — open source, transparent, and community-driven. No ads, no noise, no bias — privacy and honesty over profit. Helium Browser 0.13.3.1 changelog: f53b28d update: helium 0.13.3.1 (#292) b3cbb2ba revision: bump to 3 (#1925) bcacb8c7 chromium: update to 149.0.7827.114 (#1924) Download: Helium 64-bit | Portable 64-bit |~100.0 MB (Open Source) Download: Helium ARM64 | Portable ARM64 Links: Helium Home Page | macOS | Linux | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      ssd21345 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Contributor
      MarkHughes4096 went up a rank
      Contributor
    • Dedicated
      jordanspringer earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Rookie
      Rimplesnort went up a rank
      Rookie
    • One Year In
      Markus94287 earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      507
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      179
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      140
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      91
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      78
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!