Linux Distro talk

[NGD1]

im fixing to tri-boot windows 8/ubuntu12.10/linux mint

im kind of liking mint, whats your take on the distro
whether its debian/ubuntu core.
i love ubuntu but i just want to experiment, call me e hethen but im not a huge fan of Fadora XD

so whats your view?

 

[iowabowtech]

Interestingly, I switched from mint to Ubuntu some time ago. Idk I kinda felt like mint was ububtuish already. I just had a few glitches with the UI from time to time so I decided to go with the tried and true. Its probably come a long way since then, its been several months now.

 

[saptech]

I gave up on Ubuntu quite some time ago. I did install the Mint Debian Edition for awhile but got bored of it and now run Mageia Linux, a fork of Mandriva.

I usually run pure Debian Testing more so than any of the derivatives. I just have a better experience with it.

 

[Speed Daemon]

Looks like your poll is missing a few thousand distros. IJS

 

[Prinny]

Looks like your poll is missing a few thousand distros. IJS

This. Lol.

I voted Ubuntu. First distro I used ever. So I'm pretty familiar with the ins and outs of it.

Personally, though, I would voted Arch or Debian, if they were there.

 

[Davdi]

I've used Ubuntu & Mint, much preferred Mint (Gnome then XFCE versions) I'm currently running PCLOS(Enlightenment-E17) and XFCE desktops on varoius computers around the house. All dual-booting with Win7 Pro. PCLOS just feels more robust, plus it has a separate root password so it's maybe a bit more secure.

 

[argedion]

I vote Fedora

 

[9to5cynic]

I probably prefer mint to ubuntu... But I run debian myself.

I'm gonna have to give arch another go some day... last time I tried it, I failed.

 

[lunatic59]

I'll give you the top 10 for your poll.

DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

Mint and Ubuntu are so similar that the only thing that would have me chose one over the other are the graphics.

 

[SUroot]

Ubuntu is the first I've tried as android development tutorials seemed to cover this distro well. I got used to the debian way of going things. I use Fedora at work but it aggravates me.

I love the whole look and feel if Ubuntu. Whilst function is important, so too are aesthetics.

Many don't say this but I LOVE unity

 

[Prinny]

I probably prefer mint to ubuntu... But I run debian myself.

I'm gonna have to give arch another go some day... last time I tried it, I failed.

Arch is hit and miss with me getting it to work. Try out some that have a GUI installer. Like Cinnarch, Bridge, or ArchBang

 

[Bob Maxey]

OK, I just went all in with Ubuntu. Why Ubuntu? I had a CD. In learning more, I discovered DistroWatch. Apparently, there are thousands if not several ways to go when jumping on the Linux Bandwagon. Too many choices, so I'll stick with Ubuntu until I learn enough to know WTH I am doing.

Seems like there are many distros all with their own quirks, issues, problems, features and so forth. I only wish I knew enough to know if I wuld be better off with Yellowdog, Puppy, Deft or Slax.

Sure be a learnin curve ahead and I have many questions.

I did try KDE Plasma because I read where it is "better" than Gnome. Rather, it seemed better to me. I downloaded the program, did whatever I remember doing and rebooted. I hated it because it asked for a login name and password. I could not figure out what to enter and everything I tried was in vain. No way in, so I reinstalled Ubuntu (I googled the hell out of my problem to no avail).

I still want to use Plasma, so I (think) I downloaded it again, but I am not sure what will happen when I reboot. So today is Ubuntu Learning Curve day.

 

[Bob Maxey]

OK, so here is a simple question: with the many distros and forks and such, how does one decide which to use? I looked for the answer and it is buried. No clear solution or answer. I do not want to try many different operating systems, distros, forks and flavors.

 

[SUroot]

I think Ubuntu is a great first introduction to linux IMHO

 

[Satires]

I haven't really tried any other distros for any length of time. Ubuntu was my first and still run it on my desktop dual booted with windows XP.


It's most unfortunate that I even have to have windows, but there's just somethings windows can do that linux cannot do and vice versa.

 

[Prinny]

I think Ubuntu is a great first introduction to linux IMHO

This.

Granted I'm not a fan of unity but that is easily remedied. Ubuntu was my first distro. 9.04 was the version. I have never looked back to Windows since.

 

[argedion]

OK, so here is a simple question: with the many distros and forks and such, how does one decide which to use? I looked for the answer and it is buried. No clear solution or answer. I do not want to try many different operating systems, distros, forks and flavors.

Asking what Linux distro is the best is like asking which chips are the best. Your answers are not limited to just the ones you know about. For you its going to come down to which one you feel most comfortable with. I started playing with Linux years ago but didn't become a serious user until about 6 years ago. I wish I knew more than I did and am thankful to know what I do. The best way to learn for me is to jump in and start doing. Some can't do that they need books and other things to help. Some wan't friends to assist and help. I depend on the forums and my own knowledge. I know your an intelligent person and can figure things out fairly well. I have seen many of your post after all and feel fairly confident in that statement.

My Suggestion is to first learn the linux way. I am personally a fan of Fedora but its not really a starting point. I would say Mageia (A Fork from the now defunct Mandriva) or stay with Ubuntu. As far as your desktop environment I would try them all and see what feels good. (Gotta Love the Live CD for that) I recommend using a usb drive for your distro and just get comfortable using it. Start switching some of your programs to cross platform stuff like VLC instead of Windows media player, Chrome or Firefox instead of IE. No real substitute for Excel so if thats something you do often then keep windows around for that kind of stuff until you feel you no longer need them or have found comparable alternatives for your needs. When things get difficult remember your friends We'll help as much as we can or at least point you to the right direction

 

[saptech]

Mageia linux does come with KDE by default, I always use a login on my setups, even Windows whenever I install it, but if I'm not mistaken, during installation, you should get the option to use a login or not.

I have given up on Ubuntu awhile ago, though it is a pretty good distro, IMHO, it is trying to become Linux of all Linux. I'm not sure why everybody think Ubuntu is Linux!

 

[saptech]

Seems like there are many distros all with their own quirks, issues, problems, features and so forth. I only wish I knew enough to know if I wuld be better off with Yellowdog, Puppy, Deft or Slax.

Yellowdog is for Macs only. Let's see, how many version did Win 7 come with.

Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 7 Ultimate

Talk about confusion, and they all come with a different price tag! Also remember most have to pay for Office and any other MS software & real productive software.

Debian Stable, KDE version & OpenSuse, just to name a few more for KDE based. Now that Gnome 3 is out, I preferred Gnome 2 for all newbies instead of KDE, though most thought KDE was best for newbies to linux. I like Gnome 3 over Unity, just my opinion.

 

[argedion]

I like Gnome 3 over Unity, just my opinion.

It's taken me some time to adjust to Gnome 3 I really liked Gnome 2. KDE IMHO is way to heavy and reminds me to much of Redmond. I use Gnome 3 on my everyday computer and have LXDE on both of my servers. LXDE is built on Gnome so its kinda like using Gnome 2 again with a few differences. XFCE is also another good desktop built off of Gnome 2.

 

[9to5cynic]

@Bob, well, distrowatch is a good place to start. I actually stumbled upon a website that does a lot of linux distro reviews whilst looking for a grub tutorial, and that's been a place that I've found out about a few new distros.

I think it comes down to what you'll want to do, and how easy it'll be for you to configure it. For example, a security distro such as backtrack is full of network testing utilities, which are all configured in a way to work well with eachother. Could a user set it up? Yes. Better than the bt folks did? Maybe. But why bother when it's already set up?

That was the main reason I stuck with mint for so long, it was ubuntu but with all the things I was planning to add anyways. Those are some of the things I look at. And I tend to prefer Gnome 2 to other desktop environments, so that's always a plus for me.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Asking what Linux distro is the best is like asking which chips are the best. Your answers are not limited to just the ones you know about. For you its going to come down to which one you feel most comfortable with. I started playing with Linux years ago but didn't become a serious user until about 6 years ago. I wish I knew more than I did and am thankful to know what I do. The best way to learn for me is to jump in and start doing. Some can't do that they need books and other things to help. Some wan't friends to assist and help. I depend on the forums and my own knowledge. I know your an intelligent person and can figure things out fairly well. I have seen many of your post after all and feel fairly confident in that statement.

My Suggestion is to first learn the linux way. I am personally a fan of Fedora but its not really a starting point. I would say Mageia (A Fork from the now defunct Mandriva) or stay with Ubuntu. As far as your desktop environment I would try them all and see what feels good. (Gotta Love the Live CD for that) I recommend using a usb drive for your distro and just get comfortable using it. Start switching some of your programs to cross platform stuff like VLC instead of Windows media player, Chrome or Firefox instead of IE. No real substitute for Excel so if thats something you do often then keep windows around for that kind of stuff until you feel you no longer need them or have found comparable alternatives for your needs. When things get difficult remember your friends We'll help as much as we can or at least point you to the right direction

FYI: Regular chips are clearly the best. If you like the flavors, be aware that you are under the thumb of Big Chips and the flavorings contain things that foggle the mind. The only solution is plain chips and draft beer for a month. Thought you should know.

 

[EarlyMon]

Ubuntu is regular chips, Bob.

 

[Prinny]

I actually just installed Ubuntu. Because it just works. And I have the cinnamon desktop. So I'm a happy camper.

 

[mikedt]

Ubuntu...Mint.... meh.

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