what are your favorite linux distributions

[deviant]

Hi all,

I have been searching for the best linux distribution and I have found that there are about 100 different distributions.
I began to become quite lost ...

So I decided to make a table of them to compare them a bit.
But that also had his negative side-effects ...
Cos' I don't wanna go by all those sites.

So now - at last - my question to you all is:
What are you're 10 favorite distributions and could you tell me why?

Thanx!!

 

[krudolf]

debian- the most configurable, probably not for beginners...more for experienced/hardcore linux users

redhat- good hardware support, easy installation for beginners, fairly configurable for experienced users

 

[Shuxclams]

All distros are configureable, its just to the degree in which you would like to "configure" to get it running, go with Corel, Caldera or Mandrake if your a newbie, Mandrake or Red Hat if you have experiance.


SHUX

 

[SUOrangeman]

Linux Mandrake 7.1 seems to have support for the most up-to-date hardware that *I've* seen. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

-SUO

 

[brewty]

SLACKWARE BABY!

[edit]
hrmmm maybe i should say why... i dunno, too early/late to think (5:17am and i haven't slept yet)
[/edit]

 

[Sebastian]

I use redhat because it's stock and not to hard for me to begin with when I got 5.2 back a while.

 

[Ghost]

I picked up a copy of Corel's deluxe version. It didn't want to install into a seperate dos/windows partition like the manual said. Only wanted to install on a full drive.

Went to their website...and there were literally dozens of complaints about install hangups....

Is this typical of other versions of Linux? Or was the reason I got this version for free, after rebate, because it's garbage and you get what you pay for??

 

[Horsepower]

I once tried Red Hat 5.2 and just got Suse 6.4. I am not a programmer, but feel to use Linux you must be one. I quintuple boot this machine with W98SE, W2K, Millennium, BeOS, and Suse Linux. I'm afraid Linux won't be in this list very long.

 

[thaneboy]

I think REDHAT is better and debian is the best...

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

Mandrake or Slackware

 

[CurtOien]

Ghost,

I just picked up the same thing at Comp USA for free after rebate.
I tried to install into a seperate dos/windows partition four times without success.

 

[Bob/NYC]

Curt Oien:
You install Linux on a Linux partition-ext2 and Windows on a Windows partition FATxx. They don't cross dress, so install Corel/Debian on an empty, unpartitoned/unformated part of the disk. Nothing's easier than Corel's auto setup.

 

[Ghost]

Bob, page 22 of the Corel Linux manual states "Installing Corel Linux to a DOS/Windows partition"

Page 27 mentions "You can install Corel Linux to an existing DOS/Windows partition. This installation option lets you start Corel Linux from MS-DOS mode on a computer that is running MS-DOS 6, Win3.1, Win95, or Win98"

So I understood that to mean you could install it on a partition created in Windows. Later on it says "must be Fat 16, 32 or VFAT"

I thought that meant I could install it on a partition I created with Windows. It didn't work. So I guess the manual is wrong...or I'm misunderstanding something.

Curt, I got my copy from CompUSA the other day too.

 

[GL]

Slackware.

-GL

 

[Bob/NYC]

Ghost:
It does seem to say that, but v1.1 was the bug fix version. Normally, it puts its graphical lilo on the boot sector and formats the blank partition, from a CD boot. I'm too lazy to test both versions, but the batfile will keep the loader off the boot sector. It's not clear whether it reformats the Linux partition to ext2.

 

[Ghost]

Bob, I'm a newbie to Linux. Some of what you said is over my head. I don't know what "lilo" or "batfile" mean.

So what you are saying is 1.1 has some fixes? I guess that's why they were giving 1.0 away, which is the version I picked up, for free, because it's a little buggy.

I don't want to attempt to d/l the 1.1 version....400 megs on my 53k would take a few weeks.

 

[Bob/NYC]

The batfile is mentioned on page 28-C:\cdl>startcd.bat, after booting in safe mode, commandline. Li-nux Lo-ader LiLo is generally put on the bootsector, to boot/multiboot. Corel has a graphical menu, to boot Corel Linux, or Windows. D/l the smaller gzipped version, which I did-56K, or order the GPL/free version from cheapbytes.com.

I suggest you follow instructions, only have an unpartitoned section for it to install on. It will install the dos mode loader on a FAT16/32 partition.

 

[chankie]

The pick of distributions and which one is "better" have started long flame wars for ages now.

Although I have used and use Slackware still on some machines I wouldnt really recommend it to a newbie.

Debian is an excellent distribution and along with slackware have the most zealots swearing by it. Debian has a well known policy of validating each package extensively before adding it. If you want the user interface KDE you'll have to install it manually or pick another distribution - they dont include it 'cause they dont like it's licensing.

Corel linux is mainly debian becoming very userfriendly. I cant comment on it much as I have never used it beyong an install.

SUSE is a very large distribution here in europe. Again, cant comment since I havent used it since 5.0 or something.

Redhat. Flamed by everyone that think they are "in the know". Mostly cause of some nasty security bugs in some versions. Nowadays has a very nice installation program that sets you up right away. The one real complaint I have with it is that it leaves some network services like sendmail, bind and apache on per default. I prefer the approach where things stay turned of until I tell it otherwise. My personal choice, mainly cause I like some lowlevel bootstyle and config options (sysv etc).

Mandrake. Claims great hardware support and has a great install. Otherwise cant comment much.

Comment away and I shall gladly defere to my betters

 

[MCS]

Horsepower - How did you get ME and 98SE to exist on the same system??? I have been trying to do this myself......

 

[Horsepower]

I have a removeable rack, Win98SE is my internal hdd and the other 4 go in the rack (cold swap). I use BootIt (TerabyteUnlimited.com) as my boot manager.

 

[MCS]

Horsepower:

I was hoping for a miracle solution from you then! Oh well

I am trying to get WinME installed on E: when I already have 98SE on C: and Win2K on D:.........

At the moment I have to swap the startup files around on C: between the ME ones and the 98 ones depending on which one I want to boot to.

 

[MCS]

Ooops.....double post!

 

[Horsepower]

No miracle, just my choice .. why don't you try BootIt? It works on a partitioned drive as well. It's free to download and try. http://www.TeraByteUnlimited.com

 

[Nater21]

SuSE 6.3 is great. I have tried Slackware and didn't like it.

 

[MCS]

Thanks for that link - will take a look!