Linux for Laptop: Debian or Ubuntu or other

Debian_Poland · 01-25-2006, 06:59 PM

Hi,

I am wondering which Debian based distro may be best to put on Laptop. I heard opinions that Ubuntu may be good choice. What is your opinion? What do you recommend for laptop.

I used to have there FC3 and 4, currently I am using SID.

All the best,
DP

ssfrstlstnm · 01-25-2006, 08:07 PM

Just use debian. If you are already using sid, why mess with any of the knockoffs?

adssse · 01-25-2006, 09:54 PM

If you are happy with debian than I would stick with it. This being said I have debian on one lappy and ubuntu on another and I like them both. Is there a reason why you are considering moving to ubuntu from debian?

lestoil · 01-27-2006, 02:29 PM

http://www.linux-lptop.net/ has lists of many lappys with different linuxes installed including detailed install/config guides. Even debian has laptop web page. Have fun.

Debian_Poland · 01-30-2006, 04:32 PM

Adssse,

The reason is very simple... My friend tested Ubuntu on his laptop and almost everything worked just out of the box.. No messing with irda, bluetooth, all buttons, acpi, modem and so on...

I know that disadvantage is smaller apt repository, and older packages... If I don't configure my Laptop with all details in following month I will switch to Ubuntu for testing.

All the best,
DP

noxious · 01-30-2006, 09:04 PM

Ubuntu does indeed have a lot of advantages... It configures the Intel Pro Wireless (Centrino) right out of the box - you can install it wirelessly - you'd never be able to do that with any other Linux distro. And, Ubuntu has Gnome 2.12... you don't see that in Debian until Sid. Debian has more repositories, but Ubuntu isn't far behind - if at all.

Ubuntu is nearly no fun - it's too easy to install and configure.

ironwalker · 01-31-2006, 12:17 PM

Kanotix...everything just works.

kmoffat · 02-01-2006, 06:23 PM

I'll second the Kanotix vote. My wireless Netgear 511wg worked immediately, as did my son's D-link.

coldy · 02-02-2006, 01:52 AM

I'm using on my laptop Ubuntu 5.10, and everything is detected/installed/in action.

elliott678 · 02-02-2006, 04:17 AM

I have two laptops one running FreeBSD 6.0 and the other running Debian SID. Both work great after a lot of configuration, auto hardware detection wasn't one of my priorities. It took me about a day on each to have them up and running, including setting up unsupported wireless cards. I have FreeBSD 6.0 running on an older P3 Dell C600, everything works including the modem. I have Debian SID running on a new Acer 3003LCi with an AMD Sempron 3000+, it has a buggy BIOS so battery monitoring doesn't work. Both are very usable and stable.