I am currently using Slackware 9.1, but I am thinking of trying Arch Linux on my second computer. However, I am running short of CDR's and cash, so I don't want to waste a good cd if arch linux is no good. How do you guys think it compaires to Slackware? It's strength's and weaknesses?
Thanks, Noah

Hi there!

I've never tried Arch. I've used Slackware intensively though. I'd recommend you two things:

- Get CDRw instead . I've a hole bunch of Linux distributions wasted with CDr's... it's expensive.

- As I said, I did not try Arch. But I would not try it out anyway. They use yet another package manager (Pacman). It's just madness.... each and every new distribution out there uses an own package manager. What mess... well, rant apart, if you want to try something fast (Arch is i686 optimized, so forget it on older PC's... Slackware 9.0 is i386 and Slackware 9.1 is i486, so you can plan better your "machine target"), I'd say Libranet. Painless installation, 100% debian compatible, easy to maintain and install programs... The free versions is a single disk as well, so you won't waste much CD's with it . The rest you can apt-get for everything

Good luck!

Go to arch on distrowatch.com and read some reviews.

-Joey

Thank you.
I just tried Libranet yesterday, and am happy with it. I have it added to my "usable" list.

I switched from Slackware to Arch and I couldn't be happier.

The package manager is very powerful, up there with APT. The repositories are stocked with VERY up to date software (always the latest version) and the system is generally simple and clean, not to mention fast.

Plus, the Build System (ABS) rocks.

I've been very pleased with Arch 0.6 beta. I must say, it is the fastest booting Linux I've ever seen. I love being able to start from a clean slate and load what I want. Sure there is a little more configuration, but the rc.conf and modprobe.conf files are the only 2 files you really need to touch making things easy. I'm not really sure why they call it a distro for advanced users actually. I'm not a newbie, but far from an expert and I find it easier to configure than anything else out their, even Slack.

I like BSD OS's and the similar Linux variants. I use Redhat based at work because I have to, but found FBSD and Slack to my liking at home. I've switch everything over except my main server to Arch at home. I have yet to deal with non-pacman packages yet, but that is next on my list.

Overall, a strong 8 out of 10!