Best NON-UBUNTU distro for a laptop?
 

My experience is mostly with RHEL/Fedora/OpenSUSE, and is pretty extensive in the desktop/server domain. Up until recently my laptops have all been Windows-based, however, with maybe a live distro (Knoppix, etc) on a USB drive for emergency situations.

I've just purchased a new Lenovo T420, and would like to split the HD to give a permanent home to Linux, the question is what distro. Windows will stay on the drive, the Linux side of things will be mostly for work/development. Graphics aren't terribly important as long as it's easy to get the right resolution, etc. Wifi needs to be rock solid and preferably have a decent GUI to allow quick/easy setup on new networks while traveling.

Proc - i5-2450M
Graphics - Intel HD 3000, 1600x900 display
RAM - 8GB
Wifi - Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN

It absolutely must not be Ubuntu or any of the derivatives, I hate them all. I like the RH-based distros, however I would like a relatively long support cycle (eliminates Fedora) and it needs to support the hardware well (probably eliminates CentOS).

I'm just looking for a list of a few options that I can try out in live-mode to see how well they support the hardware. There are too many options out there to just try them all.

TIA

Slackware as a first choice. Mepis coming a very close second. Just a personal thing you understand. But have the same laptop running Slackware with zero issues.

You could also take a look at Arch Linux or a live version in the form of ArchBang

Beware of "distro-hopping' to solve problems----I am in the middle of an episode right now, and I can confirm that it causes brain damage.....;)

You can get almost any Linux distro to support a laptop---or any other HW. You just have to spend the time get the right drivers, etc. Saying "no Ubuntu" cuts you off from Mint also (Mint is currently #1 on distro watch). Without knowing why you dislike Ubuntu, we don't know if you will also dislike Debian and all its progeny (including Mepis, which was once my favorite). (for example, is it the desktop you dont like? ---or maybe the package management?)

Mageia 2 has been released! SalixOS is another option.

Since you are already experienced with Red Hat/RPM distros I recommend Fedora. 1 day of system maintenance every 6 months is not particularly odious.

Another option to consider is Fuduntu. This is a "fork" of Fedora emphasizing the Gnome 2 desktop, power savings on laptops/netbooks, and a "rolling-release" update strategy.

Correct, but starting with the right distro can make this process a lot less painful, especially when it comes to laptops and their "unique" hardware requirements. The easy wifi setup is really a kicker...when I go to a coffee shop for 30 min to get some quick work done, I can't be spending 28 of those minutes futzing with the wpa_supplicant config trying to get it to connect to their network (I know coffee shop networks are rarely secured, much less with WPA, but I think you understand my point).


Stability, DE, package management system, the whole sudo vs root approach to security, and the entire idea behind it (two fold...1: bringing Linux to the "masses", trying to isolate the user from the back end, often hampering or removing their ability to do anything for themselves even if they want to, and 2: focusing all effort on appearance and first impressions and leaving the long term usability and stability out in the cold). Ubuntu wasn't so bad several versions ago, but it's been getting exponentially worse with each release. I've used Mint as well, not a fan. I've also used Debian...the package management system still sticks a thorn in my side, but at least the stability and DE are back to "normal" compared to Ubuntu.

Not trying to start an Ubuntu vs the world debate, just expressing why I don't want to use it. I've used many versions over the years, and I've honestly tried to like it, but it just gets in its own way every single time.


Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into each of them. Nice to know about Fudundu, the Gnome 3 desktop in F16 is pretty irksome and unstable, which I'd especially want to be getting away from for this application.

To the original question:

I would say any Linux distribution you can install on a workstation will do the trick on a laptop/netbook.

I have had some friends and relatives install Debian and Knoppix (frugal install) in their laptops, with a great success. The Knoppix installs where hacked versions I used because of a special security scenario that required them.

Debian has 3 years of support and offers an "usual" system.

The Knoppix DVD, frugal installed, offers great hardware detection, speed and flexibility. You can configure it either to keep persistence between sessions or to discard changes between reboots. Upgrading a frugal install is not really hard, as you just replace the OS with the new version.

Other systems I have experimented with are Porteus and Slitaz. Slitaz has many rough edges -it is cool to play and useful for many tasks, but not reliable enough for me to recommend it as a generic solution. Porteus is highly modifiable and does not perform bad when used with LXDE.

One trick I use with laptops and Live distributions is to use distributions that load themselves to the RAM. You can boot Knoppix (CD version), Porteus or Slitaz with the proper cheatcode, then turn the HD off with "hdparm". As most activity will be performed in the RAM, the harddrive won't spin and you will save a lot of watts of power.

openSUSE seems to fit your needs and you already use it anyway... RPM based and two years support... so why not?

Stick w\a Package Manager you already know. OpenSUSE 11.4/32 on my Lenovo rocks! Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller but compiz hates to be turned on. I miss my embedded desktop terminal. :( Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz on a CAPELL VALLEY(NAPA) CRB BCM4328 802.11a/b/g/n and RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ The ONLY bummer I have is the "fact" that Skype reports my webcam as working (it only works with the lid closed, go figure)

I use Scientific Linux 6.2 on two laptops. I am a network administrator and have had no problems. I also run virtual box with a windows XP installation, just in case I get into a spot and need Visio.

To that particular point, my laptop is currently on openSUSE and using WicD and I can usually connect to a local open wiFi network in 60 seconds, or so. It doesn't always work...more than 1 time in ten I have to re-boot rather than just wake up from hibernation, and that probably makes the total time more like 3 minutes. Every so often, it proves a bit more resistant than that, but I think that's a problem with their network (the way Cisco manages user auth seems a bit odd to me, and sometimes no one seems able to get on) rather than my laptop.

(I have also used NetworkManager, in the past, but lost it once in a 'semi-rolling kde thingy', engaged WicD, and don't have strong enough feelings either way to need to go back. My feeling is that with either NM or WicD your requirements would be met, but very occasionally futzing does occur. The NM widget thingy for KDE was appalling shortly after the KDE 4 debacle, but we should be far enough away from that so its not an issue, and I think that the Gnome one may have gone through something less protracted but similar immediately after the initial Gnome 3 release. But provided you have a recent NM or WicD, I think that you should be all right.)

@caravel
That was the question that I was going to ask: for me, the main problem with openSUSE is managing the repositories, but, once you've got that sus(s)ed (sorry), ongoing management isn't difficult, and you presumably know that anyway, so why not? Well, unless you've been overtaken by a 'variety is the spice of life' kind of mood.

Thanks for all of the responses.

Lenovo's ordering process has been a bit ridiculous, so I'm still waiting on the laptop so I can start trying them out. I plan on starting with openSUSE since I'm used to it on the home server, and I've tested the live version on my current laptop with good results. If that ends up falling through I'll start demo'ing the others.

CentOS should do fine, since Fedora does:
http://blog.andreas-haerter.com/2011...180w1g-4180ph1

I'd go with what you know. One of your top three would be a start. If you like OpenSuse then install it or even create it at SuseStudio.