If not slack, then what?

gegechris99 · 09-30-2009, 07:20 AM

After a brief stint with Gentoo (too much compiling for my liking), a friend of mine advised Slackware and FreeBSD.

I installed both (Slackware 10.2 and FreeBSD 6.4) and liked both mainly due to the system stability and the quality (and quantity) of online documentation. Due to time constraints, I left FreeBSD behind.

So I'll give FreeBSD a new try if I'd have to leave Slackware.

~sHyLoCk~ · 09-30-2009, 07:29 AM

Will be trying out Mandriva 2010 now. For a desktop purpose it's nice to have the eyecandy and lotsa GUIs, for serious work slackware.

If only I could get plymouth to work in slack. hehe.

Vasile Sorin · 09-30-2009, 12:52 PM

Linux Mint

tuxrules · 09-30-2009, 02:03 PM

Voted for Red Hat (specifically Fedora) and Arch. I've used both Arch and Fedora and would be comfortable but not as happy as being on Slackware. I started with RH9 and moved to Slackware and never really had motivation to look elsewhere because it just works.

I would like to try BSDs but never really made effort. LFS and Gentoo are too time-intensive...really hard to find time to compile/recompile constantly when you have a 3 yr old

farna · 10-01-2009, 08:48 AM

I'm a Linux newbie, but did play with Unix-like systems (OS-9... meaning the now ancient Moto 6809/68K based system, not that newcomer Mac thing...) back in the day. Maybe I didn't have any business voting.... but I voted Mint also.

I'm looking for something easy to use and pretty much runs out-of-the-box. That seems to be the best looking, most ready to run distro so far. My second choice was MEPIS, same reasons. Mint has a better look-and-feel, and I really like the "start menu" (I know, an MSW term...) better than any other system I've seen. One person has reported that their system deteriorated in functionality over time, but I'm thinking they had a hardware problem or some of the "esoteric" software they installed was doing something it shouldn't.

Haven't been running on a daily basis yet, just installed and have been "playing" with the system a little. Getting ready to install a bigger HD on my Athlon XP system (only 30GB) and start using Mint at least for mail. Also plan on playing with running some Windows software using WineDoors. This first full-blown Linux machine will replace my wife's old P3/800MHz laptop for her mail/play machine. She plays noting more complicated than those graphic seek-find games, so shouldn't be a problem. If Wine doesn't like them, I'll try Virtual Box.

Once that machine has been running 4-6 months with no insurmountable problems, I'm planning on switching my DTP machine over. I currently use PageMaker 6.0 (the upgrades lost major ease of use points!), plan on using PageStream for Linux. It's commercial, but stable and well supported. Scribus just isn't quite up to snuff IMHO for even my little quarterly 24-28 page magazine. It's not much, but if I lose everything right before it needs to go out... It's happened with PM 2-3 times over the last 10 years, but usually due to a hardware failure. Don't need a software glitch to trash everything!

I'm not giving MS any money to "upgrade" to Vista or Win7. My upgrade will be a bigger one -- to Linux. I've been following Linux and watching for the software I need and a good OOTB distro that doesn't need the command line to run. I don't mind tweaking something with the command line now and then, but don't want to have to become intimately familiar with it. That puts Slackware out for me!

hitest · 10-01-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farna

I don't mind tweaking something with the command line now and then, but don't want to have to become intimately familiar with it. That puts Slackware out for me!

Yes. Slackware is not for you.
If you ever feel so inclined I encourage you to check out Slackware. Speed, security, and stability are Slackware hallmarks. Slackware is the best distro out there in my opinion.
Best wishes in your search for a distro. Good to hear you don't want to pay the M$ tax.

Okie · 10-15-2009, 04:22 PM

i would have to go with Net, Free or Open BSD

in that order listed above.

heltreko · 10-17-2009, 12:56 PM

ZenWalk...

jedi_sith_fears · 10-17-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farna

I'm not giving MS any money to "upgrade" to Vista or Win7. My upgrade will be a bigger one -- to Linux. I've been following Linux and watching for the software I need and a good OOTB distro that doesn't need the command line to run. I don't mind tweaking something with the command line now and then, but don't want to have to become intimately familiar with it. That puts Slackware out for me!

Good to hear it bro. If you feel like you can't use Slackware, try VectorLinux/Zenwalk for now. Switch to Slackware when you are comfortable.

hurry_hui · 10-17-2009, 01:10 PM

If not slack then...archlinux...

Well, I have difficulty installing Zenwalk long time ago, hence I installed Slackware

snowtigger · 10-17-2009, 01:36 PM

there are other OS's other than Slackware. That's news to me :P

liuguobiao · 10-19-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Nothing could every replace slackware.

Just for my works, I will chose one linux distribution can make my work more efficient .
But I won't use Windows .@_@

smeezekitty · 10-19-2009, 02:26 AM

windows and damn small linux

alienBOB · 10-19-2009, 04:34 AM

My second choice would be FreeBSD.

~sHyLoCk~ · 10-19-2009, 04:51 AM

openBSD 4.6 out. Going to check it out for a minimal home server setup.