Alright (Former?) Slackers please suggest a Distro
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Im using predominately slackware current as a desktop, but i can also recommend Vector Linux. Vector is based on slackware but has a gui package manager. They have just released VL 7 and their concentration is on desktop users so you get the latest KDE and Xfce a gui installer and the best support forum i have experienced with any distro at forum.vectorlinux.com.
I'm currently running three distros: Slackware-Current on the two laptops I use most often, Salix on my netbook that I use when I go to my LUG meetings and not much else, and Debian on my fileserver.
Slackware with Fluxbox makes for a most excellent desktop.
almost 12 years of Debian here telling you not to switch off what you know unless you're sure you really want a change. I've sincerely tried everything recommended to me but I go back to Debian(and sons) because it's second nature. If the mothership install doesn't do ya stick to clones and children. There's bound to be something bred from Slackware that will fit.
Salix is great for lazy/busy slackers who want a quick setup and easy program installation. The result is 100% compatible, except that they offer extra software. The choice of desktops is good, too. My old Thinkpad works fine with Salix's default Xfce, but using KDE on it would be like watching paint dry.
Seven machines at home. All running Slackware64-13.37. One laptop and six desktops. Why wouldn't you use Slackware on your desktop?
After I think it was 12.1-12.2 the video requirements went up for newer KDE (ver?), and I had some issues with using SATA and IDE on some single-core, and X2 boards I got for free from work, causing a kernel-panic if an IDE CD/DVD drive was still plugged in on boot. It pissed me off that I couldn't get it to work, on like 4-5 different models of boards, and I thought the video lag was a driver issue that I couldn't resolve, (but it turns out to be you need a newer video card than a FX 5200, or MX400 in the GUI now) and I gave up on boards with mixed IDE and SATA, especially with RAID(, not to mention the issue with LILO confused about video modes and what they represent [in hex?]).
I tried a few *buntu flavors, and those didn't like nVidia chipsets, as they wouldn't even see a SATA HDD, or if it did fail on LILO, or GRUB install. (Don't know, or care why... Moved back to Slack.)
I also stopped my Slack migration from Win7 use because I had issues with the package change, and didn't figure out that was all about until recently, and a lack of time.
Now I have a bit more time again, and would probably like to drop my WinServer 2008 in favor of Slack again, along with my main rig (Win7). I have almost always had a dedicated Slackware box, but have had it off for like 6 months now... time to turn that thing back on.
I'll stick with it, I just kept reading that people left Slack for *buntu, or other flavors on other forums, and downplay Slackware.
I don't think many long term Slackware users are leaving for Ubuntu, I would bet it's people who are still in the "distro hopping" phase of their Linux experience and gave Slackware a try for a while. I've been running Slackware as my main desktop for 15+ years and it's always met my needs.
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