Hey guys. I'll call myself an intermediate user. I've installed Gentoo using Stage 3, used Slackware for everday, and some other desktop distros. I've used Mandrake 9.1 and was a little disappointed at it's poor support for source (it lacks many libs) and it's bugs. I've used SuSE 8 but not on the internet, although i did like suse fairly well. I'm a little frustrated with having to do everything myself on Slackware like i'm still in 1992 or something. Dont get me wrong, i looove slackware, the command line, and tinkering, but i think that i need something with a little more modern feel and that will consume less time. I need something that works like a desktop out of the box.

So my question, what distro will give me an easy-as-heck to set up experience, without the plethora of bugs that many desktop distros have, as well as supporting source well? Some preliminary choices are: Onebase Linux [ http://www.ibiblio.org/onebase/ ], SuSE 9.1 professional, or maybe Mandrake. Don't want Fedora cuz it can't read NTFS.

suse 9.1 professional seems to get great reviews all over the place, as far as desktop distros are concerned...

SuSE 9.1 Professional IS indeed great... I'm runnning it on my notebook and it has had THE BEST hardware recognition of ANYTHING I've used thus far... Also... Fedora 2 is pretty Good and YES IT CAN ready from NTFS.. just not out of the box... It's a simple plug-in download as an RPM... and it's less than 1 MB...

But I started with Red Hat 9 and Fedora's and have tried a ton of things in between... I like Debian a lot, but as you are with Slackware, I don't like all the configuration... I purchased the box for SuSE 9.0 Professional in like February and used it for a while.. then moved on the the "difficult things" like Debian, FreeBSD, etc.. and now that I know more - semi-intermediate I guess - I have come back to SuSE 9.1 Professional... and It's fantastic.. I highly recommend it... I didn't have to configure a thing... not Even Wi-Fi...

If you like slackware, try installing dropline gnome for your desktop. Once you get slack setup and working, there should be very little need for tinkering. DL gnome is slick and IMHO the best out-of-the-box gnome desktop.

Oops, as an intermediate user your must answer you own question.
RE: Mandrake lacking libs. I did Linux from Scratch with Mandrake 7.1 and that was the first thing I discovered. I needed to add development libraries before I could continue. I did not consider this a fault of Mandrake.
RE: SUSE 9.1. Nice auto detection and set-up but has problems with automounting USB devices. So much so that I shut off the autofs or whatever it is.
RE: Slackware. Yep, it needs manual attention. I have normally had a Slackware version installed since 7.1, but it has never become my main choice.
With somewhat the same quest as you I am doing a Debian/Suse thing. Wondering where the sweet spot between having what I want and not having to do it all myself is.

Thanks for the input, guys. I've been wanting to try Debian for a while, simply for the great apt package management, but after using Gentoo, i don't think debian would be any different except that Gentoo gives you both binary AND source. That's why i think Onebase will be nice, since they give you source and binary but with an easier install. (onebasego) (Contrary to common opinion, Gentoo gives you binaries if it has some, just 'emerge -k [package]')

I've used Mandrake 9.1 and it sucks for libs. I tried a few source packages and it just frustrated the heck out of me. I'm not a big fan of rpm, but i'll use them and they are convenient. Does suse suck on libs too?

This not even having to configure wi-fi intrigues me. I think that's AMAZING. Can winXp do that? I don't think it can. My brother has a Wi-fi network that broadcasts his cable internet connection, and if i get a wi-fi card i definitely want to be able to use it. Unfortunately, he uses all winxp, so samba support is a must. Could you tell me step by step what suse does (or what you do) to get totally into the network?

I've seriously considered Dropline, but i don't think it would give me enough of those 'desktop distro' features i've been wanting. Do they have slack 10 packages? Cuz that was an issue a while ago when i was gonna download it.

there's only one answer: arch linux. it's the best desktop distro i've ever used -- smooth like butter. everything works "out of the box" with minimal or no configuration. it's everything you say you want and more: modern, easy, fast, and consumes hardly no time to maintain. when i switched to arch from slack, i started using my computer more instead of configuring it all the time. try arch, i guarantee you won't be sorry.

Have you looked at Mepis?

slackware is prob the best you could do for stabilty and security.
fedora core 2 however, everything works out of the box. cd burning, auto mount, usb, printer, modem, even some digital cams... everything you need...
haven't had a chance yet to try suse 9.1

This is absolutly true. I have an old CDROM drive made in a backyard in China, this means, not brand name on it, I was ready to throw it away, and guess what? Suse found, configure it, and now it works. Not even the old Windows XP could found this CDROM drive. Read my post about the two old video cards as well.

Raxxal

A big issue that keeps me away from FC for now is that it's hard to get ati drivers working. Too many patches, and such. I don't want to deal with that crap.

I've looked at MEPIS in passing, and it looks nice, i'll have to look at it more. I've looked at Arch too, and perhaps after it gets to 1.0 i'll get it. Thx for the reference synaptical. Btw, is Synaptic compatible with pacman? I noticed your name and couldn't help but wonder...

What do you all think about ubuntu? [UbuntuLinux.org]

I think that ubuntu is great, can't wait for the final release later this month.

i agree...from what i've heard and read, looks to be awesome

Debian Sarge
ints simply the best distro I ever tried, it has the flexibility of slackware and its really easy to install. besides, once you tried apt y never want to go back to any other distro