OMG Not another what is the best distro for me thread
 

I would like to think that I am by far a newb at linux (place, what a newb here!!!). I even toted being a Linux Technical Advocate for IBM Canada for a year (loved it and flaunted it!).

I have successfully install and used most major distors of Debian, I am quite fond of Slackware for more years than I can count and most major ROM versions. I have even mind you installed and like ARCH.

My beef with these is they all have pros and cons. I am also not wanting to create my own, as for the purpose of this note. My problem is choice and what do I really want from a distro?

ARCH by for is the best for being up to date and the fact that it is a rolling release, I am not faced with having to do an update every 6 months.

The Ubuntus, what can I say. If it would have been around 10 years ago, my wife and everyone I know would be on it, but alass. I love the fact that it just works, the downside is that it is becomming quite bloated for me.

And I like KDE for my own reasons.

So don't we all just want functionality and cutting edge updates with our favorite fron-end?

I would be interested in your positive thoughs.

Well, Slackware is still a great distro, especially for an "experienced newb". Very stable, no need to update or refuse updates or fix problems with updates except for security. Very accessible and transparent; downsides are, maybe a little more work installing some software, particularly gnomish, but you like KDE. Just my opinion.

Hallo,
I tested about 5 or 6 dozens of distros. (About 10 of those I would recommend)
I started with puppy and it remained my favorite. But it exists only in english :mad: (My english is out of order - I didn't practise for decades)
I liked openmamba, knoppix and mandriva.
Even Slax fascinated me (It's a great idea to select the modules you like and can download al together directly into an iso file wthout having the problem of remastering)
I didn't feel well with suse neither with Ubuntu (they have the best marketing but I don't thing they have the best distro).
Also for me there doesn't exist the one and only distribution because I can see the pros and cons of the various distros.
If there would exist one perfect distro why do exist the other 500? :scratch:
The only reason ist because every distro is good in some things but weak in others so that the other one has the strength where the first one was weak.
Even if I consider myself as a newbie in Linux I think I am able to recommend or to select a distro for others: (Depending on what the other intends to do with it and according to his knowledge in computering or linux.
The problem is everything changes that fast that you remain newbie for ever. I also collect antiquates. Often a forgotten distro is really great.
But if there isn't a team and it is a onepersononlydistro often this person is a genius but doesn't have time or resurses to make marketing and if also lacks sponsoring :twocents: often there exist only a very weak mirror. and suddenly even if it were the best distro in the world it cant be continued. :cry:

So the problem of which distro will remain for ever.

Maybe its too much choice
 

I agree and appreciate the fact that there is so much choice. Forbid the idea that we have a single distro we would be shoe horned in to (cough MS cough cough).

But are we shooting ourselves in the foot with so much choice. Hmmm did that sound as bad as I think it did. I did not mean that statement as bad as it sounded.

Well thanks for the kind input. I will continue on in search of that distro that makes me feel like a warm blanket or maybe I will just sit in the dark alone with a bottle of scotch. Either way. Its good to just be here.

Thank you.

What we should really ask ourselves here is ... what is really distinguishing each distro from another ?

I think that there are many distro's that repeat or that do not have a major difference.

Not that I am saying there should be no variety ... but just pointing out that there are too many choices.

A am a Gentoo user ... have been for 5 years.
I also have tasted all the other distro's.

I am asked by others the question of what distro ... this question is only asked by those that want to move away from Windows.

I think there should be two groups of Linux distro's; those made for hard core users and those made for Windows converts.

There ... I have said it.
Comment on my comment.

Or maybe you could be like me- Sit in front of 6 distros with a bottle of scotch. :D

Cheers

:scratch: All the others? - So you are the one I can ask where I can get the once I can't find anymore. ;)


There are these groups! - If you checked out enough distros you will be able to put each one in one of these groups in your mind.
And when someone asks you which distro to choose you will be able to say:
Beginner, normal Office, Internet, a bit of mp3, english => Puppy
or italian => DaVinci and so on: High sicurity as Hospital intensive station => Debian

And for the real gurus it doesn't mind which distro: They have seen so many that they know what they want and they are able to say if it worked with Mandriva it will als work with XYZ and they adapt their Distro to fullfill all linux-desires they might have in the next life.