Gentoo, Arch...?

X.Cyclop · 08-10-2010, 06:32 AM

I've been using GNU/Linux for a while. I used SUSE and now Ubuntu, but now i want to switch to an 'advanced' distro (desktop). I heard about Gentoo and Arch or maybe Free/OpenBSD.
What do you think?

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-10-2010, 06:35 AM

Rather than "switch" to another distro, my suggestion would be to install one or more of these 'advanced' distros, alongside your current one(s) - don't replace what you're comfortable with just yet. Experiment with some other distros and see what you think; try both Arch and Gentoo, and try Slackware while you're at it!

What we think is not really important, when compared to what you think.

crosstalk · 08-10-2010, 07:57 AM

I switched from Ubuntu to Gentoo after I had issues with Ubuntu (darn Nvidia proprietary driver...)

I am glad I made the choice to do so. If you want to really learn about Linux, and have a couple days, then Gentoo could be the right OS for you.

Although I don't have it personally, I know someone with Arch Linux. It is a higher-level install than Gentoo.

As the previous poster said, leave your existing install in place.

I hope this helps.

X.Cyclop · 08-10-2010, 08:45 AM

Well, thanks for the advice, i'll install it alongside ubuntu.

Now, i think that i'm going to download Gentoo first, but is it discontinued? (i saw funtoo, that's why i ask).

And what about *BSD? don't you recommend them?

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-10-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X.Cyclop

And what about *BSD? don't you recommend them?

Speaking only for myself, I can't comment either way about *BSD, as I only ever tried one *BSD and if I remember correctly, I barely had it installed, let alone configured, for long enough to toy with it. I seem to remember it was 'different' than Linux in some way(s) but at that time, I was very new to Linux too, so who knows what I thought was different at that time.

No reason not to try a *BSD too, and see what you make of it.

John VV · 08-10-2010, 12:07 PM

Arch is nice BUT to use it you NEED TO WANT TO LEARN how to .

install it if you do want to push your skills
if you want a "point and click " don't

X.Cyclop · 08-10-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John VV

Arch is nice BUT to use it you NEED TO WANT TO LEARN how to .

install it if you do want to push your skills
if you want a "point and click " don't

Gentoo is the same way, i think.

John VV · 08-10-2010, 12:15 PM

mostly Arch is just getting used to doing things differently
i used Fedora 4 to 11 before switching to Arch .

but Arch base install is very minimal so alot of things will need to be set by hand
so read and reread a few times the Arch wiki guides

X.Cyclop · 08-10-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John VV

but Arch base install is very minimal so alot of things will need to be set by hand
so read and reread a few times the Arch wiki guides

As far as i know, in Gentoo you also have to do everything by hand compiling files.

DavidMcCann · 08-11-2010, 06:20 PM

Why do you want an "advanced" distro? If you think you will learn more, remember that all the stuff you have to do manually in Gentoo or Slackware can be done manually in Ubuntu: no-one is going to throw you in jail if you don't use the GUI!

X.Cyclop · 08-12-2010, 04:50 AM

Yeah, but you know, when something doesn't work you just go straight to use the GUI-stuff. If you are in Gentoo (e.g.) and you don't have all those GUI-apps, you have to figured it out how to do what you want from the command line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMcCann

: no-one is going to throw you in jail if you don't use the GUI!

brianL · 08-12-2010, 05:27 AM

And you can use GUIs in the "advanced" distros too.

X.Cyclop · 08-12-2010, 05:28 AM

could be, but first you have to figured it out without them.

brianL · 08-12-2010, 05:32 AM

Yeah, the CLI approach is useful to know, and interesting. I'm comfortable using either, depending on my mood.

syg00 · 08-12-2010, 05:54 AM

I lost interest in gentoo when it appeared to lose its way a while back - ego trips and internal fighting aren't at all attractive. Arch fitted nicely for what I wanted.
Both require you to read the doco. Pretty simple really. How deep you get in the blood and guts of the system is entirely your choice.