I have Ubuntu 9.10; and it boots horrendously slow ~ longer than my XP does. It's also filled with programs I DON'T need, and lacks in the ones I want - it's getting to be bloated. I also feel like its a little too dumbed down ~ for technologically inept ~ users.
I have made a few posts asking you guys to give me something new - and I was told to go for Slackware...and I did...and it failed because of no driver support for my relatively new Acer Aspire One D250-1026 netbook. (No internet, no video cards, etc.)
And thats exactly where Ubuntu shined -- everything worked out of the box; SD card reader, webcam, ethernet, wifi...everything. This fact is the one thats been holding me back for some time now.
I'm sorry to post another distribution topic, but I'm beginning to use Windows more than Ubuntu: because it's faster - which is unacceptable for Linux. Any given Linux distribution should - and always has - been faster than any given Windows install. That's partially why I love Linux (not to mention the open-source philosophy, which I agree with almost wholeheartedly).
So I'm stuck right now. And I need your guys' help yet again.
I'm pretty decent with Linux; I mean I've been around the block a few times. But there are a few things that I would really require, for lack of a better term. Those are:

• GNOME Desktop Environment ~ Familiarity
• GUI installer ~ Preferable; not an absolute requirement.
• Good repsitories
• Driver support
• Not for newbies, and not for experts (read: intermediate)
• Good out of box security features
• Easily customizable

Aside from that, I would like to note that I will be dual-booting ~ which I don't think matters but I'll say it anyway. That's it guys, all I need is a suggestion based on that list; I'll do my homework from there.
Oh, and one last important detail: please, please don't link to a distro quiz, or a distro review site, I'm sick and tired of wading through those to inevitably fail on finding my choice.

LQ #1,

leop

My suggestion - Ubuntu 9.04. Fast, efficient, user-friendly with good repositories.You can always uninstall software you don't need.

You may give Slackware a try, though it doesn't provide for easy installation of packages, lacks gui-install, but compensates for what it lacks with stability, speed and dependability.Though it is a KDE based distro, you can install GNOME on it from third party sites.

I too have found Ubuntu 9.10 slow. Besides, X gets broken after downloading software suggested by the Update Manager. Yes, I have gone back to 9.04. I'll wait for 10.04 and see what it has to offer.

Debian

And another vote for Slackware, since you're not new at Linux you should definitely take it for a spin.

Kind regards,

Eric

There is no problem with installing just the bare minimum not to have a bloated system but it will require more configuration, finding missing libraries whenever you install or (compile) stuff. Slackware is great but does require (opening the hood more).
Debian Lenny (gnome) look good for you, but still you will have to install manually the proprietary video driver or get a distro that come with them on the DVD like Mandriva Power Pack (not free). Same goes with internet, specially wireless drivers.

I don't think slackware is what he is looking for, just see list of his requirement. Gnome [I know you can get that in slack, but not ootb], GUI installer [nope], good repos [not like debian]. Debian is clearly what he is after.

You're right about that. I hereby retrieve my vote. Got a little overexcited

Sorry, I posted without reading your post completely.
So Slackware failed to meet your requirements! Sorry to hear that. Did you try this link -
http://www.thev.net/cgi-bin/awki.cgi...amp=1222950371

Even I had posted +1 for slackware and then saw his requirement list and edited my post.

Why do people whine about slow boot up, bloated systems on linux? Try Vista! If you want it quick try Crunchbang, Xubuntu or Deli.If you want it fancy try Mandriva but to combine the two is a tad of a contradiction.

Fred.

If your only worries are "speed" (i.e. boot time, because apart from that you can't get much faster without changing hardware) and program selection, and on the other hand are worried about driver support, you really don't have reasons to switch. If you want to try something else, Debian seems to be what you'd like, but it's not really that different from Ubuntu to make you a big difference..and because Debian folks seem to be less fancy about non-open/"restricted" drivers etc. than Ubuntu folks, you just might find some things harder there, depending on what you need.

All in all, if you can make one GNU/Linux distribution faster than Ubuntu, you can probably make Ubuntu too. If you're "intermediate" it shouldn't be a problem to tweak a few things..and packages you can choose as you like. After installation, just launch Synaptic (or use dpkg/apt-get from command line if you feel more like home there) and do your selections. Ubuntu doesn't come with that much software, so it shouldn't take much time to change your ordinary browser/email/office/gaming apps and add a few others..sure you can find a distribution with a more suitable set of software, or one that lets you do the work during installation, but chances are you'll be trading that time to where you'll use it to find and install drivers for your hardware, for example. Also not many distributions, if any, are really secure out of the box so you won't gain much there (read: you'll need to work on it anyway, and your habits too), and if you do use a "hardened" distribution, you'll probably again trade that for something else (preinstalled software, driver support out of the box, ...)

Put short, to me it looks like you're just into distro hopping. Good luck there, you'll have plenty of choices to play with For a start, try Fedora and the already-mentioned Debian, see how they work out for you. I'm afraid they're at least as "bloated" as Ubuntu or anything else. If there was a distribution that was (compared to others, out of the box and so on) fast, secure and just what was wanted, the others would probably be rare already.

So you guys say Debian? Isn't that what Ubuntu is based upon! Perhaps I might ask of someones experience with the two? (faster?, less bloated?).

I really must say you guys suprised me with your quick posts!

And Eric! Your vote was for Slackware! Nice reference. I must admit upon installation Slack did not like my computer. No wireless, no ethernet, no webcam, no sound...I was dissapointed! Thanks for helping me out again!

Well thanks everyone, and just one last (i know, i know) question; the Debian site says I can try doing a web install (drivers?), or I can get a whole DVD image. So kinda back to my first question...how does Debians' bloated-ness compare to Ubuntus'?

Thanks guys.

That's because Slackware is no Out Of The Box distro, although I have to say mine had almost everything working after installation. It needs the loving and caring attention of a real Linux Lover to get its configuration fine-tuned.

I've worked with Ubuntu 9.04 (installed on my wife's laptop for ease of use since she migrated from Windoze), Debian, Mint and some other distros until I 'found' Slackware and now I'm addicted to it.

Taking into account your requirements I'd go with Debian too, you'll have a stable system that will work a lot better than Ubuntu in my opinion and be a lot less bloated. And yes, Ubuntu is 'based on Debian' but they did so much 'custom' work that it ends with the basic comparisons.

Kind regards,

Eric

Thanks b0uncer. Boot time for me is important. Ubuntu boots really slow, and is aimed too much at a beginner with a plethora of useless programs I don't want or need. Rather than going through a distribution and hand-picking out each application I don't want or need; and having an interface watered down to the point it resembles the idiot-ridden Windows platform, is not want I want. I came here asking for that. Telling me that is like saying to stick with a wife who has already cheated on me. I don't want that. However, hours of sifting through distro reviews and quizzes has not answered not more than one question.

Which is why I'm here. Hopefully you understand my opinion.

If Debian boots just 10-15 seconds faster, and has 20 less programs, and a little more technical detail, that might just be my ticket.

Oh, and adityavpratap, that link hanged and then my browser said it wasn't available.

LQ (always) #1,

leop

If you're connected to the web using a fast (broadband) connection I'd go with the NETINST CD, you can select everything you want after the basic installation, and the installer will download the necessary files, install and configure them to your likings. This way you'd have a lean mean machine with just the basics, nothing extra unnecessary software which leaves YOU in control to install other stuff along the way as you need it.

Kind regards,

Eric