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Author Topic: Linux distro?  (Read 6883 times)
JHGuitarFreak
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Linux distro?
« on: November 18, 2006, 11:24:59 am »

What's a good all around linux distro?

i'm looking for one that is easily usable, and easily configurable.

thanks for any help
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2006, 03:00:04 pm »

Well, if you want a user-friendly version, try Mandriva.

But I think Red-Hat lets you configure it more through the console.

If you want something that needs insane configuration (e.g. setting up GUI, network interface, sound card, etc), then there's debian
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Halleck
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2006, 03:17:07 pm »

Debian debian debian. Cheesy

Sorry, can't help it. I've been running Debian on my server and I love it. The package system is fantastic, you can basically find/install/remove anything you want with a single command.
You do need to be comfortable with the command-line, though.

For a more graphical experience, I've heard good things about the (debian-based) Ubuntu distro.

As for 'Mandriva'... I ran it on my server back when it was called Mandrake, from 8.0 to 10.1 or thereabouts. Very nice distro that focuses on ease-of-use, with a nice graphical setup and configuration/administration panel. My tastes have shifted a bit though, I now prefer a lightweight and highly customizable distro, which is why I love debian so much. Wink
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JHGuitarFreak
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2006, 04:05:39 am »

cool, thanks guys, I'm going to try those out and see how they feel. Grin
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2006, 12:36:27 pm »

I'm a fan of openSUSE myself. Like Mandriva, openSUSE emphasises integration between components and ease of configuration (through "Yet another Setup Tool" or YaST), at the expense of being a little heavyweight at times (as in eating about 5 GB of disk space for a normal install). Based on my communications with Mandrake users, openSUSE may have a slight edge in ease of hardware setup and integration between e.g. KDE and the distro-specific tools.

openSUSE uses Red Hat's package system instead of Debian's, but has additional features (in YaST) that make the packaging systems roughly equally easy to use.
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JHGuitarFreak
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2006, 12:50:08 pm »

well now i've done it, i overwrote the MBR with GRUB and can't boot into WinXP anymore,
Oh and i decided to stick with Ubuntu, it seemed more stable for me.

Is there anyway to recover my old MBR or overwrite the MBR with a third party program in ubuntu?

i tried using my Acronis Disk Suite with wine, but it wants to install on my old C: drive with windows on it and i get a lovely error message.

overall i like Ubuntu, but i need windows available for my schoolwork and such

.:: EDIT

Nevermind, I found out how to configure GRUB to boot windows and am now using the Acronis Bootloader...
« Last Edit: November 19, 2006, 01:53:22 pm by Kohr-Ah Death » Logged

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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2006, 04:20:12 pm »

Cool beans.
If you need help with Ubuntu then head over to ubuntuforums.org, they are very freindly and helpful if you ask nicely for assistance.
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JHGuitarFreak
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2006, 08:08:40 pm »

Cool beans.
If you need help with Ubuntu then head over to ubuntuforums.org, they are very freindly and helpful if you ask nicely for assistance.

cool, thanks

and one more thing, has most of  the linux GUI's looked like a macs?
or is that something that recently happened?
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JHGuitarFreak
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Re: compiling in linux?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2006, 02:02:44 am »

*hijack*

i'm trying to compile the "operafs" utility that allows you to mount 3DO images but the problem is that i do not know the exact command for doing so...

all i got to go by is what it says here: http://www.stack.nl/~svdb/operafs/

and i don't know my "path to kernel sources"

so any help will be greatly appreciated
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2006, 04:02:04 am »

and one more thing, has most of  the linux GUI's looked like a macs?
or is that something that recently happened?
By linux GUI do you mean the GNOME theme that comes installed on Ubuntu?
Linux generally runs some x11 implementation, Xfree86 or X.org. As for the "GUI" it depends on the window manager/desktop environment you use (GNOME by default on Ubuntu) and the theme for that environment. (For example, I use fluxbox, which generally looks nothing like Mac OS.)

If you want to get a different theme for GNOME, try http://art.gnome.org/ and http://www.gnome-look.org/
or see if there are other themes that come pre-installed.
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Re: compiling in linux?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2006, 03:58:42 pm »

and i don't know my "path to kernel sources"
The best way to check this in general is to ask your package manager what files belong to the kernel source package. As far as I can tell, Ubuntu puts kernel sources in /usr/src/linux-[version].

There are dozens of desktop environments for Linux and most other Unix variants, that can look very different. Most distros default to something vaguely Windows- or Mac-like (GNOME or KDE) to avoid scaring newcomers familiar with other OSs, but have a dozen or so other options that can be very different.
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JHGuitarFreak
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2006, 05:11:41 pm »

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it  Smiley
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2006, 03:58:37 am »

Since you've already found a Linux distro which works for you,
I'll skip making a direct decision. I think the best way to
pick a Linux distro is to patrol a few support forums. Which ones
are active? Which ones are friendly? Because, sooner or
later, you'll need help and it's nice to know you can get it
for your distro.
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #13 on: November 22, 2006, 04:48:48 am »

A little late, but I know linux heads tend to switch distros for fun, so here are some distros I know:

Gentoo:  if you want to learn the why and how of things, start with a stage 1 or 0 install (compile everything!). Grin  Not my distro of choice for a desktop, but awesome for servers

Debian:  be careful of using the "stable" branch.  it updates so slowly that kernel vulnerabilities take longer to get patched than Micro$oft's.  Go unstable if Debian.

Ubuntu:  literally Debian unstable, patched to stablility.  Less default packages (not the near infinite of debian) because Ubuntu likes to remove "lesser" competing packages: they think Evolution is a better mail client than Thunderbird, so Evo is default from install.  Default color theme for X is affectionatly named "baby $#!+ brown".  kubuntu and edubuntu offer kde and educational choices.

Fedora:  Fun for former RH lovers.  I still like Fedora. Smiley

Novell's openSuSE, SLED, SLES:  I like SLED now that I have a university license.  I put it on my workstation just before the ugly MS/Novell deal reared its head.  There are those who would claim that using openSuSE now is akin to making a deal with the devil.  I'm keeping my SuSE for now.  It's kind of stupid with security.  SSH is set up to allow root logons by default, but at least SSH is also firewalled by default. Cheesy  The real annoying part for SLED is that some essential (for me) packages like Thunderbird don't exist, so I have to either update from openSuSE, or compile my own.  At least with Ubuntu the simple choice is eventually there...

Damn Small Linux:  If you're putting linux on a _real_ 386, nothing beats it.

Familiar:  For HP iPaq handhelds.  Happy linux goodness in your pocket.  I prefer Opie.  Some prefer GPE

openBSD:  BSD's not linux, but GNU's Not Unix, so that makes it okay to include here. Cheesy  openBSD's nice for the security paranoid.

and one more thing, has most of  the linux GUI's looked like a macs?
or is that something that recently happened?
By linux GUI do you mean the GNOME theme that comes installed on Ubuntu?
Linux generally runs some x11 implementation, Xfree86 or X.org. As for the "GUI" it depends on the window manager/desktop environment you use (GNOME by default on Ubuntu) and the theme for that environment. (For example, I use fluxbox, which generally looks nothing like Mac OS.)
My guess is that he's talking about machines he's seen with XGL, compiz/beryl installed.  Pretty OpenGL goodness on the desktop:  multiple desktops plastered on a 3D rotating OpenGL box, jello-wiggly windows, translucent/transparent windows, etc.  XGL's pretty new.  Hmm, maybe MS thinks XGL infringes on Aero...
« Last Edit: November 22, 2006, 05:11:15 am by Culture20 » Logged
JHGuitarFreak
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Re: Linux distro?
« Reply #14 on: November 22, 2006, 09:13:15 am »

cool thanks for the suggestions, i might switch to a different linux distro because of one problem...

When booting to ubuntu during the logo splash  and "loading" bar my mouse just shuts off, i use a basic usb IR scroll mouse, it works sometimes but 98% of the time ubuntu just shuts off my mouse.

well enough of my griping...

again thanks for the summary

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