UnOfficial "Which Linux Distro for me?" thread

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n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: Tabb
What flavors of linux will work on Macs?

Yellow dog.
Mandrake had a PPC version, don't know if they still do.
Debian.

Don't know of any others off hand.

EDIT:
According to Linuxiso:
Debian, LinuxPPC, yellow dog, gentoo, mandrake

They also list Darwin, GNU-Darwin, and NetBSD (although OpenBSD and I think FreeBSD 5 also support it).

Unless you meant m68k, then I don't know (other than NetBSD/OpenBSD).
m88k is neater anyways. :p
 

OffTopic1

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2004
1,764
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Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: Tabb
What flavors of linux will work on Macs?

Yellow dog.
Mandrake had a PPC version, don't know if they still do.
Debian.

Don't know of any others off hand.

EDIT:
According to Linuxiso:
Debian, LinuxPPC, yellow dog, gentoo, mandrake

They also list Darwin, GNU-Darwin, and NetBSD (although OpenBSD and I think FreeBSD 5 also support it).

Unless you meant m68k, then I don't know (other than NetBSD/OpenBSD).
m88k is neater anyways. :p
Why would you use Linux when Mac come with a perfectly good OS?

But, if you must, then try Debian, Gentoo & Vine. Yellow Dog is really behind the curve with weak software support, Mandrake only support PPC on version 9.1 & 8.2, and RHEL support PPC on version 3. And, did I mentioned Debian, and more Debian?
 

KF

Golden Member
Dec 3, 1999
1,371
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>Why would you use Linux when Mac come with a perfectly good OS?
Why would you use Linux when every appliance store PC comes with a perfectly good OS?


-------------------------
"How would you rate Bush?"
About ten times better than brain dead Kerry or Clinton.
 

lowpost

Member
Apr 22, 2002
164
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it's about choice

UPDATE:
changed around the highlights and bold text to make it somewhat easier to follow.
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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Maybe we can use the newer version of the Slackware comment I made, since the "behind the curve" comment is easy to misinterpret. ;)

Here's something for debian. Comments please. No offence meant anywhere. I do like Debian.

And just so I don't get crap for it, the (GNU) free comment is there because there are different definitions of free depending on what part of the FOSS world you ask. I figured that, with the link, was an easy way to exlplain which free they meant. :)

Debian:

Debian is one of the most advanced Linux distros available today. Debian focuses on stability and (GNU) free software. Debian has a strict Social Contract that is applied to the system. Their commitment to (GNU/not-GNU) free software is amazing, and almost unmatched in the Free/Open Source Software world. It is one of the reasons the Debian contributers deserve praise and support.

The current installer is menu driven, and often considered tough for users that are new to Linux. To make up for it, the online documentation is amazing, and should cover all issues during the install. They do admit to there being issues with the install documentation, but it has proven itself atleast adequate in the past. The installer supports atleast FTP, CDROM, hard drive, and netboot installs, but Debian relies on the user to setup most of the hardware. Initializing the driver module for the network adapter is common after installation.

There is work being done on a new installer for Debian, but this won't mention it much because it is not ready yet.

Debian focuses on stability, and not necessarily features. On the stable and testing branches of Debian, software is often an older version. Security patches are backported, so that is not necessarily a concern with using the older versions of software. These software packages have been thoroughly tested by developers and users, and are considered some of the best packages around.

Software installation is a breeze with Debian. The large package respository covers a great deal of software, and not finding a piece of software you need is the exception, not the rule. Binary software packages are in a .deb format, and can be installed through dpkg, apt, or one of the great front ends (like dselect). The package management system takes care of dependancies and restarting any services that are installed or modified. Often configuration information is gathered through the front end in use, so that can simplify things for many users. Generally the only time a reboot is necessary is when the kernel is changed, which can happen though dpkg (not done by default) or through a local compile.

Just about every Window Manager and Desktop Environment can be installed through the package management system, so there is no default GUI for Debian.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,773
1,950
126
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Maybe we can use the newer version of the Slackware comment I made, since the "behind the curve" comment is easy to misinterpret. ;)

Here's something for debian. Comments please. No offence meant anywhere. I do like Debian.

And just so I don't get crap for it, the (GNU) free comment is there because there are different definitions of free depending on what part of the FOSS world you ask. I figured that, with the link, was an easy way to exlplain which free they meant. :)

Debian:
<snip>
That seems to be a pretty good description of Debian. Of course, as BBWF said, it should say that it uses whatever GUI you choose. I like GNOME, myself.
 

Olias

Senior member
Sep 3, 2000
529
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I have been using Gentoo for a while and I wanted to report that they released version 2004.1 in a 2 CD pack. The first 'install-x86-universal-2004.1' ISO when restored makes a bootable CD with all the binary packages required to get the basic system up and running. There is also a 139 page Handbook PDF in the documentation directory on the same CD.

The second CD is not bootable but rather contains all the applications pre-compiled for your specific architecture. Apps like KDE, Gnome, Openoffice, etc. So because this second CD is specific then you must download the match to your system. Like P3, P4, Athlon 386 or 686.

I realize that Gentoo is not for everyone. I also used Slack and liked it very much. I only started using Linux 11 months ago and now all my PC's are running Gentoo. Best way to learn is to follow along in the handbook but I would suggest printing it out.

Olias
 

KF

Golden Member
Dec 3, 1999
1,371
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Looks like a decently clear intro:
The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to LINUX Mandrake 9.1

Concerning the link to the Linux equivalents to Windows programs, don't get too excited about the "1000" Windows programs that run under Wine. When you follow the links all the way to the users, you find out a lot of the references are to programs that don't quite work; either that or I picked the wrong refereences to follow out. There's a lot of YMMV, depending on how much effort you want to put into settings, and how tolerant of lockups you are if you do certain things.

And the actual Linux program links deserve some caution. Some are looking forward to a 1.0 version sometime in the future. Most of the cool features planned are liable to be missing in a version .43. You may have to download the source and compile on your own. You may want to defer that if you just booted Linux for the first time today.

Quoting myself:
">Why would you use Linux when Mac come with a perfectly good OS?
Why would you use Linux when every appliance store PC comes with a perfectly good OS?"

What I meant was that the same reasoning applies for Mac users as Windows users. Mac OS is not free and open for use in source and binary, AFAIK. Sure, they used some open source, but you don't get to use theirs. (Or am I assuming?) And if you like the command line utilities, there have always been Windows/DOS translations from the unix, etc., if you want to find them.
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
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Originally posted by: KF
What I meant was that the same reasoning applies for Mac users as Windows users. Mac OS is not free and open for use in source and binary, AFAIK. Sure, they used some open source, but you don't get to use theirs. (Or am I assuming?) And if you like the command line utilities, there have always been Windows/DOS translations from the unix, etc., if you want to find them.

Darwin, the core of OS X, is open source. There are several projects revolving around it out there. Aqua, ,the GUI, is closed source.
 

XBoxLPU

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2001
4,249
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Which Office is the best ? OpenOffice, StarOffice,KOffice,or Gnome Office... other ... ?
 

lowpost

Member
Apr 22, 2002
164
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I think the best office app would be a matter of opinion, just like choosing a distro. Whichever is tailored to your needs.
 

Rob_63

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2003
4,242
0
76
OK, now I am intrigued. I use my computer to web cruise, play FPS games and occasionally use MS office. which OS should I use and where can I get it?
 

OffTopic1

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2004
1,764
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Originally posted by: Trucker61
OK, now I am intrigued. I use my computer to web cruise, play FPS games and occasionally use MS office. which OS should I use and where can I get it?
There are hundreds of distros that will do what you asked. Some will run right out of the CD with most things that a user asked for, and at the extreme end you have to roll your own &amp; compile everything for your box.

In order of easy to use &amp; free download -- Knoppix, Mandrake, Fedora &amp; Ark.

Commercial distros -- Libranet, Lindows, Mandrake, Red Hat, SUSE &amp; Xandros.

The table of equivalents / replacements / analogs of Windows software in Linux.
 

Rob_63

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2003
4,242
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Ok, I googled to find a site to download, it seems to be clogged up?
 

Rob_63

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2003
4,242
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OK, thanks, I was able to get a download of Knoppix started with the second link. Do I open the ISO image with winrar and then burn those files to a disc and boot from my cdrom to install? the download size is 716mgs, this won't fit on a disk........
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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Originally posted by: Trucker61
OK, thanks, I was able to get a download of Knoppix started with the second link. Do I open the ISO image with winrar and then burn those files to a disc and boot from my cdrom to install? the download size is 716mgs, this won't fit on a disk........

Get an 800MB disk.
 

Rob_63

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2003
4,242
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An 800 mg disk? Geez, I guess I have been playin games a bit too long, I didn't know they had em!
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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Originally posted by: Trucker61
An 800 mg disk? Geez, I guess I have been playin games a bit too long, I didn't know they had em!

Hmmm maybe they don't. Guess it was a brain fart with the 80min thing. Maybe overburning the disk will work...
 

Rob_63

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2003
4,242
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lol, and I thought I was'nt gettin out enough, after I unzipped it it was only 699, go figure!