Opinions wanted on Linux Distros

Oberonfox · 05-11-2008, 07:20 AM

I will be partitioning and dual booting my current Win Xp Pro system (already know how to do, no worries) with some version of Linux, but I'm unsure as to what version to get. I've previously worked with Red Hat (was fine) and Gentoo (didn't like it much) but there's obviously a lot more out there. I will be using it primarily to run Shake (video compositing software) and little else, but I wanted to make sure that I had an ultra stable configuration. Any suggestions for a particular brand of Linux?

Thanks in advance.

justo · 05-11-2008, 09:51 AM

this was a signal blurp

justo · 05-11-2008, 09:53 AM

After about a three foot stack of CDs that I burned ISOs on for Linux over several years I have some advice for most who want to get started and use Linux awhile in the period before they become a Linux geek.(I never became one and have no plans to do so) There are two I use now because of simplicity in loading,Updateing,Adding programs and stablilty.PC Linux 2007 KDE and MCN Toronto which is also KDE.Lately I would more often load MCN Toronto as it works fine and updates and programs are still available. Later when you master Linux you wont need to ask which version to use. These two do everything I want to do and live to tell about it.They are compatible with most hardware.I have one Dell non LCD monitor that few versions like. Dell makes some weird hardware anyway.

**sobeit** · 05-11-2008, 10:02 AM

I know nothing about shake so I cannot advise which distro it would work best.. One of the most popular distros at this time is ubuntu so it will be easier to get support for it. I personally just started messing with it.

In addition, I have been using xandros for years on several computers and its been very stable.

**shuuhen** · 05-11-2008, 11:03 AM

I've never run Ubuntu (doesn't boot directly on my tower or on most friends' machines - even alternate install), but I also know several people that swear by it (or Kubuntu). If it installs fine, it should be fairly stable as everything should be precompiled and tested if it's in the repositories. Kubuntu or Xubuntu have different graphical systems, but should be exactly the same otherwise (you can also switch to a new GUI after you've already installed a distro). I specifically had issues with the AMD64 version of this distro, so you might want to stick with the x86 version.

I personally like Gentoo because I can tune it to do whatever I want, but for mainly running one application (and since you didn't really like it) it might not be a good choice for you.

It might be a little harder than Ubuntu, but I'd recommend using a pure Debian install. Ubuntu is based on Debian, so software management is handled by the same programs. If you don't want to mess with installing a GUI or configuring things by hand, this would be one to try after Ubuntu.

Oberonfox · 05-11-2008, 11:42 AM

Thanks for the tips so far. The Linux systems I used were all school systems back when I was in college, so the Gentoo I used may have just been "bad" because of the way the school configured it. Basically I have no experience in tweaking an operating system, so I guess I'm more asking for something simple with a familiar (aka windows-like) interface.

**sobeit** · 05-11-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberonfox

Basically I have no experience in tweaking an operating system, so I guess I'm more asking for something simple with a familiar (aka windows-like) interface.

just about everything mentioned so far has a windows type interface.

Oberonfox · 05-11-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sobeit

just about everything mentioned so far has a windows type interface.

Well that takes a significant worry off my mind then. :)

**sobeit** · 05-11-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberonfox

Well that takes a significant worry off my mind then. :)

I would like to suggest that you download the live cd versions of the different distros, burn them to a cd and run them off the cd to see if you like or not.. This way you do not have to worry about messing up your current system.

Ixthusdan · 05-12-2008, 01:13 PM

Mandriva has the best GUI tools for windows-familiar people. In fact, Mandriva took heat early on for being too "windowish" because they developed a nice GUI tool interface. (The geeks like CLI) Try Mandriva One, the live disk.

johnhook · 05-12-2008, 04:30 PM

Oberonfox,

If you were happy with Redhat - I would use Fedora Core Linux as this is the "freeware" version of Redhat.

http://fedoraproject.org/

I too started my Linux experience with Redhat - until it went commercial. Fedora Core was the obvious alternative to Redhat since I wasn't looking to pay for support on an open OS. Fedora has gotten progressively more user-friendly in terms of the install, GUI and features.

Just my opinion for what it's worth.

- John

mcman · 05-15-2008, 07:39 AM

I have been using Ubuntu for three years. It has been easy to learn. Very versatile or automatic whichever you prefer. The ubuntu guide online gives you all you need.

05-11-2008, 07:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Oberonfox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP Pro SP2	Opinions wanted on Linux Distros I will be partitioning and dual booting my current Win Xp Pro system (already know how to do, no worries) with some version of Linux, but I'm unsure as to what version to get. I've previously worked with Red Hat (was fine) and Gentoo (didn't like it much) but there's obviously a lot more out there. I will be using it primarily to run Shake (video compositing software) and little else, but I wanted to make sure that I had an ultra stable configuration. Any suggestions for a particular brand of Linux? Thanks in advance.

05-11-2008, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
justo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: TEXAS Posts: 203 OS: VISTA/XP/WIN2K/PC LINUX/MCN LINUX THERMALTAKE XASER2.Several home mades.	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros this was a signal blurp Last edited by justo : 05-11-2008 at 09:54 AM.

05-11-2008, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
justo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: TEXAS Posts: 203 OS: VISTA/XP/WIN2K/PC LINUX/MCN LINUX THERMALTAKE XASER2.Several home mades.	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros After about a three foot stack of CDs that I burned ISOs on for Linux over several years I have some advice for most who want to get started and use Linux awhile in the period before they become a Linux geek.(I never became one and have no plans to do so) There are two I use now because of simplicity in loading,Updateing,Adding programs and stablilty.PC Linux 2007 KDE and MCN Toronto which is also KDE.Lately I would more often load MCN Toronto as it works fine and updates and programs are still available. Later when you master Linux you wont need to ask which version to use. These two do everything I want to do and live to tell about it.They are compatible with most hardware.I have one Dell non LCD monitor that few versions like. Dell makes some weird hardware anyway.

05-11-2008, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit Mentor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 3,738 OS: windows/linux	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros I know nothing about shake so I cannot advise which distro it would work best.. One of the most popular distros at this time is ubuntu so it will be easier to get support for it. I personally just started messing with it. In addition, I have been using xandros for years on several computers and its been very stable. __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

05-11-2008, 11:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
shuuhen Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 626 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.4, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros I've never run Ubuntu (doesn't boot directly on my tower or on most friends' machines - even alternate install), but I also know several people that swear by it (or Kubuntu). If it installs fine, it should be fairly stable as everything should be precompiled and tested if it's in the repositories. Kubuntu or Xubuntu have different graphical systems, but should be exactly the same otherwise (you can also switch to a new GUI after you've already installed a distro). I specifically had issues with the AMD64 version of this distro, so you might want to stick with the x86 version. I personally like Gentoo because I can tune it to do whatever I want, but for mainly running one application (and since you didn't really like it) it might not be a good choice for you. It might be a little harder than Ubuntu, but I'd recommend using a pure Debian install. Ubuntu is based on Debian, so software management is handled by the same programs. If you don't want to mess with installing a GUI or configuring things by hand, this would be one to try after Ubuntu. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. Last edited by shuuhen : 05-11-2008 at 11:17 AM.

05-11-2008, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Oberonfox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8 OS: XP Pro SP2	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros Thanks for the tips so far. The Linux systems I used were all school systems back when I was in college, so the Gentoo I used may have just been "bad" because of the way the school configured it. Basically I have no experience in tweaking an operating system, so I guess I'm more asking for something simple with a familiar (aka windows-like) interface.

05-12-2008, 01:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ixthusdan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 29 OS: Xpsp2/Mandriva 2008.1	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros Mandriva has the best GUI tools for windows-familiar people. In fact, Mandriva took heat early on for being too "windowish" because they developed a nice GUI tool interface. (The geeks like CLI) Try Mandriva One, the live disk.

05-12-2008, 04:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros Oberonfox, If you were happy with Redhat - I would use Fedora Core Linux as this is the "freeware" version of Redhat. http://fedoraproject.org/ I too started my Linux experience with Redhat - until it went commercial. Fedora Core was the obvious alternative to Redhat since I wasn't looking to pay for support on an open OS. Fedora has gotten progressively more user-friendly in terms of the install, GUI and features. Just my opinion for what it's worth. - John __________________

05-15-2008, 07:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
mcman Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Re: Opinions wanted on Linux Distros I have been using Ubuntu for three years. It has been easy to learn. Very versatile or automatic whichever you prefer. The ubuntu guide online gives you all you need.