Which is the best linux OS..................?

Question

Chose from the following :-
*Fedora
*Ubuntu and Family (Kubuntu, Gobuntu etc)
*Open SUSE
*Debian
*Open Solaris

Please don't comment about linux!

Answer 1

* Fedora (the best for the PPC architecture and a decent development platform)

* Ubuntu & Familty (a very user friendly distro with the moto "It should just work")

* Open SUSE (a powerful RPM based distro that is fully supported by Novell)

* Debian (a very powerful server platform that is very developer friendly (.debs are highly standardized and easy to create))

* Open Solaris (not really a Linux distro, but VERY stable (Solaris prides its self on never having to be reset even with kernel patches), and the number one platform for Java applications (due to Sun Macrosystem's support)).



I personally use Ubuntu on my desktop as I just need something that just works (I don't like having to configure stuff). I really like Fedora on the PS3 though as more of the hardware is supported and it just runs better. If I'm using older hardware for a server I tend to lean towards Debian (so I have the full control I need to manage resources). I don't use Open Solaris but I really respect how it runs. I would love to see the Linux kernel developers team up with the Open Solaris kernel developers to incorporate some of the Open Solaris features. Open SUSE is by far my least favourite (of the listed) distro but that is because I don't use any Novel software. If I did I wouldn't hesitate in installing Open SUSE on my computer.



There isn't a best Linux distro, only the best distro for you. As you can see from my answer I use many different distros based on what I need to do. That is the greatest thing about Linux, you have choice and options, your not forced to use one implementation for everything (like you are with Windows and Mac OS X).



If you having trouble selecting a distro that is best for you, I suggest the following quiz: http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php?firsttime=true . It always helps me out.

Answer 2

For most user's Ubuntu would be the easiest to learn having come from using Microsoft Windows. Debian is a very close relative of Ubuntu but isn't as intuitive. OpenSolaris would be the last one any non-techie should ever touch as it simply isn't aimed at a non-technical audience. Both OpenSuse and Fedora/Red Hat are commonly found in the business world.

Answer 3

It depends a lot on what you want to do, different distros have different strengths. I personally have machines running



Centos 5,

Red Hat 7.3

Ubuntu 9.04

Edubuntu (on top 9.04)

DSL (Damn Small Linux)

and Puppy (a stripped down linux)



And each is for different tasks.



If you are just getting into linux and want something with lots of bells and whistles and a large user community, you can't beat the ubuntu family of programs.



Also, most of the ones you list are available as Live cds. A live CD is one you burn and boot your computer from the CD and can take the OS for a test drive without modifying your computer.



Download a bunch of them and try them out.



James

Answer 4

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 7 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 9.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 7 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=38



Linux Mint 7 User Guide

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15884753/Linux-Mint-7-Gloria-User-Guide



The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 7 (Gloria)

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-7-gloria



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 7 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation



Linux Mint 7 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



INSTALL LINUX WITHIN WINDOWS



Linux Mint has a feature called mint4win based on the Wubi installer (Ubuntu) http://wubi-installer.org/ which enables you to install Linux Mint within windows (Windows 7 run mint4win in vista compatability mode)



You keep Windows as it is, mint4win only adds an extra option to boot into Linux Mint. mint4win does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



mint4win like Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Boot in to windows insert the LiveCD you have just created and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where mint4win comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Linux Mint (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Linux Mint is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Linux Mint.



CURRENT SESSION



Linux Mint 6 ext3 with switchable Compiz 0.7.8 and Beryl 0.2.1*

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=31

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_%28window_manager%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiz

*Beryl 0.2.1 sourced from Ubuntu 7.04 repositories





LUg.