Camarade_Tux Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 (edited) This section really lacks stickies so why not start with a topic to index some linux distributions?Many people don't know which distribution to install just because there are too much choice, I think we can help there.Don't make it as long as the story as your life; the goal is too give an *idea* on which distribution will fit someone better.Slackware:Latest stable version: 12 (see this topic)Latest developpment version: 12; updates approximately twice a yearPhilosophy: Keep It Simple, Stupid; packages without dependancy checkingPros:lightweight and fastup-to-dateconfiguration does not rely on graphical tools; useful when your graphical server is dead...ultra-stable110% customizableCons:installer lacks good repartionning tools (but has good partionning ones)OpenSuSe:Latest stable version: 10.2Latest developpment version: 10.3alpha5, 10.3 stable planned for 04/10/07Pros:up-to-dateyast2, the easiest and most featured linux installation and configuration toolnearly perfect hardware support, including tv output, bluetooth, infrared, laptop power-management (better then XP's)all imaginable softwares have suse packagesCons:a bit heavytoo many dependancies sometimes Edited July 3, 2007 by Camarade_Tux
awergh Posted July 12, 2007 Posted July 12, 2007 i shall add some more i dont have much to say about them thoughFedora CoreLatest Stable version: 7Includes KDE and Gnome(it used to anyway)Based off Red Hat it uses the RPM packaging systemeasy to use installerDebianLatest Stable version: 4Includes GnomeKDE?It uses the deb packaging system UbuntuLatest Stable version: 7.04Includes GnomeK\X\Ubuntu linux is based of Debian It uses the deb packaging system LiveCD based installerKubuntuLatest Stable version: 7.04Includes KDEXubuntuLatest Stable version: 7.04Includes XFCEMandrivaLatest Stable version: 2007 SpringFormally known as Mandrake.Easy to use, nice installer.Includes KDE and Gnome(it used to anyway)
darrelljon Posted April 25, 2008 Posted April 25, 2008 (edited) Puppy:Latest stable version: 3.01Latest development version: 4.00; updates about twice a yearPhilosophy: Old hardware/speed and responsiveness with ease of usePros:FastEasy to useGood old hardware supportGood communityCons:Single user runs as rootPCLinuxOS:Latest stable version: 2008Latest development version: ?; updates about ? a yearPhilosophy: Ease of usePros:Modern up-to-date softwareEasy to useGood hardware supportGood communityCons:RPM not quite as widespread as DEBKnoppix:Latest stable version: 5.1.1Latest development version: ?; updates about biannuallyPhilosophy: KDE focused Live CDPros:Range of included applicationsFairly easy to useGood hardware supportCons:Hard disk installation isn't recommendedLinux Mint:Latest stable version: 4.0Latest development version: 5.0?; updates about twice a yearPhilosophy: from freedom came elegancePros:Very easy to useGreat hardware supportCons:Proprietary softwareMEPIS:Latest stable version: 7?Latest development version: 8?; updates about once a yearPhilosophy: Ease of usePros:Good softwareEasy to useGood hardware supportCons:CommercialismSidux:Latest stable version: 2008Latest development version: ?; updates about biannuallyPhilosophy: Making Debian easyPros:Software CompatibilityEasy to useGood hardware supportCons:SupportKanotiX:Latest stable version: 2007Latest development version: ?; updates about biannuallyPhilosophy: Installable KnoppixPros:Easy to useGood hardware supportSoftware rangeCons:SupportDSL:Latest stable version: 4.3Latest development version: ?; updates about once a yearPhilosophy: Old hardware/speed and responsivenessPros:FastSmall sizeGood old hardware supportCons:SupportDebian Live:Latest stable version: 4Latest development version: 5?; updates about biannuallyPhilosophy: StabilityPros:StableWide range of softwareCons:Slow development Edited April 26, 2008 by darrelljon
tain Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 http://distrowatch.com/ maintains a more up-to-date and crowd-sourced index.
Laser98IX Posted July 17, 2012 Posted July 17, 2012 Knoppix:Latest stable version: 7.0.3 on CD (as of 2012-06-25)"Knoppix version 7.0.2 (update), including Kernel 3.3.7, is now available as DVD image."Pros:Lots of software on CD.CD burner integrated.Browser (IceWeasel) is clone of FireFox® and will run same/similar plug-ins..Word processor (Libre) is clone of OpenOffice® and will run same templates.GNU image manipulation program is clone of Gimp® and will open/modify/save same files.Will run from CD or RAM, but much faster if "TORAM" option is added during boot.Can be booted to RAM w/minimum of 1Gb; faster with more RAM.Excellent hardware detection and reporting.Will detect and allow use of almost every USB stick w/no problem.Hard disk install not necessary.Any computer with RAM, keybd, mouse, display, net-card, & CD-ROM can access internet.Even older hardware w/o hard drive works (minimum RAM requirements make ancient H/W difficult).Solid, safe, and very stable O/S.Cons:CD burner slow.On Ver6.7.1 some JAVA app's don't behave very well.Not all web videos, "Flash," or videos will run.No planned updates to make "Flash" run because of licensing issues.Can be difficult for a novice to configure and use browser the first time.Puredyne:Latest stable version: 9.11 (carrot and coriander) on CD/DVD/USB (as of 2010-03-26)"Puredyne is developed for artists, by artists. It's used for live music, installation art, hardware hacking, teaching, and more."Based on Ubuntu and Debian Live.Pros:USB stick installation.Fast, minimal package.Targeted to electronic, audio, visual artists.Optimized for use in realtime audio and video processing.Low latency kernel.Runs Pure Data, Supercollider, Icecast, Csound, Fluxus, Processing, Arduino, more.List of available S/W is extensive.Cons:Not meant for typical internet browser user.Musix:Latest stable version: 2.1 for USB (as of 2010-04-27)2.0 for CD and DVD (2009-11-28)"One CD and you have it all: office applications, net, graphics, programing, midi, audio"Pros:Heavily geared to musicians and performers.Lots of audio and music software included.Multiple languages supported: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, English.Cons:Not Debian based: "A different approach: a didactic O/S"Primarily Spanish language development; English secondary consideration.Not all site URL's currently stable; may be gone soon.
tismark Posted June 6, 2016 Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) Zorin 10 emulates Windows 2000, XP, 7, Mac OS X, Unity (Ubuntu), or Linux (Gnome 2) you choose your flavor! Free version to try or use, paid version (about $15) comes with installation support if needed. Lots of included software that works very well! Works with Microsoft Office 97 to 2013, simply save documents in the flavor of your choice to be compatible. Easy to install from DVD or USB. Easy to manipulate screen background and behavior of hiding bars of icons, etc. Easy to change security and firewall settings. XP mode works more like XP was supposed to work without the blue screen of death! Security updates come by notification. Software updates happen all at once when software is updated. You choose when to install. Updates come every few weeks or every few months. Everything works including installing to Raid 1 and running for over a year! Simply because that is the way I wanted it with a multi-boot PC XP, Zorin 9 Lite, Zorin 9 Ultimate, Zorin 10 Ultimate. Be aware of how you choose to download if you choose the Ultimate version, One requires a paid selection of privately written and supported drivers (about $35) which is completely legal instead of risking any possible patent infringement. Well worth the money in my opinion. Or use it without the paid drivers and most things work anyway (can be added later). Edited June 6, 2016 by tismark
Wunderbar98 Posted July 16, 2020 Posted July 16, 2020 Recommend checking out https://distrowatch.com/. There are hundreds of distributions. Something more popular likely has better documentation and forum assistance. Personally Devuan, older Debian (Wheezy), Tiny Core Linux and occasionally Puppy Linux. All of these are able to run lean and support a variety of hardware, even 20 year old stuff. To keep things lean use a window manager instead of a full-blown desktop environment. Favourite Window Managers are Openbox and Fluxbox. Window Mananagers that look like more traditional Windows include IceWM and Joe's Window Manager. A decent more traditional desktop environment is Xfce.
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