Topic: Which Linux distribution (if any) is right for you?

[Mr_Tricorder]

Here's a nice little quiz I found that is designed to help you determine what Linux distributions would be most suited to your current needs and competence level with Linux.  For anyone who is thinking about playing around with Linux, but hasn't gotten around to it yet or is confused by the hundreds of different Linux distributions out there, I suggest you give this a try.  http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

[Bonk]

Redhat/Fedora is evil. Nor is it Linux.

edit - my results:
1) Slackware
2) Gentoo

[Nemesis]

My results:

Kubuntu (I have the DVD download and plan to test it when I get the chance)
Debian (Played with it in the past and may again)
SUSE (currently using it)

[Javora]

I ended up with the following:

1.  Linspire.
2.  MEPIS.
3.  Xandros.
4.  SuSE.

Of the bunch only the MEPIS description really held my attention.  Even without the lack of game support I wouldn't even consider a Linux only setup right now.  Between the kids watching movies on the PC and not being able to run Office on Linux is a deal breaker for me.  However if I ever decide to experiment with Linux in the future (something I've been thinking about) MEPIS would be my first choice.  And that is what makes this test worth while for me, thanks for posting the link Mr T.

[Nemesis]

I ended up with the following:

1.  Linspire.
2.  MEPIS.
3.  Xandros.
4.  SuSE.

Of the bunch only the MEPIS description really held my attention.  Even without the lack of game support I wouldn't even consider a Linux only setup right now.  Between the kids watching movies on the PC and not being able to run Office on Linux is a deal breaker for me.  However if I ever decide to experiment with Linux in the future (something I've been thinking about) MEPIS would be my first choice.  And that is what makes this test worth while for me, thanks for posting the link Mr T.

Taking them in reverse order:

4/ SUSE - I'm using it myself and I like it and I am far from being expert with Linux.

3/ Xandros - Derived from Corel Linux which is derived from Debian.  Corel Linux is where I started and it seemed then to be going in the right direction for me.   Debian is also the core from which numerous other distributions derive which should tell you good things.

2/Mepis - Excellent reputation for hardware handling makes it a good choice for a new user.  Also Debian derived.

1/ Linspire - Defaults to running you as root.  The CEO does not understand why that is a bad idea.  Running as root is equivalent to running as admin in Windows which people have criticzied Microsoft for (and which they are beginning to get past).  So I would suggest avoiding this one.

Mepis or Ubuntu (or Kubuntu if you prefer KDE to Gnome) are all reputed to be excellent intros for the novice.  All allow you to work from the CD without installing and are therefore good to learn from if you don't have a PC that you can (or are willing to) convert to Linux.  If using a LiveCD version of Linux on a windows machine it is useful to keep a FAT32 partition as Linux can read and write to it without issue and you can save anything you create with Linux on the Windows drive.

Try Open Office (freely) available on Windows as well as Linux.  Version 2.01 was recently released.

You might want to try Portable Office if you don't want to install Open Office as Portable Office is Open Office reconfigured to run off of portable media such as USB Keys.

[Mr_Tricorder]

When I tried the quiz, it put Debian at the top of the list, which I was already considering trying out and am in the process of downloading.  I have been using SUSE Linux (which came in fourth on my list), but it takes way too long to start up on my computer (longer than any other distro I've tried, including live CDs) and I found out that I don't like messing with RPMs.  In most cases, it seems better to install new software packages from source than mess with trying to find the right RPM.  I had some trouble with YaST also.  Other than that, I absolutely loved it and really enjoy using it.  I tried ubuntu and kubuntu (live CD versions), which came in 3rd and 2nd respectively, but they just didn't feel right for me.  I prefer KDE to Gnome and kubuntu seemed to come with fewer apps than ubuntu.

I first tried out Xandros, which is debian-based.  It's by far the easiest for a Windows user with no prior Linux knowlege to use, but the free version had some limitations.  It uses its own version of KDE which has been modified to more closely mimic Windows.  It worked really well and I didn't have any real problems with it (except for my sound, but I have had that problem with every distro I've installed and most of the live CDs I've tried since I have a sound card and integrated sound on my motherboard).

Mepis is one of the best Live CD versions that I've seen, especially since it is also meant to also be an install CD, which makes it a great way to introduce someone to Linux.  You can use Mepis as a Live CD and, once you're comfortable with it, you can install that very same distro to the hard drive without any trouble.  As far as Live CD distros that are meant to be used as live CDs and not really installed, I prefer Slax, since you can easily download programs in "modules", add them to a Slax CD image, and then burn your own custom Slax Live CD.  It also tends to run very smoothly, which is a big deal since live CD distros run from an optical drive, which is much slower than running the OS from the hard drive.

Javora, the only real limiting factor you've listed is games.  Open Office works just as well, if not better than MS Office and is compatible with all MS Office files.  I've watched movies on Linux without any problems (as long as you install the proper codecs, which isn't difficult at all).  There are several good video players available for Linux.  For games, you can use Cedega, wich is based on Wine and compatible with a large number of games.  Unfortunately, it isn't free and I haven't tried it for myself, so I can't vouch for its usefullness.  My advice would be to burn a Mepis CD and try it out.  I think you'll like what it has to offer.

[Sirgod]

Gave me four results...

Suse
Ubuntu
Mandriva
Kubuntu

Stephen

[Mr_Tricorder]

If you want to find out more about the distros listed in your results, head over to http://distrowatch.com/ and look them up.

[Javora]

You know what I really find interesting here is that everyone that has taken the test so far has had fairly different results.  My goal (not likely to happen with everything going on at home) is to experiment with some type of dual boot setup in about six months.  I have been doing some studying on needs of elderly families, and the expense vs. capabilities of low end systems.  I really think there is some money to be made in this type of niche market.  Linux would have to be a big factor in that type of market.  Weather or not it is something I will do I have no idea, but it sure has had me thinking over the last few months.  Aside from that I have no real use for Linux right now, not without the game support.  I'm just not going to put myself through the hassle of switching the operating system over when it does not do everything I need it to do, or in case of games, want it to do.

The test was a real eye opener though, it is these types of things that make the Internet really worth while.

[KBF-Kurok]

not knowing a thing about  Linux  but wanting to try it out for some time  i took the test and this is what i got.
1.Ubuntu
2.Kubuntu
3.SuSe
 SuSe is the only one I have heard if. Any one have any experience with the others?

[Mr_Tricorder]

Ubuntu and Kubuntu are accually the same.  The difference is that Ubuntu uses Gnome and Kubuntu uses KDE, which are the two most popular Linux desktop environments.  Personally, I prefer KDE.  I think it looks better and it looks and works very similar to Windows.  You can get any of the three distros you listed for free from their respective websites and they each have live CD versions, so you can try them out without having to install anything on you computer.  Also, you can order a copy of Ubuntu and they will mail it to you (complete with box and manual) absolutely free of charge.

[KBF-Kurok]

ive been messing with Ubuntu's live cd version just dl and burned it and i must say im impressed with it. I comes with a bunch of nice stuff openofficegimp and firefox to name just a couple of things. I might just have to get a bigger  hard drive and play with it more. I think ill try Kubuntu next and see what the differences are.

[Mr_Tricorder]

Ubuntu and Kubuntu are actually pretty lite compared to other major distros.  If you can burn DVDs, I would recommend trying out SUSE or Knoppix live DVDs.

[prometheus]

1/ Linspire - Defaults to running you as root.  The CEO does not understand why that is a bad idea.  Running as root is equivalent to running as admin in Windows which people have criticzied Microsoft for (and which they are beginning to get past).  So I would suggest avoiding this one.

I would never consider using an OS that did not give me root priveleges...

[Darth Sidious]

Perfect Match:  Mandriva (oddly enough, i used Mandrake for a while a couple years ago)

Other Matches:

Debian
Fedora
SuSe

WHEN i go to linux on my main PC (could be a while); it'd probably be Debian.  For goof/play machine, Mandriva; or random distros till i find one i like more

[Mr_Tricorder]

I installed Mandriva on a friend's computer for her a while ago, but I didn't really care for it myself when I was working with it.  Of the RPM-based distros I've seen, I prefer SUSE.

[SideSwipe9th]

the main problem im havin with tryin to choose a linux distro is one that supports or has drivers available for my usb wireless adapter, it recommended that i use knoppix, which i know doesnt support it, along with ubuntu and gubuntu, both of which also dont support it

after changing my answers i got the following

PCLinuxOS
SuSE
Mandariva

and at a pinch

Fedora

so im wondering, which of these would support my wireless adapter, for those of you in the uk its the one that comes with the wanadoo livebox although i do have a working spare that uses a XyDias wireless manager on windows.

[Mr_Tricorder]

I wouldn't have any idea since I've never used anything wireless on my computer, but I would recommend you download the SUSE Live DVD and see if it will detect your adapter.

[Nemesis]

1/ Linspire - Defaults to running you as root.  The CEO does not understand why that is a bad idea.  Running as root is equivalent to running as admin in Windows which people have criticzied Microsoft for (and which they are beginning to get past).  So I would suggest avoiding this one.

I would never consider using an OS that did not give me root priveleges...

Linspire has you running as root all the time.  To make it worse Linspire is aimed at new users who don't know any better.

For my own system I demand the ablity to run as root when I need to.  However running it as root all the time just leaves your system vulnerable all the way.  All other Linux distributions that I know of let you set up various user security levels and warn you of the dangers of running as root by default.  Linspire puts you straight as root and gives you the false impression that since it is Linux it must be safe. 

I'm using SUSE and it warns you not to run as root when unneeded, but if you choose to do so anyhow it lets you. 

[prometheus]

1/ Linspire - Defaults to running you as root.  The CEO does not understand why that is a bad idea.  Running as root is equivalent to running as admin in Windows which people have criticzied Microsoft for (and which they are beginning to get past).  So I would suggest avoiding this one.

I would never consider using an OS that did not give me root priveleges...

Linspire has you running as root all the time.  To make it worse Linspire is aimed at new users who don't know any better.

For my own system I demand the ablity to run as root when I need to.  However running it as root all the time just leaves your system vulnerable all the way.  All other Linux distributions that I know of let you set up various user security levels and warn you of the dangers of running as root by default.  Linspire puts you straight as root and gives you the false impression that since it is Linux it must be safe. 

I'm using SUSE and it warns you not to run as root when unneeded, but if you choose to do so anyhow it lets you. 

I run as the administrator at all times on windows XP, and I've never had any problems...  I run real time auto updating virus protection and a firewall, and that seems to be adequate...