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Sign up with GoogleSo i downloaded OpenSuse 11.2 and Linuxmint 8....
- Thread starter LinuxMan
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Sapphiron
Expert Member
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- Jan 29, 2004
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- 3,808
Linux Mint gets my vote.
Its one of the few Linux OS's I can install and not have to spend 2 days installing codecs, flash and other minor tweaks. Since its basically Ubuntu with some interface tweaks, most of the documentation and community advice for Ubuntu, applies to it as well. The linux mint 8 live CD is a essential part of my CD pack I carry around with me.
I dont really see the benefit of OpenSUSE or any RPM based distro anymore. Apart from the fact that some server apps, are only supported on OpenSUSE or red hat. Those dinosaurs are slowly coming round to recognizing that Ubuntu based Distros are taking over the market.
Its one of the few Linux OS's I can install and not have to spend 2 days installing codecs, flash and other minor tweaks. Since its basically Ubuntu with some interface tweaks, most of the documentation and community advice for Ubuntu, applies to it as well. The linux mint 8 live CD is a essential part of my CD pack I carry around with me.
I dont really see the benefit of OpenSUSE or any RPM based distro anymore. Apart from the fact that some server apps, are only supported on OpenSUSE or red hat. Those dinosaurs are slowly coming round to recognizing that Ubuntu based Distros are taking over the market.
Mint makes a nice replacement desktop. If you can't afford Windows 7, it's an okay alternative as long as you don't want to play games.
For development, web hosting, or doing anything useful, I still swear by Fedora/CentOS. Red Hat's main strengths are its stability and security. But I admit that isn't really top of the wishlist when all you want to do is surf the web and play MP3s.
For development, web hosting, or doing anything useful, I still swear by Fedora/CentOS. Red Hat's main strengths are its stability and security. But I admit that isn't really top of the wishlist when all you want to do is surf the web and play MP3s.
K
kingrob
Guest
I was using CentOS on my work pc, until I wanted to play a few mp3s that I have copied to my home folder. Or try to install Google Chrome, cos I just like it more than Firefox.
So, long story short, Ubuntu 9.10 is now running on my work pc and I'm as happy as can be. There's also a Fedora 12 DVD floating around, but local is lekker.
I tried openSUSE 11.2 in Vbox and had a nice install. Then added some repositories, Packman etc. that was also passable. But the package management is Stone Age and difficult for me to understand.
For instance to get the Guest Additions in Vbox is terrible. There is no dkms package, one needs to install kernel-syms and kernel-source packages (ensuring that they match the kernel of course ..uname -a)
I tried this in Software Manager via Yast>Available. However once I had them selected for install and clicked Apply, I had to abort because Yast SM. wanted to install all the new packages from the added repositories - nearly 1 GB. So I tried Add/Remove Software, selected the kernel-syms package corresponding to the kernel (there were dependencies), and clicked Apply. After about 400MB I aborted that as well.
None of this nonsense with CentOS which is also much faster, and of course Ubuntu rules as regards package management.
I know that openSUSE is for intermediate users, so maybe I have not 'ripened' enough to use it properly.
My conclusion, nothing special, unintuitive package manager. Not good for me as I need to actually use a distro for my daily tasks rather than wondering how and why to accomplish tasks.
For instance to get the Guest Additions in Vbox is terrible. There is no dkms package, one needs to install kernel-syms and kernel-source packages (ensuring that they match the kernel of course ..uname -a)
I tried this in Software Manager via Yast>Available. However once I had them selected for install and clicked Apply, I had to abort because Yast SM. wanted to install all the new packages from the added repositories - nearly 1 GB. So I tried Add/Remove Software, selected the kernel-syms package corresponding to the kernel (there were dependencies), and clicked Apply. After about 400MB I aborted that as well.
None of this nonsense with CentOS which is also much faster, and of course Ubuntu rules as regards package management.
I know that openSUSE is for intermediate users, so maybe I have not 'ripened' enough to use it properly.
My conclusion, nothing special, unintuitive package manager. Not good for me as I need to actually use a distro for my daily tasks rather than wondering how and why to accomplish tasks.
ponder
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2005
- Messages
- 92,823
...but local is lekker.
What's local about it?
K
kingrob
Guest
I was using CentOS on my work pc, until I wanted to play a few mp3s that I have copied to my home folder. Or try to install Google Chrome, cos I just like it more than Firefox.
So, long story short, Ubuntu 9.10 is now running on my work pc and I'm as happy as can be. There's also a Fedora 12 DVD floating around, but local is lekker.
Don't know about CentOS, but in Fedora you just add an extra repo and you can MP3 it up to your heart's content. The Personal Fedora installation guides are often a great help here:
http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-f12.html
I prefer it when things "just work", but on the other hand the extra bit of configuration you have to do to get Fedora to behave "normally" is a great way to get to know the system. (That's why you use Linux in the first place.)
The only thing I haven't managed to get it to do is run Picasa in 64-bit mode.
Smiley_lauf
Expert Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,872
Hi there,
for reasons mentioned above--if you are just trying out the distro's then, by all means test each on eof them; test them for things you do routinely, like browser, office, and playing prop music. Linux Mint (ala Ubuntu) will be the easiest to configure and be on your way. So for beginners, Ubuntu/Mint highly recommended. Hardware support is excellent in Ubuntu (at least for the main things like graphics cards and sound). Suse requires a lot of getting used to and hacking to make things work--this has been my experience. Mint/Ubuntu community support is unmatched!
for reasons mentioned above--if you are just trying out the distro's then, by all means test each on eof them; test them for things you do routinely, like browser, office, and playing prop music. Linux Mint (ala Ubuntu) will be the easiest to configure and be on your way. So for beginners, Ubuntu/Mint highly recommended. Hardware support is excellent in Ubuntu (at least for the main things like graphics cards and sound). Suse requires a lot of getting used to and hacking to make things work--this has been my experience. Mint/Ubuntu community support is unmatched!
Smiley_lauf
Expert Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,872
Hey, do not go rejoicing yet; there are a few apps that you may need to run in Windows. So just keep a copy of the Windows around (partition) just in case. All the best!