Under the common umbrella of the Linux operating system are a lot of specific “flavors”. Each has its own vociferous supporters. In some cases, it’s like a subset of OS Wars.
Linux users: which is YOUR favorite version of Linux and WHY?
Well, I just spent valuable time reading an Ubuntu vs Debian debate online. It’s interesting that the perception is that Ubuntu is for newbies while old-timers will stick with Debian (and some still with SUSE or Redhat). I say interesting because Bob is an old-timer!
I think their wiki page describes the reason more accurately than I ever could:
” Arch is lightweight, flexible, simple and aims to be very UNIX-like. Its design philosophy and implementation make it easy to extend and mold into whatever kind of system you’re building- from a minimalist console machine to the most grandiose and feature rich desktop environments available. Rather than tearing out unneeded and unwanted packages, Arch offers the power user the ability to build up from a minimal foundation without any defaults chosen for them. It is the user who decides what Arch Linux will be. “
Im an ubuntu user. Have tried most other distro’s, but have found ubuntu to be the best blend of able to have total control with still being easy to use. Arch’s installation was a joke, and debian wasnt bad, it was just so stripped down, I think a lot of the distro’s think that control means taking out anything not absolutely needed, and making you put it in. I agree with ubuntu’s ideal- that to put things in is helpful, and if anyone wants to control exactly what went in, theyve given you the power to take those out and put in others.
I dual boot between ubuntu 904 and win7, and LOVE my ubuntu install…
And you haven’t even mentioned the desktop environments! There is no love between KDE users and GNOME users either, LOL!
Like Bob I’m using Ubuntu, so I guess that means I’m not a true geek! I like the simplicity of GNOME, on some points it reminds me of MacOS (I’m an ex-Mac user from more than 10 years ago).
I have a latest Ubuntu on my laptop as an only OS I use (gnome desktop). It’s easy to use. Stuff is easy to install and if you ever run into trouble ubuntus supreme community usually has an answer to everything
I’m a Debian user. All the talk about Debian being hard-to-use or only for old-timers is a matter of reputation of the old installer (dating back to the days of Debian Woody).
these days, Debian is as easy to use as Ubuntu if not more.
I used Ubuntu until last year when I learned about its ACPI bug (“feature”) which damages laptop hard drives. Now I use OpenSuSE 11.1, and I also run Debian Lenny in a VM. I’ve also started to check out Mint (also in a VM) after hearing about it for awhile.
Seems most people here use Ubuntu? I use a modified, highly self-customized Ubuntu Hardy (with the repositories right on my hard drive!!). Bit unstable of all the customization, hey but at least it runs my web server, database engine, serves files over SMB, compiles all the languages I program in, plays windows games and even has a nice classic green on black gnome-terminal. After all the customization, I don’t think what distro you had before you started tinkering with it matters all that much.
However, I am yet to try other popular distros out… just don’t have the energy for it right now.
I also like Deli Linux as it allows me to make (some) use of all the old computers I have.
Linux is Linux…why fight over disorts? a little tweaks(e.g enabling root,etc) on Ubuntu will make it look and behave like Debian. I personally use Red Hat based disort.
Michael Kinyon
July 12, 2009 at 9:37 amWell, I just spent valuable time reading an Ubuntu vs Debian debate online. It’s interesting that the perception is that Ubuntu is for newbies while old-timers will stick with Debian (and some still with SUSE or Redhat). I say interesting because Bob is an old-timer!
oranges
July 12, 2009 at 9:45 amarch.
I think their wiki page describes the reason more accurately than I ever could:
” Arch is lightweight, flexible, simple and aims to be very UNIX-like. Its design philosophy and implementation make it easy to extend and mold into whatever kind of system you’re building- from a minimalist console machine to the most grandiose and feature rich desktop environments available. Rather than tearing out unneeded and unwanted packages, Arch offers the power user the ability to build up from a minimal foundation without any defaults chosen for them. It is the user who decides what Arch Linux will be. “
trinalin
July 12, 2009 at 11:08 amI’m loving Ubuntu. Have 8.04 on my Dell Mini and 9.04 on my PC (dual booted with Winders 7 so I can play World of Warcrack and City of Heroin).
jim
July 12, 2009 at 1:07 pmIm an ubuntu user. Have tried most other distro’s, but have found ubuntu to be the best blend of able to have total control with still being easy to use. Arch’s installation was a joke, and debian wasnt bad, it was just so stripped down, I think a lot of the distro’s think that control means taking out anything not absolutely needed, and making you put it in. I agree with ubuntu’s ideal- that to put things in is helpful, and if anyone wants to control exactly what went in, theyve given you the power to take those out and put in others.
I dual boot between ubuntu 904 and win7, and LOVE my ubuntu install…
oranges
July 12, 2009 at 10:43 pmReading the man (or wiki) pages helps ;)
Norm. C
July 12, 2009 at 1:11 pm“It’s like a subset of OS wars”.
And you haven’t even mentioned the desktop environments! There is no love between KDE users and GNOME users either, LOL!
Like Bob I’m using Ubuntu, so I guess that means I’m not a true geek! I like the simplicity of GNOME, on some points it reminds me of MacOS (I’m an ex-Mac user from more than 10 years ago).
jarmo
July 12, 2009 at 3:00 pmI have a latest Ubuntu on my laptop as an only OS I use (gnome desktop). It’s easy to use. Stuff is easy to install and if you ever run into trouble ubuntus supreme community usually has an answer to everything
hari
July 12, 2009 at 11:11 pmI’m a Debian user. All the talk about Debian being hard-to-use or only for old-timers is a matter of reputation of the old installer (dating back to the days of Debian Woody).
these days, Debian is as easy to use as Ubuntu if not more.
jarmo
July 13, 2009 at 6:01 amNot to forget… Ubuntu is based on Debian ;)
Sonny
July 13, 2009 at 6:05 amMy laptop has an Ubuntu sticker on it…. why ? Well, Ubuntu gives away free stickers, that’s why, sonny.
Philip M. Hofer (Frumph)
July 13, 2009 at 10:36 amI have a terminal sitting next to me with Xenix on it, so nyah.
Jason
July 15, 2009 at 12:04 pmI used Ubuntu until last year when I learned about its ACPI bug (“feature”) which damages laptop hard drives. Now I use OpenSuSE 11.1, and I also run Debian Lenny in a VM. I’ve also started to check out Mint (also in a VM) after hearing about it for awhile.
Scott
July 21, 2009 at 12:45 amUbuntu 9.04 for the present on an old P4 Smell desktop. Mac OSX is on my main desktop and two laptops.
Hannes
July 31, 2009 at 5:51 pmSeems most people here use Ubuntu? I use a modified, highly self-customized Ubuntu Hardy (with the repositories right on my hard drive!!). Bit unstable of all the customization, hey but at least it runs my web server, database engine, serves files over SMB, compiles all the languages I program in, plays windows games and even has a nice classic green on black gnome-terminal. After all the customization, I don’t think what distro you had before you started tinkering with it matters all that much.
However, I am yet to try other popular distros out… just don’t have the energy for it right now.
I also like Deli Linux as it allows me to make (some) use of all the old computers I have.
ahit
August 18, 2009 at 11:54 amLinux is Linux…why fight over disorts? a little tweaks(e.g enabling root,etc) on Ubuntu will make it look and behave like Debian. I personally use Red Hat based disort.
SEGA man
May 9, 2011 at 10:10 pmI use puppy but I hope to multi-boot to Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora.
JeanAustinR
October 23, 2011 at 3:03 amUbuntu. It’s more than just an operating system, it’s a community… like all Linux distros are.