Which Linux Distro do You Use?

DerHoggz · #1 12-23-2011, 09:15 AM

I've been using Ubuntu for a couple of years, but 11.10 is simply unbearable. What distro do you like? I would like to stick with the classic gnome interface, or something like it.

tsverrir · #2 12-23-2011, 09:46 AM

I use Ubuntu server. Never got the hang of any of the Linux gui's

Hugh9191 · #3 12-23-2011, 03:38 PM

All the Gnome distros are moving towards Gnome Shell. After using Gnome Shell for a while I got used to it. Personally I like Ubuntu 11.10 with Shell. I found Unity on 11.10 to be really buggy.

If you can't stand shell though I'd look at either Xubuntu (XFCE) or Kubuntu (KDE4).

UnsungZeros · #4 12-23-2011, 06:05 PM

I've used Ubuntu in the past, but I also can't stand their interface changes. I've just tried out the Linux Mint live CD and am quite pleased with it, so I think I might install it.

jabsys · #5 12-23-2011, 07:27 PM

I'm still using Debian Sid & Fluxbox, I like getting the constant updates and despite the name I've found it mostly stable over the years.

projectMalamute · #6 12-23-2011, 07:53 PM

I used Debian going back to Woody and am now on Ubuntu. started with 11.04 and am now on 11.10.

It's fine. Everything pretty much just works. You can make the Desktop do silly things with pretty much any graphics card you'll find at a Best Buy. It's less clunky than Windows. I get acceptable if not mind blowing stability and latency for real time audio. It has BASH and EMACS. I have no problem getting stuff done with it.

If I need a crash proof machine for super low latency audio again I'll go back to Debian and build a bunch of stuff myself.

projectMalamute · #7 12-23-2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabsys

I'm still using Debian Sid & Fluxbox, I like getting the constant updates and despite the name I've found it mostly stable over the years.

They work with a different set of expectations over at Debian. Sid is at least as stable as the release versions of pretty much any other distro.

DerHoggz · #8 12-23-2011, 09:12 PM

It isn't necessarily the interface that is the problem, as I have gnome-fallback running. Every time I plug my headphones in I have to go into alsamixer and manually raise the speaker volume in order to hear anything. I also don't pick up wi-fi signals where my Windows partition does.

Kwesi · #9 12-23-2011, 09:15 PM

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

Atoz · #10 12-23-2011, 09:19 PM

I can't decide which distro to use, so the laptop I'm using now triple boots with either Kororaa 16 (Fedora-based KDE) , Crunchbang 10 (Debian-based Openbox or XFCE), or Mint 11 (Ubuntu-based GNOME). All my home folders are symlinked to a common /data partition so I can access my stuff regardless of which distro I'm in, or if I decide to replace a current distro.

DerHoggz · #11 12-23-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

Not me, I just like it. If I need to do AutoCAD I boot into Windows. I really don't use my laptop for much heavy stuff, but it has an i7 and 4GB RAM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

I can't decide which distro to use, so the laptop I'm using now triple boots with either Kororaa 16 (Fedora-based KDE) , Crunchbang 10 (Debian-based Openbox or XFCE), or Mint 11 (Ubuntu-based GNOME). All my home folders are symlinked to a common /data partition so I can access my stuff regardless of which distro I'm in, or if I decide to replace a current distro.

I was going to try something like that, but never found another suitable distro.

Does anyone know of a good lightweight distro to conserve battery life? Maybe do a dual-boot depending on conditions.

UnsungZeros · #12 12-23-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

I think the main reason for me is customization. There are many different 'distros' or "flavors" of Linux and a 1,000,001 ways to customize it to your exact liking. Other than that, Linux offers higher degrees of stability and security, although I suppose this point is debatable.

At the end of the day though, it's just another operating system and you can accomplish mostly all of your standard tasks in any operating system you choose.

jp58 · #13 12-24-2011, 01:38 AM

I have Mint 11 on mine right now.

Kwesi: For me, it has a lot to do with pricing, things available out of the box, and what I use my computer for. I only use it to surf, do schoolwork, and emails. So for me, the hassles of viruses, Windows crashing, and Windows eating up too much memory compared to how reliable my distro's have been is the main reason.

bassist11 · #14 12-24-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

OSX is based on Linux as well, or more specifically Unix. But for all intents and purposes of this discussion, Linux distros and OSX are more or less based on the same thing.

So that sort of boils your question down to what advantage does a Linux system have over Windows? Stability is probably the biggest advantage. Linux distros are free. Customizability (not even a word but whatever). A number of things really.

I personally hate Windows OS for one major reason: it's always notifying you of stupid stuff like "your desktop needs cleanup" or "your wireless local network connection isn't active". The first 5 minutes of booting up a Windows OS is spent clicking away little bubbles and pop-ups. Grrr..... Plus its a buggy little OS anyways..

None of it really boils down to programming for the average user. Linux distros are generally more open to that sort of thing though.

jabsys · #15 12-24-2011, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

For me you'd be mostly right, my desktop is linux because I find it much better environment for development plus I tend to tinker with stuff a lot more than Windows or OS X allows.

I compromised when it came to buying a laptop and went with a macbook, most of the development tools I use on linux but without the hassle of running linux on a laptop.

fingerbun · #16 12-24-2011, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question but why do you guys use Linux? What advantages does it have over Windows or OSX? Would I be wrong in my assumption that they're mostly centered around programming?

Hi Kwesi,

Just a warning, your question is as polarising to some people as "Why would anyone own a precision with flats?".

So, my opinion.

You should start with the applications you want to use, unless you want to mess with the operating system itself.

Windows has the most applications.
OSX has good applications and some things you can only get on a Mac (GarageBand and Logic for a start).
Linux has a lot of stuff that is useful and free. So you get to try things you wouldn't try on Windows or Mac because of price. I would never have bought Photoshop, but I have fun with GIMP. I would never have bought desktop publishing but Scribus is free. Etc.

As for the OS itself, I think Windows is really bloated and messy, and Microsoft's usability is way down. When I first tried Linux, the Gnome interface on Ubuntu struck me as simpler and cleaner. Mac is cleaner too and less buggy than Linux IMO.

So I am happy using either OSX or Linux. I also use Windows on my work machine, and it's no big deal, but not my choice.

Finally some people believe in the ideology of open source as a way to break free of corporate clutches of Microsoft and Apple.

I didn't touch on your programming point but you are right, for someone who likes to 'roll their own' you can do a lot with Linux.

Kwesi · #17 12-24-2011, 06:29 AM

Well color me surprised! I actually didn't think that "casual" Linux users existed, haha. I'm an OSX guy myself primarily because I dig the interface and ease of use (the multi-touch pad is the sexiest piece of tech ever). I love the open source idea but for what I do (light video editing, music creation, photography) it was just easier for me to go with a commercially supported option. Maybe I'll open a new partition and get Linux a shot...

Tegzsa · #18 12-24-2011, 07:01 AM

I'm still on Ubuntu Lucid 10.04, and I don't intend to update to a later version as I have it running just how I need it.

If I get another desktop I might swap to a newer version (still not sure about Gnome 3 and Unity). I may even try a Hackintosh.

DerHoggz · #19 12-24-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegzsa

I'm still on Ubuntu Lucid 10.04, and I don't intend to update to a later version as I have it running just how I need it.

If I get another desktop I might swap to a newer version (still not sure about Gnome 3 and Unity). I may even try a Hackintosh.

I was thinking about just downgrading to 11.04, as that worked perfectly, but I think I would rather go with something I like, and still get updates.

fingerbun · #20 12-24-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Well color me surprised! I actually didn't think that "casual" Linux users existed, haha. I'm an OSX guy myself primarily because I dig the interface and ease of use (the multi-touch pad is the sexiest piece of tech ever). I love the open source idea but for what I do (light video editing, music creation, photography) it was just easier for me to go with a commercially supported option. Maybe I'll open a new partition and get Linux a shot...

Unless you want to get into the nuts and bolts of the OS it is a step back from Mac in those areas.

Some guys have the perspective that you can tune Linux much better for your hardware and get great latency. I just have the perspective that I didn't have to