Whats your favorite Flavor of Linux??

[GraemeP]

Tell us whats your favorite distro of linux and why. so far i have found CentOS to be very stable for a server OS altho i don't run any with Gui's, also its very much like Redhat therefore there is alot of support out there for it. Does anyone use linux for there desktop machine? I use win XP for mine

 

[darren1270]

I am currently dual booting Ubuntu and XP Pro on my main desktop. I have used several distros and found that Ubuntu is a very nice change to windows add the ease of use along with the regular updates meaning the "New versions" I have to say I like it alot. I have to keep windows for my main desktop due to quickbooks being on it and the fiance using it sometimes but she will use ubuntu once in a while.

Darren

 

[GraemeP]

I have not looked into it but will quicken not work with CrossOver and Ubuntu? Someone maybe able to answer this.

 

[gunslinger]

I have played around with Fadora and Ubuntu off and on for years but have never made linux my primary OS and most likely wont anytime soon. It just takes too much of my time to make it work like I think it should and I never could get linux to be as responsive as windows on any machine I have tried it on. I'm not saying it can't be, i'm just saying that I don't have unlimited time to tweak it, and I feel no need to use it as long as XP works for me.

 

[NWPhotog]

I have a Simply Mepis box I have just loaded. I have it on a KVM with my main desktop so I can switch back and forth. Very easy install and nice graphics!

 

[Fred_G]

I have tried a few distros, Ubuntu seems to be the best one for me. I used to dual boot Ubuntu/WinXP on my laptop until the hard drive died. I need to setup a 'nix on it again.

E

 

[Kyrus]

I play around with Ubuntu and Suse, not sure which one is my favorite, both picked up all my cards. There both fairly user friendly, but any version is going to require some tweaking to get games etc working, but that is the fun of Linux..

 

[greggh]

It really depends on the situation. I have been a linux user/administrator/programmer for over a decade now. For normal desktop use I have switched to ubuntu, it is great for that. For high end really optimized servers with lots of load but no real graphical administration needed I go with gentoo. For servers on networks with domain controllers running on windows 2000 or 2003, where the server needs to join the domain (and really work seamlessly in the domain,) I go with Suse. For high end enterprise servers that require good support contracts, long term security support, and an abundance of commercial software/support packages from 3rd parties I go with red hat enterprise linux. I am not a big red hat fan when it comes to anything I do personally, but for the situation I just mentioned they are really the only good choice for big enterprises. Next up you have your small business trying to be a big business who cant afford the good support contracts and RHEL but still want the compatibility, for those its CentOS.

 

[GraemeP]

Greggh, that would be why i have gone with CentOS, Don't have unlimited money and need to save where ever possible, I don't use linux for my personal machines but use it on all my servers.

 

[Bryce W]

CentOS and Redhat for server enviroments because they are stable and there is tons of documentation based on them.

Ubuntu for the desktop enviroment because im a Linux wuss and it makes things easy for me

 

[greggh]

Greggh, that would be why i have gone with CentOS, Don't have unlimited money and need to save where ever possible, I don't use linux for my personal machines but use it on all my servers.

CentOS makes a solid server. But if you want real control over things, low level control, it wont cut it. I have a CentOS server at work, because one of the products we use requires CentOS or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. I actually like how easily the server runs. But if I want to run something really optimized that needs speed and power I do that on the gentoo server.

 

[GraemeP]

Great ill give gentoo a go. Would i be able to run an asterisks setup on gentoo? and web servers with cpanel?

 

[greggh]

Of course its just more work. You do more work, more configuration, less (or no) graphical interface stuff. But in the end you have a faster, more optimized system. Depends on how much you need your hand held by configuration tools. If you are comfortable compiling applications and configuring them from /etc/ configuration files, then gentoo is definately worth a shot.

 

[GraemeP]

Ill set up a server with geentoo and see how i go before using it on a live system.

 

[Holzster]

I use Ubuntu (with the Enlightenment Windows manager). for my Desktop.

I use Debian for my Server 1

I use Ubuntu Server for Server 2

(notice a Apt-Get theme here?)

I also use Puppy Linux for old machines (200-600 MHz)

I use IPCop for my Firewall/Router

I put DDWRT of Linksys xxxWRT routers to take a $50 router & and turn it into a $300 router!!

Wife's machine is from www.koolu.com with Ubuntu on it (very small, silent, & low power PC)

I am currently playing with the Linux Terminal Project - http://www.ltsp.org/ to take old 500 MHz machines & hooking them up to a low budget server (or high end desktop).

As you can tell I like Linux!!

 

[GraemeP]

I have had a little play with ltsp and so far have found it to be very good. Booting low power machines over the LAN.

 

[Holzster]

that is why I got my wife the Koolu PC's so I could test it - although I got her one with a HHD - I will get some with the flash based HHD to save more power & heat. Plus they are cheaper.

Holzster

 

[Stu]

I only recently began tinkering with Linux, namely Fedora 8. I'm using it to host a website. Pros: it's free, stable and will pretty much run on any old box. Cons: Very fussy installation media, not very helpful when something goes wrong, in which you case you need CLI knowledge of Linux. I also find that the people who frequent the Linux help forums are sometimes quite snotty when you ask basic questions.

I have also setup and used Smoothwall firewalls in the past, they worked great but are a getting a little obsolete these days, what with built-in router firewalls.

 

[gunslinger]

Yeah, Linux is is really a geek toy, its not a prime time OS even if Dell thinks it can be. As I have said before, Linux is for two types of people: those who only want a computer to get online and check email and the true geeks that live in linux. As for the rest or the 90% or so of people, they will be beter off with Windows or OS x.

 

[greggh]

Linux is a prime time os, has been for a bit. I think I really began to believe it when you could buy linux based pc's from walmart.

Stu:
As for your install issues with Fedora, it is a decent little distro, but not many good linux people (oldschoolers and programmers) actually want anything to do with redhat or redhat based distributions. Back to the problems though, Fedora is really meant for people who already know linux, but want an easy desktop. It isnt meant for new users. For them there are systems like Ubuntu, PC-Linux, SimplyMEPIS, and so on.