About Linux distributions

[subnet_rx]

I was wondering which one was right for me, and I've read through various past posts and it prompted a question. Why start out with Mandrake/Red Hat and then move to Slack/Debian? Does the "easy to use" distributions not include some of the power components, or not have the functionality of Debian or what? I thought from the command line, all distributions were basically the same or could be made to do the same things.

The reason I ask, I want to install this on my wife's comp (she only uses it for mail, and browsing) but I would also like to have the command line power as well (I'm getting into programming, and learning to be a sys admin). But these posts have me thinking I won't have the functionality I need if I go with Red Hat or Mandrake.

[Dark Ninja]

...actually...I was wondering the same exact thing. What is the REAL difference between Slackware/Debian and Mandrake/Red Hat. I wouldn't think there would really be that much difference.

Dark Ninja

[debiandude]

I think that the best way to think of the difference between a Redhat distro and a debian distro is this.

Redhat gives you more so you can see less. They give you plenty of little wizards that will do the configurator for you. Meaning you can set up all the servers just like you can with anyother distro but you can do it without know what changes are really being made, without knowing what files are being changed, really without ever having to goto the command line.

With a debian/slack etc you are given all those nice graphical wizards and are forced in a way to learn how to configure the things yourself from scratch. Although debian has been getting really good becuase apt provides configuration on the commandline with most of its server like apache, sendmail, etc but they aren't as nice as redhats and they also still assume some knowledge.

Basically can get debian but for a while (especially if you have no *nix experince whatsoever) you won't be able to set anything up. However with a redhat distro almost immediatly you can have everything up an running, but you will be ignorant as to how it happened.

If you are ready to learn, seriously ready to read many howto, manuals, man pages, etc and ready for fustration I say choose debian. I did and I will never look back :-)

[subnet_rx]

this prompts other questions then. Could you do the same things on a Red Hat/Mandrake machine as the others? Or is the wizards and basic "user friendly" GUI the only thing you have?

And the next question is, what about after I buy? Who has the best as far as updates, and community support?

BTW, I am not a complete newbie, I have installed RH 5.2 and 6.1 successfully as they have come out, but as far as driver installs, and networking, I have never gotten that far. I just set them up to play. 5.2 was mostly a text based installation. The problem is, my wife will be a complete newbie.

[tallulah]

Originally posted by subnet_rx:
<STRONG>The reason I ask, I want to install this on my wife's comp (she only uses it for mail, and browsing) but I would also like to have the command line power as well (I'm getting into programming, and learning to be a sys admin).</STRONG>

If it is indeed your wife's computer (not yours) and she uses it only for email and such, you should definitely go with Mandrake. It is easier to use than Windows, in my opinion. I don't think that a non-Linux user (who may not even be interested in Linux) should be required to use Debian as an introduction to Linux. Mandrake is pretty and functional. I've done plenty with Mandrake and have never run out of ways to play with it. I have become frustrated with dependencies and am in the process of building a Debian AppleTalk/Samba server because sometimes the "Mandrake Control Center" in Mandrake can muck things up. Really though, if it is truly her computer, it should have something with which she is comfortable. If you are willing to set it up so that it always works for her and so that you will always be available to make it work for her, then Debian would be a possibility. I would hate to see people turned off to Linux because of difficulty of use with a first experience. Perhaps you could start with something like Mandrake or Red Hat and then, once she is accustomed to Linux, you could make a transition to Debian when you start feeling the limitations of Mandrake or Red Hat.

:)

[subnet_rx]

whoa....there it is again. What are these "limitations?" In their quest to make the system more user friendly, are you saying they become less powerful/customizable?

[tallulah]

Originally posted by subnet_rx:
<STRONG>whoa....there it is again. What are these "limitations?" In their quest to make the system more user friendly, are you saying they become less powerful/customizable?</STRONG>

I wouldn't not say the system becomes less powerful... trickier and more idiosyncratic perhaps. I love Mandrake; it supports tons of hardware and it works really well. There are times, however, where I have had to find workarounds to funny little things I've noticed. I use Mandrake for a work and development station, but I am migrating to Debian for filesharing and such. RPM's present the limitations to which I referred. They haven't impeded my ability to use my workstation, though... just to upgrade it.

[subnet_rx]

Well, I've been looking at Debian, the only problem that I see is that it comes with older components. What about slackware? Anyone got any experience with that? I'd like to buy a distribution so that I can support these companies. But Mandrake doesn't have anything in the $30-$45 range.

[ranger]

Originally posted by subnet_rx:
<STRONG>But Mandrake doesn't have anything in the $30-$45 range.</STRONG>

I'm a real newbie to Linux. I just installed Mandrake from a disk image my son downloaded from the Mandrake web site (for free). But, I've seen a boxed set of Mandrake with 3 CD's - same version as mine at 3 different bookstores - all for $30. They also had more sophisticated server versions of Mandrake for more. I believe one set had 8 CD's.

[subnet_rx]

yep, I just saw that. I have no idea why they don't list that at mandrake.com when other Linux sites sell it.

It is really down to Slackware and Debian. I don't see an ISO for Debian, looks like you have to download the base package at 15 megs and then download all the packages you want. Which is not something I want to do. I might just buy the cd's if I decide on Debian.

Final thoughts?

[ 16 September 2001: Message edited by: subnet_rx ]

[tallulah]

I think you can get iso's of Debian here:

http://www.linuxiso.org/ (http://www.linuxiso.org)

[teeitup]

Don't forget Progeny (Debian with training wheels)
The site is straight forward and the iso is easy to find.
http://www.progeny.com

Good Luck,

[tallulah]

Originally posted by subnet_rx:
<STRONG>I'd like to buy a distribution so that I can support these companies. But Mandrake doesn't have anything in the $30-$45 range.</STRONG>

You can get inexpensive downloadable versions on CD's. Try CheapBytes (http://www.cheapbytes.com/).