Another which distro question

[subnet_rx]

I'm giving up on Debian. The software that comes with potato is just too outdated for my hardware. Now, I'm looking for other suggestions. I don't really like Mandrake either, b/c it just looks like Windows too much for me. I installed it on my wife's computer, but I'd like something that's a bit more utilitarian.

Red Hat looks nice although I've heard bad and good. Slackware sounds like an updated Debian, but without apt, which scares me, but I might get used to it. And SuSe iso's are demo's, so that's out. I plan to buy or contribute to the distribution, but I need to get the OS setup now.

[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: subnet_rx ]

[MandK_10]

In following with the standard response to this on this forum...
:cool: Slackware :cool: .

Now let me explain. You will get much of the hands on and dig-a-little-deeper to get this working kinds of stuff in Slack that you do in Debian. The difference is Slackware 8.0 has the 2.4.5 kernel and more updated software.

The other option, if you still have Debian on the machine is to update the software. I am by no means a Debian expert, but I do know that Debian can be updated quite easily. I am sure that somebody else will chime in here to tell you all about it (they are the ones that don't want you using Slack :) )

Hope this is helpfull to you.

Mike

[bdg1983]

Just what I was going to say.

You can change/upgrade just about anything on any distro. It just takes a little bit of effort.

[slacker_x]

I run the "unstable" branch of debian

sounds kind of scary, but if you check out the irc channel before doing updates, it's unlikely that you will get a package that screws up your machine. You really can't get much more up to date.

I agree with what you said about potato though.

[subnet_rx]

well, the problem is, I can't get to the ftp site to update anything.

How is Slack to update?

And does anyone have any experience with FreeBSD?

[PimpHolic]

i have experience with slack, heck im on it right now and its pretty good. i really like the fact that i am in control of my computer and having to install the hardware myself, however i dislike how i am basiaclly forced to use 800x600 (hate virtual desktop) but i think im gonna give debian a try but i would say try slack, cause u cant find the distro thats right for you if you dont try em' :D

[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: PimpHolic ]

[subnet_rx]

well, I'm downloading RH right now. I guess if it has a command line, it's about the same as slack. But I need newbie utilities for stuff I can't solve also. The only one I came up with besides Mandrake was Red Hat.

[nextbillgates]

Why don't you just grab the source and compile it yourself? Even if a distro has outdated packages (Slackware isn't out of date, but the amount of software it offers is small), you can install pretty much every application that you can get for Linux yourself. I would actually do this anyway, as pre-compiled binaries in distro packages tend to be unoptimized in favor of better compatibilty.

[Nalle]

Now to choose distro, you not only need to know how difficult it is to set up.
you also need to consider what you want it for.

In "Sair Linux and GNU Certification, Level I, Installation and configuration", it says:

<<
Slackware is known for its stability; which is drawn from its base in the old BSD style of init. This init system remains the same as the original Unix init system produced by AT&T and Bell Laboratories. Using the BSD init system, Slackware is fulfilling its misssion "to create the most Unix-like Linux distribution.
Slackware is one of the most popular Linux distributions. Slackware includes support for all the latest software, including desktop enviroments, window managers, servers, and networking utilities/applications. Slackware is also available as ZipSlack, a complete, text-based Linux system packaged in, approximatley, a 40 megabyte zip archive. ZipSlack boots on machines with four megabytes of RAM and it will fit on a zip disk, so users can carry a personalized Linux system at all times. For more information, visit http//slackware.com.
>>

Now I want to learn Linux _and_ all other kind of *NIX, so one that is much alike Unix (as freeBSD also is) suits me perfectly.

I pay for this by having to plunge into the configurationfiles from get-go. Frustrating at times, but I learn Linux - I really do!

Other distros (like Mandrake, SuSE & RedHat, I think) uses System V init that is quite different.


</nalle>

[Mr.Shifty]

:)LFS :)

[mstich]

Just because some of your hardware doesn't work from the start, doesn't mean that you should give up!

Install whatever you want (even if it's outdated), and then grab the newest kernel. And there lie the support for some newer hardware (sound cards, dri, nics, etc.)

[subnet_rx]

yeah, I got Red Hat, it picked up everything, even my DVD decoder card. Sound is working perfectly, video is great. Now on to the continuing problem....internet connection.