BleepingComputer.com: What To Try Next?

Im looking for a new Linux for my second computer many of the distros Ive tried have aggarvated me to no end (Its the little things like wiping my desktop when I reboot or losing permissions on reboot). I want 2 things
1)Easy to use
2)Easy to install (I perfer an automatic HDD partitioner)

I figured I'd ask y'all as you've actually tried some other flavors that i havent and D/l ing and burning Cds for a 2 day try is getting old

Heres what Ive tried and why i dont want to use it

Fedora/Redhat (1-6)= im growing dependant on FC and dont want to use it again
Mandrake/Mandravia= felt wrong
Ubunutu(and its kin)= wiped my desktop and my permissions on reboot
IcePack= hated installing it, not auto partitioner
FreeBSD=hated installing it, setup for GUI boot and got an unusable command line
CollegeLinux= Never got it right just aggarvating
Puppy= love it as a Live CD and its best that way
Knoppix= same as Puppy
and a few more that I cant remember

Most of these are great distros they just weren't for me

how about something slackware based? i really like vector. i would recommend this first. you might have a problem getting an internet connection. you just need to start the dhcpcd daemon if you use dhcp. openSUSE might be good also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSUSE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slackware

the new debian 4.0r0 ETCH is awesome. just released today. i've been playing with it all day. it rocks, loool. might work better than ubuntu??? worth a try.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian

for a unique desktop environment i like elive. it's debian based but the window manager is awesome imho.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elive

nice list here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of...x_distributions

here's some other distros i really like
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamlinux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNewSense
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mepis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLAG_Linux_and_GNU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCLinuxOS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foresight_Linux

here's a couple that are highly rated. i haven't tried 'em yet tho.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentoo_Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SabayonLinux

the new mandriva 2007.1 spring is pretty solid. i'm really impressed with it. it's only a rc right now so the final should be rock solid.

hope this helps.

You might take a look at this one.

Quote

I dabbled with it a bit early on, during its development. It's nice. I need to keep Windows for the hubby who is computer challenged. I'm busy with other stuff right now, so I haven't gone dual boot with Linux since installing a new hdd. But I'll probably try it again someday because eventually I'd like to switch to Linux more or less permanently, once I have another computer.

My prefered distro is Xandros.

Its similar to Linspire/Freespire, yet it feels more "professional" somehow.

The Xandros 4 free version has not been made available yet, but there is a 30 day trial of the premium version. The trial version includes its package manager, CrossOver Office, and several other applications.

Other than that. ts either Suse and its kin, or give Ubuntu another shot.

Oddly enough. While Ubuntu is my second favorite, Kubuntu ranks a lot lower... Mostly because of Adept. All of its other oddities I can adjust to, but Adept (Kubuntu 6.10) is not what I would call a pleasure to use.

For me, the Package manager is THE most important part of the distribution. My favorites being Xandros Networks, Gnome-app-install, and Synaptic.

Taken the test yet?
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php

Debian 4.0 "etch" is out. Give it a shot.

Well you mentioned how you tried mandriva, was this the latest version, because I've recently installed it and love it. If you want, i'll fetch a list of every linux distro i can think of in the next post

fairly recent (downloaded about a year ago).

I have a very long list of Unix varrients (linux and BSD) I'm just tired of downloading and burning a 4 cd set that I end up removing b/c I dont like it.

BlackSpyder, on Apr 10 2007, 08:19 PM, said:

And its not the CDs, but the time. It takes time to download the 4 ISOs, and then time to burn the discs... Then it takes time to install the distro. Then it takes time to get it configured properly, and install your favorite packages. All the while your having to learn the quirks of the distro, and its package manager, and other power tools...

That is why I stick to Debian based distributions. They are usually very similar, and all I need to know is 'apt-get install synaptic'.

Not sure if what you're looking for but have you tried DSL (now at 3.3 )or if you like "Seamonkey" DSL-N ,a bigger version of DSL. I've only used it as "Live" , they talk of a "frugal install" but I haven't tried it yet
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/dsl-n/

Monster_user, on Apr 10 2007, 11:51 PM, said:

D/l'ing a Distro isnt bad here ubuntu, and FreeBSD took me only 20 min for all 8 ISO files at once (besideds I'd spend my time on the computer anyways)

Install and setup are the killers your right. When I did FreeBSD I switched discs some 10-15 times it felt and it took all night (literally I started at 8PM went to sleep at midnight and woke up at 6 AM and it was still working)

To Noone: DSL is on my list but I'm not that good w/ froogle installs but I actually have the disc in the laptop as I type (not using it yet due to Win update)

I'm not sure how you were installing FreeBSD if you had to switch disks... I've never done that. Are you installing things from ports via CD? My total time on the last install of FreeBSD that I did was probably 30 minutes from putting the CD into the drive to rebooting it to run from the HD. now, configuring and installing all my apps and such is another story. Still in progress with that, 3 days later.

Sorry to budd into an old topic, but I am looking for a simple multimedia concentrating linux distri. I have openSuse installed at the moment and really like it, but I feel it needs "too much attention" if you wish to use it in more detail. All I really need the linux for atm (I have a fairly old lappy) is to run my mp3 songs and audio books and may be watch a dvd here and there. Internet of course once in a while, but I doubt I ll be doing much of anything else, as I have my Windows Desk for that.

I ve had a look at:

64 Studio
MovieX
GeekBox
Ubuntustudio

This one looks interesting, not sure if its what I am looking for though: http://www.ibiblio.org/onebase/onebaselinu...es/studiogo.php
Elive looks good too, but wonder again if its what I am looking for with such very basic requirements.

Have you looked at Mythbuntu? From what I hear, it's a Media Center adaptation of Ubuntu.

Hi A_A,

thanks for the reply. I think I did when researching the aforementioned other options, but seem a bit overwhelmed with the info. I dont want to do any production / editing and to be hones, I mostly just read the quick intro and look at the screenshots, because I simply spend too little time atm to get into linux. Have you got any experience with it?

I have no experience with Mythbuntu, only vanilla Ubuntu.