Vote for the absolute Worst Linux Distro of all time! The top Linux Distro to avoid!

[HappinessNow]

Vote for the absolute Worst Linux Distro of all time! The top Linux Distro to avoid!

I have compiled all the nominations from this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820) and here are the results:

Fedora //////// - 9
openSuse /////// - 8, Xandros /////// - 8
Debian ////// - 7
iMagicOS ///// - 6
gentoo //// - 5
PCLinuxOS /// - 4, LinSpire /// - 4, Kubuntu /// - 4
Slackware // - 3, Linux XP // - 3
Sabayon / - 2, GoblinX / - 2, Ubuntu / - 2
Dream(Nightmare)Linux - 1, Knoppix - 1, Freespire - 1, BackTrack - 1, arch - 1,
SLS Linux - 1, dyne:bolic - 1, Mepis - 1, Yoper - 1, black panther linux -1, RedHat Linux - 1

Now that we have a base of nominations we can conduct a poll for the Top Contender, the absolute Worst Linux Distro in existence!

[HappinessNow]

Vote for the absolute Worst Linux Distro of all time! The top Linux Distro to avoid!

I have compiled all the nominations from this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820) and here are the results:

Fedora //////// - 9
openSuse /////// - 8, Xandros /////// - 8
Debian ////// - 7
iMagicOS ///// - 6
gentoo //// - 5
PCLinuxOS /// - 4, LinSpire /// - 4, Kubuntu /// - 4
Slackware // - 3, Linux XP // - 3
Sabayon / - 2, GoblinX / - 2, Ubuntu / - 2
Dream(Nightmare)Linux - 1, Knoppix - 1, Freespire - 1, BackTrack - 1, arch - 1,
SLS Linux - 1, dyne:bolic - 1, Mepis - 1, Yoper - 1, black panther linux -1, RedHat Linux - 1

Now that we have a base of nominations we can conduct a poll for the Top Contender, the absolute Worst Linux Distro in existence!

My vote was for "Other" specifically: Dream(Nightmare)Linux

[inobe]

are we allowd to customize them first before voting ?

you might as well lose pclinuxos

[HappinessNow]

are we allowd to customize them first before voting ?

you might as well lose pclinuxosThe list was compiled by all members of the ubuntuforums who posted in this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820

The time to affect/change the list has passed.

PCLinuxOS is one of the top 10 worst Linux Distros of all time by Popular vote. Actually PCLinuxOS has the honor of being tied in sixth place as the 6th worst Linux Distro of all time!

[JillSwift]

Humans want to put everything in a hierarchy. This instinct is often useful; but because hierarchies are nothing more than a series of value judgments, they don't represent objective reality.

This is one of those times where a hierarchical view isn't going to be of any help to anyone. Instead, it's little more than a school playground "pick on the loser kid" style expression of troupe behavior.

I'd suggest instead listing the strengths and weaknesses of each distribution. This would better represent objective reality in a useful way: It would be a truly useful compilation of information that would help people choose a distro that fits their needs best.

Just putting that out there.

[inobe]

desktop environments should be excluded, also me must realize what os popular distros are based off.

edit: i will say what i mean' and mean what i say, some desktops :lol:

[Paqman]

PCLinuxOS is one of the top 10 worst Linux Distros of all time by Popular vote. Actually PCLinuxOS has the honor of being tied in sixth place as the 6th worst Linux Distro of all time!

I'm surprised, I found it really good.

Unless people are rating it on the issues with the devs, rather than the performance of the actual system maybe...

[HappinessNow]

I'm surprised, I found it really good.

Unless people are rating it on the issues with the devs, rather than the performance of the actual system maybe...Some are for philosophical or community reasons, like with Debian and iMagic OS...you would have to read back in the thread linked in the OP to gain a greater depth of understanding.

As all things in life this is completely subjective.

[JillSwift]

As all things in life this is completely subjective.=o.0=

[gn2]

There is no best or worst distro.

Popularity is no guarantee of quality, just look at Windows for conclusive proof of my point.

[howefield]

...looser kid...

Ill fitting attire or dodgy morals ?

[schauerlich]

Flamewar in 3...2...1...

[mrgnash]

PCLinuxOS, easily.

[KiwiNZ]

Given there is hundreds of distros past and present to decide a worst of al time with handful is pointless

[mrgnash]

Hang on a second, didn't you already create a very similar thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820) to this one, and it was moved to the Recurring Discussions subforum?

[JillSwift]

Ill fitting attire or dodgy morals ?
Iffy spelling skills. ;)

[Phreaker]

Slackware.
No dependency check in the 21st century???

[Eisenwinter]

Worst distro of all time? That's impossible to list.

Only a person who has used every single Linux distribution ever created (since 1991), can truly vote in this poll.

There are also far too many distributions around for a poll to be created anyway.

EDIT:

Also, why is Ubuntu not listed there? You're biased.

[simmeson]

I've had serious trouble with Fedora. Actually I've never managed to finish a single install. There were always something that failed. Last time I tried Fedora 11, but with no success. So for me, Fedora is the worst so far.

[XubuRoxMySox]

For me it comes down to hardware. My older brother swears by PCLinuxOS and it runs flawlessly on his computer. But when I tried it (twice - first the "full" version and a couple of months later the LXDE edition), I had network issues, printing issues, sound issues. In Ubuntu I had none! And that was before I added restricted-extras and stuff. Updates have never caused a problem I couldn't solve in a matter of minutes (including the time spent Googling for the solution).

On his hardware, PCLOS is great. On mine, Ubuntu is trouble-free, fast and flawless. PCLOS wreaked havoc with my hardware. Maybe Ubuntu would be troublesome on his computer. He hasn't tried Ubuntu. He has no need to. He loves what he's got. Same for me. So it just boils down to what works best on your hardware.

[C!oud]

There is no best or worst distro.

Popularity is no guarantee of quality, just look at Windows for conclusive proof of my point.

Agreed, except in regards to Freespire :p

[samjh]

For me, it's a coin toss between Gentoo and Slackware. Gentoo, because it seems completely pointless to have a distribution where the end-user has to compile everything. And Slackware, because in the year 2009, Linux should have progressed past the caveman stage where end-users had to do their own dependency resolution for installing and removing packages.

;)

[mozychan]

Of those who have voted iMagic OS as the worst, how many have actually tried it?

Linspire OS... Why is that even on the poll? The OS no longer exists since Michael sold the company to Xandros. One has no need to avoid a Linux that is already dead...

-moose

[Dullstar]

Commercial Linux distros are a bad idea. Linux is supposed to be free. I'm not paying to try iMagicOs.

[PurposeOfReason]

For me, it's a coin toss between Gentoo and Slackware. Gentoo, because it seems completely pointless to have a distribution where the end-user has to compile everything. And Slackware, because in the year 2009, Linux should have progressed past the caveman stage where end-users had to do their own dependency resolution for installing and removing packages.

;)
That's the point of those distos; designed for the people who enjoy that.

[andrew.46]

Hi samjh,

And Slackware, because in the year 2009, Linux should have progressed past the caveman stage where end-users had to do their own dependency resolution for installing and removing packages.

I use both Slackware and Ubuntu and I believe you have the wrong end of the stick with Slackware. Try 13.0 when it comes out in a week or 2 and I believe you will see it differently.

Andrew

[zolookas]

That was an easy choice: iMagicOS. Commercial distribution without any benefits (they don't have any exclusive feaures or provide commercial support). It is just a ripoff.

2nd place: Xandros. Modified KDE to look more like Windows and charged more for some editions including some open source applications (like Amarok). Also has a security center which says you need to buy their antivirus to be secure.

3rd place: Kubuntu. Why? Because it always lacked attention, polish and made people dislike KDE, because of distro's lack of polish. I don't believe Kubuntu is getting as much attention as it deserves.

[HappinessNow]

There is no best or worst distro.



all distros on this Poll were determined from this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820

[Grifulkin]

One thing I'm not understanding is how Linux XP is even leagal, I don't see how they can run *.exe's and on top of that make you pay for it.

[zugu]

Ubuntu Dapper was one of the worst experiences in computing for me. By the time Canonical stopped supporting it, it was literally crippled by almost 100 unpatched security vulnerabilities (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/dapper/+bugs?field.has_cve=on), not to mention large numbers of bugs. The OS was left unpatched for months, even years if you look at the date of some reports.

A truly horrendous OS that was supposed to have enterprise class support. When the time came, they just axed it. I'm sure they were happy to do it, since there was no need to have those CVE reports hanging over their head anymore.

Second place: Kubuntu in the KDE4 era.

[C!oud]

Of those who have voted iMagic OS as the worst, how many have actually tried it?

Linspire OS... Why is that even on the poll? The OS no longer exists since Michael sold the company to Xandros. One has no need to avoid a Linux that is already dead...

-moose

I thought I recognized your avatar from somewhere; one of the few people who bothers posting on the imagicos forum.

[HappinessNow]

Of those who have voted iMagic OS as the worst, how many have actually tried it?

-mooseDo you have a link to a free download for iMagicOS?...if so I would be more then happy to try it.

[oboedad55]

Do you have a link to a free download for iMagicOS?...if so I would be more then happy to try it.

Ditto. As it stands it's $30. Get out your wallet!

[mozychan]

I thought I recognized your avatar from somewhere; one of the few people who bothers posting on the imagicos forum.

Yep, I waist time there sometimes.

-moose

[mozychan]

Do you have a link to a free download for iMagicOS?...if so I would be more then happy to try it.

Um, no... Like I said in the other thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1147820), I haven't tried it myself and do not dispute that it 'may' be the worst. I'm just curious if those that have voted for it have actually had any hands on experience. Or is it merely because of the cost and/or poor impressions from the website.

The creator of iMagic OS is also working on and assisting other projects. LinCandy OS (http://www.lincandy.com/) is one of them and it will probably be the closest representation of their commercial OS. It's suppose to be released early next month.

-moose

[itreius]

gNonSense

[Bungo Pony]

The two that I hated the most were GeexBox and Puppy. I've had such little success with Puppy, and their repos (if you can call them that) are truly terrible. Add in the lack of security, and you've got a distro that really p's me off.

[zolookas]

Of those who have voted iMagic OS as the worst, how many have actually tried it?
-moose

Of course not, because I have to pay for it. Even Microsoft has Windows trial versions. So I am judging from the information and screenshots provided on imagicos website.

[itreius]

Even Microsoft has Windows trial versions.
There are no Windows trial versions. Grace period != trial.

[zolookas]

There are no Windows trial versions. Grace period != trial.

It seems that some trial pages are removed, but you can still get it using archive.org:
XP x64 (http://web.archive.org/web/20080213195049/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx), Server 2003 (http://technet.microsoft.com/lt-lt/windowsserver/bb430834%28en-us%29.aspx) and you could download 7 RC version until recently.

[starcannon]

Xandros so far is my worst experience.

[tcoffeep]

iMagicOS.

[hessiess]

Anything which isnt based on a rolling release cycle. I carn't be bothered to frequantly re-install the whole OS or compile from source just for the sake of having up to date applications.

[PaulReaver]

opensuse has to be the most unreliable distro ever.
I have tried it on many different computers and there is always something broken or something regressed. pretty but terrible.

Even gentoo is easier to set up.
I find gentoo will do anything you want it to with some source code and a bit of time,
but openSUSE
openSUSE is an exercise in self flagellation.

[zugu]

One honourable mention for openSUSE from me: it didn't even boot in VirtualBox, and I tried both the KDE and GNOME builds. This is unacceptable in this day and age.

[Bachstelze]

When I think about it, I haven't tried that many distros. Distros I've tried: Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Slackware, Suse/OpenSuse, Fedora Core/Fedora, Mandrake/Mandriva, Arch (I also did LFS but that doesn't count as a distro). Among those, my least favourite is by far Mandriva.

[dsiembab]

I voted for other I would have to say the worst linux distro is any ubuntu release after 6.06. 6.06 was the best release ubuntu had, and anything produced now doesn't even hold a candle to it.

[fromthehill]

gOS, mangaka, ydl5(ps3)

buggy, buggy, buggy

the last two probably because of the E17 environment

[cb951303]

Ubuntu ultimate edition.

[Techsnap]

Ubuntu.

It's slow and contains a load of bloatware on the initial install (Which is the exact thing people complain about with Windows and other distros, why is it fine with Ubuntu). It installs a lot of programs which aren't nessecary (Bluez for example) and doesn't detect that you don't have any of these devices like Mandriva does.

The package manager is a load of crap and it pulls in dependencies for applications which don't actually depend on what it's pulling in. There's no quick way of telling it to ignore these unless you edit /var/lib/dpkg/status to change the depends line to trick apt (Yeah Trick something in a so called non restricted OS).

The KDE packages are a joke and definitely not optimised at all, if you install from upstream it performs terrific, if you install from the repos it's really crappy.

It's released before it's ready with bugs like "Filesystem Corruption with large files [512MB]". It's one thing that 512 is NOT a large file and it's another thing that if this intended to be a brilliant distro with bug #1 on launchpad being get a higher marketshare than Windows why would you release it with a bug like that. Don't believe me? check the release notes.

It uses sudo by default and has root disabled by default. It's a complete false sense of security and it also means that the failsafe mode is completely free for anyone to use as complete root with no restrictions THATS REAL SECURE!. Also it's clear the way sudo is implemented it's giving people the wrong idea, for example a lot of people think that sudo is Super User Do where it's really not!.

Overall Ubuntu is a joke and in my opinion is not giving a good impression of Linux as a whole. Don't bother commenting unless you have something constructive to say about this because you have all been fine on shunning Windows/Other Distros.

At least I gave points as to why I think it's the worst distro.

[unknownPoster]

I have to echo Techsnap's points. Ubuntu has not performed satisfactorily for me since the 7.x series of releases.

For the past few releases, users have been promised a new and innovative UI redesign in Ubuntu. As far as I know, it still hasn't happened.

I'm a bit of minimalist when it comes to Linux and when APT/Synaptic wants to pull in every GUI package under the sun just for some simple command-line application, I get very frustrated.

apt-get install mplayer-nogui
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu
ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra
Suggested packages:
defoma-doc dfontmgr psfontmgr x-ttcidfont-conf libasound2-plugins nas
libdv-bin esound libfreetype6-dev libggi-target-emu libggi-target-monotext
libggimisc2 gpm jackd lirc pulseaudio libraw1394-doc speex ladspa-sdk
libdvdcss mplayer-doc w32codecs
Recommended packages:
libft-perl oss-compat esound-clients libggi-target-x libggi-target
libglib2.0-data
The following NEW packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 mplayer-nogui
ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra


WTF are all those xorg packages for?


For me, Ubuntu is just a source of frustration and confusion.

Distributions like Arch, Gentoo, or Slackware are much more simple and straight-forward.

[HappinessNow]

I have to echo Techsnap's points. Ubuntu has not performed satisfactorily for me since the 7.x series of releases.

For the past few releases, users have been promised a new and innovative UI redesign in Ubuntu. As far as I know, it still hasn't happened.

I'm a bit of minimalist when it comes to Linux and when APT/Synaptic wants to pull in every GUI package under the sun just for some simple command-line application, I get very frustrated.

apt-get install mplayer-nogui
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu
ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra
Suggested packages:
defoma-doc dfontmgr psfontmgr x-ttcidfont-conf libasound2-plugins nas
libdv-bin esound libfreetype6-dev libggi-target-emu libggi-target-monotext
libggimisc2 gpm jackd lirc pulseaudio libraw1394-doc speex ladspa-sdk
libdvdcss mplayer-doc w32codecs
Recommended packages:
libft-perl oss-compat esound-clients libggi-target-x libggi-target
libglib2.0-data
The following NEW packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 mplayer-nogui
ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra


WTF are all those xorg packages for?


For me, Ubuntu is just a source of frustration and confusion.

Distributions like Arch, Gentoo, or Slackware are much more simple and straight-forward.
As long as it's not Dream(Nightmare)Linux you'll be fine.

[scottuss]

I have to echo Techsnap's points. Ubuntu has not performed satisfactorily for me since the 7.x series of releases.

For the past few releases, users have been promised a new and innovative UI redesign in Ubuntu. As far as I know, it still hasn't happened.

I'm a bit of minimalist when it comes to Linux and when APT/Synaptic wants to pull in every GUI package under the sun just for some simple command-line application, I get very frustrated.

apt-get install mplayer-nogui
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu
ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra
Suggested packages:
defoma-doc dfontmgr psfontmgr x-ttcidfont-conf libasound2-plugins nas
libdv-bin esound libfreetype6-dev libggi-target-emu libggi-target-monotext
libggimisc2 gpm jackd lirc pulseaudio libraw1394-doc speex ladspa-sdk
libdvdcss mplayer-doc w32codecs
Recommended packages:
libft-perl oss-compat esound-clients libggi-target-x libggi-target
libglib2.0-data
The following NEW packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 mplayer-nogui
ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra


WTF are all those xorg packages for?


For me, Ubuntu is just a source of frustration and confusion.

Distributions like Arch, Gentoo, or Slackware are much more simple and straight-forward.

Whilst I agree that "dependencies" getting installed that don't actually need to be there is frustrating, I do like the idea of having an OS that I can tinker with, but at the same time I know that when I actually want to do something, with no fussing around, I can do so.

A simple example:

Arch Linux (Gnome) + Open Office: Default Page Size = US Legal, no spell checking and printer config is a PITA.

Ubuntu Linux + Open Office: Default Page Size = A4 (taken from my Localisation prefs?), UK spell checking, Printer ready to go.

Arch Linux (Gnome) + HAL + FAM etc: USB drives sometimes automount, sometimes don't. iPod handling is VERY sketchy.

Ubuntu Linux - Devices always (so far!) mount correctly, iPod support = dreamy.

There are LOADS of other examples I've come across. Use whatever suits, and yes Ubuntu has it's down sides, but claiming that Arch or whatever is simpler... nah, that's just silly! :)

[Techsnap]

Whilst I agree that "dependencies" getting installed that don't actually need to be there is frustrating, I do like the idea of having an OS that I can tinker with, but at the same time I know that when I actually want to do something, with no fussing around, I can do so.

You completely lost the point when you mentioned Arch and what it can't do, it's not supposed to do any of that without you doing so. Also you could bring Arch to Ubuntus level and still have less installed because of no nonsense dependencies.

APT is terrible with dependencies and is very restrictive as a whole.

[HappinessNow]

You completely lost the point when you mentioned Arch and what it can't do, it's not supposed to do any of that without you doing so. Also you could bring Arch to Ubuntus level and still have less installed because of no nonsense dependencies.

APT is terrible with dependencies and is very restrictive as a whole.
Makes me want to install Arch!...one day I will!

[~sHyLoCk~]

Slackware is the best for me, the little ones are too noisy and immature for my taste.
Btw I'm the one voted Debian. Seriously, compiz doesn't work, brasero doesn't work, how is it a stable distro?

[unknownPoster]

There are LOADS of other examples I've come across. Use whatever suits, and yes Ubuntu has it's down sides, but claiming that Arch or whatever is simpler... nah, that's just silly! :)

Arch is a much more simple system. Ubuntu's goal is to essentially support the most hardware out of the box it possibly can.


I'll direct you to the Arch wiki, especially concerning the Arch way: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/The_Arch_Way

Arch Linux defines simplicity as 'without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications', and provides a lightweight UNIX-like base structure that allows an individual user to shape the system according to their own needs. In short; an elegant, minimalist approach.

[nrs]

I have to echo Techsnap's points. Ubuntu has not performed satisfactorily for me since the 7.x series of releases.

For the past few releases, users have been promised a new and innovative UI redesign in Ubuntu. As far as I know, it still hasn't happened.

I'm a bit of minimalist when it comes to Linux and when APT/Synaptic wants to pull in every GUI package under the sun just for some simple command-line application, I get very frustrated.

apt-get install mplayer-nogui
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu
ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra
Suggested packages:
defoma-doc dfontmgr psfontmgr x-ttcidfont-conf libasound2-plugins nas
libdv-bin esound libfreetype6-dev libggi-target-emu libggi-target-monotext
libggimisc2 gpm jackd lirc pulseaudio libraw1394-doc speex ladspa-sdk
libdvdcss mplayer-doc w32codecs
Recommended packages:
libft-perl oss-compat esound-clients libggi-target-x libggi-target
libglib2.0-data
The following NEW packages will be installed:
defoma esound-common fontconfig-config libaa1 libartsc0 libasound2 libaudio2
libaudiofile0 libavc1394-0 libcaca0 libcdparanoia0 libcucul0
libdbus-glib-1-2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libdrm2 libdv4 libdvdnav4 libenca0
libesd-alsa0 libfaac0 libfontconfig1 libfreebob0 libfreetype6 libggi2
libgif4 libgii1 libgii1-target-x libgl1-mesa-glx libglib2.0-0 libgpmg1
libice6 libiec61883-0 libjack0 libjpeg62 liblircclient0 libmad0 libmpcdec3
libogg0 libopenal0a libpulse0 libraw1394-8 libsdl1.2debian
libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsm6 libsmbclient libspeex1 libsvga1 libtheora0
libvorbis0a libx264-57 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxinerama1 libxt6 libxv1
libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 mplayer-nogui
ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu-extra
WTF are all those xorg packages for?


For me, Ubuntu is just a source of frustration and confusion.

Distributions like Arch, Gentoo, or Slackware are much more simple and straight-forward.
Because mplayer-nogui doesn't mean no-x. It means no GUI frontend, like gmplayer. Gentoo is the only distribution whose package management system is going to allow you any real control over dependencies. :/ I used to use it but ebuilds aren't as up to date / bleeding edge as they used to be. So I left. Now I use Arch, and I encounter the same type of problem you mentioned. And I agree with you about Ubuntu. I feel it changes so much of the standard *nix stuff that it almost becomes an environment unto itself.

Arch is simple.

[unknownPoster]

Because mplayer-nogui doesn't mean no-x. It means no GUI frontend, like gmplayer. Gentoo is the only distribution whose package management system is going to allow you any real control over dependencies. :/ I used to use it but ebuilds aren't as up to date / bleeding edge as they used to be. So I left. Now I use Arch, and I encounter the same type of problem you mentioned. And I agree with you about Ubuntu. I feel it changes so much of the standard *nix stuff that it almost becomes an environment unto itself.

Arch is simple.

Did you use the testing branch of Gentoo?

I found it to be fairly stable, but I have a love-hate relationship with Gentoo so Arch is what I'm using now.

[nrs]

Did you use the testing branch of Gentoo?

I found it to be fairly stable, but I have a love-hate relationship with Gentoo so Arch is what I'm using now.
Yeah, I found most ~x86 stuff stable, I never had a problem with it. Still wasn't as up to date as I like though. I remember it taking forever for new builds of GNOME and KDE to appear, and even when they did they remained hardmasked forever, so I had to play with unmasking them, and I just got sick of the hassle.

[unknownPoster]

Yeah, I found most ~x86 stuff stable, I never had a problem with it. Still wasn't as up to date as I like though. I remember it taking forever for new builds of GNOME and KDE to appear, and even when they did they remained hardmasked forever, so I had to play with unmasking them, and I just got sick of the hassle.

That is exactly my issue with Gentoo.

[scottuss]

You completely lost the point when you mentioned Arch and what it can't do, it's not supposed to do any of that without you doing so. Also you could bring Arch to Ubuntus level and still have less installed because of no nonsense dependencies.

APT is terrible with dependencies and is very restrictive as a whole.

Absolutely, I totally agree that you could bring Arch to Ubuntu's level, and indeed it would have less installed because of no nonense dependencies. Didn't you get that I agree with that from what I said? The things that I did mention were things that need configuring in Arch, and believe me, I've spent hours doing so. Then I realised that Ubuntu has being doing this for me for a long time, out of the box, which brings me to:

Arch is a much more simple system. Ubuntu's goal is to essentially support the most hardware out of the box it possibly can.


I'll direct you to the Arch wiki, especially concerning the Arch way: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/The_Arch_Way

OK, so we're looking at this from different viewpoints. Arch IS simpler based on the fact that you can build it up to what you want/need and no more, which makes it clean etc. However, from the perspective of someone who does like to modify his system, but have the back-up of knowing that, actually, most of the things I'd need to mess around with on Arch just work on Ubuntu.

Also:

Thanks, I already know "The Arch Way", I've read it several times, particularly when I first used Arch some time ago. I've also contributed to the Arch Wiki.

[Marvin666]

I'd have to say redhat. I've heard the product is good, but expensive. See something wrong with that sentence?

[~sHyLoCk~]

I'd have to say redhat. I've heard the product is good, but expensive. See something wrong with that sentence?

Use CentOS ;)

[HappinessNow]

CentOS ;)really?

[~sHyLoCk~]

really?

Oops sounded like I bashed CentOS. I actually use CentOS as a server. Ok I have edited my post. Actually I meant: "Use CentOS"

Regards

[HappinessNow]

Oops sounded like I bashed CentOS. I actually use CentOS as a server. Ok I have edited my post. Actually I meant: "Use CentOS"

Regards
LOL...thanks for the clarification. :P

[RiceMonster]

I'd have to say redhat. I've heard the product is good, but expensive. See something wrong with that sentence?

Yes it's expensive, but it's not for home users. Note it's called Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

[5BallJuggler]

When I picked up my netbook, it was preloaded with "Linpus", it lasted approx. 1 hour.

[HappinessNow]

My vote was for "Other" specifically: Dream(Nightmare)Linux

Dream(Nightmare)Linux without a doubt the absolute worst Linux distro...ever!

[Shining Arcanine]

Worst distro of all time? That's impossible to list.

Only a person who has used every single Linux distribution ever created (since 1991), can truly vote in this poll.

There are also far too many distributions around for a poll to be created anyway.

EDIT:

Also, why is Ubuntu not listed there? You're biased.

I agree. Ubuntu should be listed.

[dE_logics]

Fedora is complete crap. Absolutely no use using it... it's a headache.

[dnguyen1963]

Fedora is complete crap. Absolutely no use using it... it's a headache.

Why? I have been using Fedora 13 for awhile now without any problem.

[RiceMonster]

Why? I have been using Fedora 13 for awhile now without any problem.

dude, you've gotta install nano yourself! It's such a headache!!!

[dnguyen1963]

dude, you've gotta install nano yourself! It's such a headache!!!

It's a headache for all flavors of Linux...not just Fedora.

[RiceMonster]

It's a headache for all flavors of Linux...not just Fedora.

I was being sarcastic and referencing this post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9430804&postcount=11). I'm a Fedora user myself.

[dnguyen1963]

I was being sarcastic and referencing this post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9430804&postcount=11). I'm a Fedora user myself.

No problem!

[dE_logics]

So how am I expected to edit configs without mugging up the legacy vi command from the 90s?

gedit doesn't start... some sorta x issue as root.

There's a reason why Debian is used more than fedora... larger repos (although outdated) and better initial setup which helps to configure the system easily.

[Frak]

So how am I expected to edit configs without mugging up the legacy vi command from the 90s?

gedit doesn't start... some sorta x issue as root.

There's a reason why Debian is used more than fedora... larger repos (although outdated) and better initial setup which helps to configure the system easily.
Not even close, but here's a cookie anyways.

[prodigy_]

Voted for OpenSUSE but actually Mandriva is equally bad...

[wojox]

dude, you've gotta install nano yourself! It's such a headache!!!

I'm such a noob I downloaded the pre-installed version.

[wojox]

Voted for OpenSUSE but actually Mandriva is equally bad...

openSUSE with KDE rocks now. Don't know how long ago your experience was.

[Frak]

openSUSE with KDE rocks now. Don't know how long ago your experience was.
I'm running OpenSUSE + Gnome right now (11.3). This is the __best__ distribution I've ever used. Everything works, the fonts look nice, media plays well, the repositories are plentiful (if you know where to look), and 2D acceleration is superb. I turned off Compiz, and manipulating objects on the screen is as smooth as butter.

[Chame_Wizard]

Distro who are giving Linux very bad names/FUD(like Xandros,Linspire,many with a "patent deal" with M$).:popcorn:

[Frak]

Distro who are giving Linux very bad names(like Xandros,Linspire,many with a "patent deal" with M$).:popcorn:
Sorry for protecting the consumer.

[mickie.kext]

Distro who are giving Linux very bad names/FUD(like Xandros,Linspire,many with a "patent deal" with M$).:popcorn:

++
SuSE is only left. Xandros and linspire are dead due to boycott and Novell on its way to oblivion.

[Frak]

I don't know why people are so afraid of these patent deals. The patent deals are a lot safer than them just implementing the features themselves. Besides, the patent deal only covers very Microsoft-y parts of Mono. On the other hand, the main parts of Mono, i.e. the ones used by F-Spot, Tomboy, and Banshee use only the parts covered by the non-patented or community promised (http://www.microsoft.com/interop/cp/default.mspx) parts that will _never_ be under scrutiny by Microsoft.

If you want to gripe about any software working with "teh evil M$", go look at Samba and how they're working directly with Microsoft to improve compatibility. Mono is just a piece of dust in the wind compared to the Samba tree.

And by that, I proclaim that, for me, OpenSUSE is the best Linux distribution I've ever used. I'll also say that Mono is the second interpreter for me behind Python.

[Lucradia]

Ubuntu

[mickie.kext]

@Frak

You are getting it wrong. It is not about: "Ekk, patent deal, run for your life". It is about what patent deal says.

If opensource-releated company N signs a patent deal with propriatary company M, and patent deal says that community (including there pure open source companies R and C)is not covered, that is bad deal. Very bad, both for community at large and for company N. It discriminates against community, and it worths nothing that commpany N, R and C in fact use same code. Only N gets covered and others get FUDed. It is only good for company M because they can say: "If you want open source, use M-aproved open source like Mono and SuSE" which makes false impression that you have to get license from them to write any kind of software. Which defeats purpose of open source. And puts away developersfrom developing and contributing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YExl9ojclo) to open source. Which again helps company M, who can't commpete if lots of people are writing and using software freely and happily.

On the other hand, if company R signs a patent deal (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9992359-16.html) that says that whole community that uses that code are protected, then that is good patent deal. The patent troll gets one time payment and gives irrevocable license to community. Then troll only can sue propriatary companies and we are happy.

As for Samba, they forced Microsoft through court to co-operate. I trust court more than to Microsoft's shaky (and empty) promise.

[MCVenom]

Linspire/Lindows. Not because of any sort of patent deals; the distro just sucked. :P

Also, this thread smells a bit of necromancing. ;)

[MCVenom]

Honestly? I was going to learn C#/Mono, but then I look at the raw deals Tomboy and F-Spot got. I don't want to waste my time coding a great app just to be attacked by people and have it be ignored as soon as someone recodes it with less functionality and stabilty because some people choose to believe the language I used is 'the cancer killing Linux'. :|

[mickie.kext]

That is smart of you. Learn Python, Java or Ruby instead, and code your great app :D.