Which Linux would be best for me?

[Majorix]

Here is a challenge for you: Depending on this info, what Linux would be best for me?

1- I like Gnome more than I do KDE. I haven't tried any other DE's.
2- I will need a neat package manager with a good number of tools. Or if the number of packages is small, then the packages should be extremely well selected.
3- I need support for wireless. And I absolutely need it.
4- I need support for ALL of this hardware:
Laptop:
Intel 915 Graphics Card
Realtek AC'97 Sound Card
Intel 2200 Wireless Card
Desktop:
ATI X800 Graphics Card (very important, most distros don't recognize this correctly)
AC '97 Sound Card
So that I can install the OS on both my desktop and laptop.
5- It doesn't matter if its a text-based installer or a GUI-based one, I am ok with both.
6- If there is a LiveCD version to test out if the hardware works with it
7- I am ok with the terminal ie I can do some basic stuff, I can run command line tools by reading their manuals etc. And I certainly want to get better at the command line because of educational reasons (I will be studying software engineering) so it would be best if this distro could help me get better with the command line.
8- I just love trying out different things. It was one of the biggest reasons I installed Linux the first time.
9- I have been using Linux for 3 years.
10- I live in Turkey (Eastern Europe) so it would be best if there is a fast server for the repos nearby.
11- I would really love an active forum. You see, I have been fairly active here since the day I joined, learning a lot. So its a must for me.
12- It should have a clear and easy installation program.

Distros I don't want to try or tried and didn't like/wasn't compatible:
- Fedora
- Gentoo
- Slackware
- Pardus

Since there are so many points here, you can say which points the distro you are talking about meets and which it doesn't. Feel free to talk longer too :)

I have a feeling this will be both an educating and entertaining thread :popcorn:

[zach12]

Ubuntu!!!!!!!!!

[Bachstelze]

+1 for Ubuntu but what's wrong with Gentoo and Slack ?

[Sand Lee]

Your answers may be a little biased.

[wolfen69]

how about debian?

[Majorix]

I am already using Ubuntu and it will remain like my main OS for some time. I just want to try something new.

@HymnToLife:
Gentoo can't detect my keyboard layout on both laptop and keyboard. It would leave me with the default option. And on my desktop it also comes up with the infamous "No screen found" error but doesn't give me time to fix it. I believe I could fix it by changing the driver to vesa in worst case but I don't get any terminal to do so? And Slackware doesn't have a package manager. Slackware 11.0 also didn't recognize my mouse properly, donno how the situation with 12.0 would be.

[Majorix]

how about debian?

Does debian recognize wireless?

[Fbot1]

Kanotix but it kinda sucks.

[Bachstelze]

Does debian recognize wireless?

Just as well as any other Linux distro. But if you don't bother to follow the docs, I'm afraid you won't find maydistros that will work for you...

[tvrg]

Gentoo can't detect my keyboard layout on both laptop and keyboard.
seriously, I've been using linux since 2002 and the keyboard layout is the only question i could definitly answer back then. Don't you know what keyboard you have and set it??
Does debian recognize wireless?
please, ubuntu is based on debian, debian (on my server for years) supports wireless as well as ubuntu. It may be a bit tricky to do a net install over wireless, buf once set up it is just as fine

[Majorix]

seriously, I've been using linux since 2002 and the keyboard layout is the only question i could definitly answer back then. Don't you know what keyboard you have and set it??


I do know what keyboard I have of course. And I do know what option I should choose when it asks me. It asks for a keymap at the start of the boot, and when I enter the number 38 representing the Turkish Q keyboard, it says its not a valid binary map or something like that and loads the default keymap.

@HymnToLife:
Where do you get the impression that I don't like to read docs? Where does it tell how to get rid of the bug on docs? If they knew a solution to that it wouldn't be a bug any longer, they would have fixed it.

So.. Debian is a choice.. Do you have any other ones in your mind?

[IanKoro]

You do realize you're asking this in the Ubuntu forums...?

Most distros are relatively similar. Ubuntu is one of the most polished, and easiest to install. I've mostly used Debian, and I think it's a great distro, and Ubuntu is basically Debian in a well organized, easier to install and manage form. If you're an experienced Unix/Linux user, you probably won't find this to make a huge difference, but if you're just starting out, I'm sure Ubuntu will be much easier.

There are lots of other options, probably a lot of good ones. I haven't used Red Hat's Fedora in a while, but last time I did (probably like 6 years ago...) it was one of the more user friendly distros. I'm not a huge fan of the who RPM thing.... but maybe they've improved things now.

If you want to learn about what exactly goes on while installing an operating system, Gentoo is a good option. Its package management is actually pretty good as well... I found the focus on installing things from source to be a little frivolous, but you don't have to go that route. If you're willing to put in some extra work and want to learn something new, go for Gentoo... or Linux From Scratch, if you're very confident with UNIX and solving your own problems. If you have to ask, you're not ready for that. But pretty much anyone who feels relatively confident with their computer will have no trouble following the instructions to install Gentoo, just try to have access to a separate computer with internet access, just in case you need to do any research.

Ubuntu will certainly work fine, but if you want to try something else, go ahead.

[Majorix]

You do realize you're asking this in the Ubuntu forums...?

Most distros are relatively similar. Ubuntu is one of the most polished, and easiest to install. I've mostly used Debian, and I think it's a great distro, and Ubuntu is basically Debian in a well organized, easier to install and manage form. If you're an experienced Unix/Linux user, you probably won't find this to make a huge difference, but if you're just starting out, I'm sure Ubuntu will be much easier.

There are lots of other options, probably a lot of good ones. I haven't used Red Hat's Fedora in a while, but last time I did (probably like 6 years ago...) it was one of the more user friendly distros. I'm not a huge fan of the who RPM thing.... but maybe they've improved things now.

If you want to learn about what exactly goes on while installing an operating system, Gentoo is a good option. Its package management is actually pretty good as well... I found the focus on installing things from source to be a little frivolous, but you don't have to go that route. If you're willing to put in some extra work and want to learn something new, go for Gentoo... or Linux From Scratch, if you're very confident with UNIX and solving your own problems. If you have to ask, you're not ready for that. But pretty much anyone who feels relatively confident with their computer will have no trouble following the instructions to install Gentoo, just try to have access to a separate computer with internet access, just in case you need to do any research.

Ubuntu will certainly work fine, but if you want to try something else, go ahead.

I do realize I am asking this on Ubuntu forums. But this part of the forums is for Other OS Discussions so I wrote here. Where else could I ask other than the discussion place for other distros of my favorite distro's forums?

Anyways, I don't think Gentoo is good for me.

Ubuntu is NOT Debian. Its just derived from it. There are many differences in both I think.

[fistfullofroses]

GoboLinux has Magyar support and definately presents a learning experience, but it uses KDE. You will find the forums lacking a bit.

Arch is another good choice if you are looking to learn quite a bit. It is very minimal upon initial install. It is gaining popularity extremely quickly, and the forums are relatiively active.

BLAG would be my overall recommendation. It is very polished. It uses GNOME. Learning will not be difficult. It is fedora based, but the default package selection is radically different. Synaptic and APT are provided as well as yum. If you want to learn some command line, that can be done with any distribution (just ask around for what command line programs most people use, google is your friend).

You may also want to pick up a copy of The Linux Phrasebook from your local book store.

[shuttleworthwannabe]

Try Mepis, it is KDE though, but I installed GNOME through synaptic and it runs fine.

[mips]

10- I live in Turkey (Eastern Europe) so it would be best if there is a fast server for the repos nearby.


You could also try out a local Turkish distro called Pardus (http://www.pardus.org.tr/eng/index.html).

I've heard some good things about it but never used it though.

[.aku]

You could also try out a local Turkish distro called Pardus (http://www.pardus.org.tr/eng/index.html).

I've heard some good things about it but never used it though.

+1 =D>

or my alltime fav, Zenwalk (http://zenwalk.org) !

[Majorix]

I don't like KDE that much so those distros with KDE are a second choice.

Arch is ok, but the last time I tried I couldn't install it on my own. The installation procedure isn't easy. I was going to look for a wiki of Arch, maybe someone can link me to it.

I have listed Pardus between the distros I don't want to try. I don't want to try Pardus because of how it is announced as the "national" distro. I hate that term.

I have a Zenwalk iso but the CD I burned from that didn't work. I will burn it again and try.

[init1]

Just as well as any other Linux distro. But if you don't bother to follow the docs, I'm afraid you won't find maydistros that will work for you...
Honestly, it's not the wireless that's an issue for me, it's the WPA. Getting WPA support is lots harder than you think. Of course, in some distros ndiswrapper won't compile.
Mepis has great wireless support, but it's KDE.
Antix is Mepis based, but I don't know if the wireless support is as good. And it's Fluxbox.
Mandriva might be a good choice.
If you want Gnome, you limit yourself in options.

[init1]

I don't like KDE that much so those distros with KDE are a second choice.

Arch is ok, but the last time I tried I couldn't install it on my own. The installation procedure isn't easy. I was going to look for a wiki of Arch, maybe someone can link me to it.

I have listed Pardus between the distros I don't want to try. I don't want to try Pardus because of how it is announced as the "national" distro. I hate that term.

I have a Zenwalk iso but the CD I burned from that didn't work. I will burn it again and try.
Zenwalk isn't even Gnome. It's XFCE.

[Majorix]

Zenwalk isn't even Gnome. It's XFCE.

Like I said in the first post, I have never tried XFCE or other DE's. So I can't know if its good or not, gotta test out.

[init1]

Like I said in the first post, I have never tried XFCE or other DE's. So I can't know if its good or not, gotta test out.
XFCE is very much like Gnome. You shouldn't have any issues with it.

[oiler920]

Try Mandriva 2007. I have verified in the Mandriva Hardware database that all of your hardware works. Mandriva has both KDE and GNOME versions available, and Mandriva can also fit on one CD! Download it here: http://www.mandriva.com/en/download/mandrivaone EDIT: Oops, forgot to mention, the CD is also a Live CD, so you can try it out and if you like it you can use the graphical installer. :)

[Majorix]

Thanks for checking the hardware list against my hardware. I will be sure to download it and install it on my experimental PC :) Thanks a lot again.