Distro Hunting

[Aifel]

So, after hunting around for a fun to play with (and use, eventually) distro, I still haven't found anything. I've tried a bunch, and they just don't suit my needs, they're tedious to set up, etc. So, any distro suggestions?
Criteria

1. Has to support Macbook hardware (the 1st gen Macbook).
2. GNOME or XFCE based if possible. KDE is also good.
3. Large repositories! Hopefully containing games.
4. Wireless support (unlikely, as the only distro that had out-of-the-box support was Sabayon).
5. Can't set my Macbook on fire... All of the distros I've tried have the fans blazing... And there's nothing running.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

[Antman]

Check out: openSUSE. Fedora, Ubuntu. They all have PPC versions.

[DoorGunner]

you can actually install Gnome Kde and XFCE to try in all. You just need to install them and select one or the other at login under sessions. I use Both Gnome and KDE in Ubuntu.

[Aifel]

Check out: openSUSE. Fedora, Ubuntu. They all have PPC versions.

Oops. I probably should've specified that I'm on an Intel Macbook.
And I've tried SUSE, Fedora, and Ubuntu. I couldn't get wireless to work in Fedora, and I despise the SUSE package management. And Ubuntu is missing something... Although what that something is is not yet known.

[whitefang5412]

You could try linux mint. It's nice and fast, snappy, although its pretty much the same thing as ubuntu I.E.: its debian based, uses ubuntu repo's etc... In the terminal I could type in sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop and get it. It is faster than ubuntu from what I've seen. Give it a go.

EDIT: Have you also tried pclinuxos2007? It's a rolling release distro, and the kde version is very nice as well as the gnome version. Two options to choose from and both run fast and nice. Very easy to use I must say also. It uses sudo apt get things from the terminal, and uses the synaptic package manager. Give it a looksie also.

[Aifel]

You could try linux mint. It's nice and fast, snappy, although its pretty much the same thing as ubuntu I.E.: its debian based, uses ubuntu repo's etc... In the terminal I could type in sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop and get it. It is faster than ubuntu from what I've seen. Give it a go.

EDIT: Have you also tried pclinuxos2007? It's a rolling release distro, and the kde version is very nice as well as the gnome version. Two options to choose from and both run fast and nice. Very easy to use I must say also. It uses sudo apt get things from the terminal, and uses the synaptic package manager. Give it a looksie also.
I couldn't get Linux Mint to work, and I'm not the only Mac user that can;t. The version of GRUB in Mint doesn't support GPT (the Mac boot firmware or whatever). So it fails to boot.
I'll go give PCLOS a look...

[cardinals_fan]

Aside from Zenwalk (yes, I really will suggest it every time ;) ), you might like SAM.

[Antman]

Oops. I probably should've specified that I'm on an Intel Macbook.
And I've tried SUSE, Fedora, and Ubuntu. I couldn't get wireless to work in Fedora, and I despise the SUSE package management. And Ubuntu is missing something... Although what that something is is not yet known.

hmmm... which version of Fedora did you try?
Ubuntu is "missing something?!?" sounds pretty vague.

Well, there is always the Distrowatch.com listing to find a new distro.
If you are up to it, try Gentoo. You can pretty much bend it to your will.

I'm not familar with Intel Mac's but how about slackware or Zenwalk (slackware based)

[Antman]

Aside from Zenwalk (yes, I really will suggest it every time ;) ), you might like SAM.

I ran the Zenwalk 5 beta and then the final for a little while and really like it. It's fast and slick. The only reason I got tired of it was because the package management and laptop power management.

I did load it on an old compaq n400c laptop (PIII)i just bought and it runs great.:KS

[Aifel]

hmmm... which version of Fedora did you try?
Ubuntu is "missing something?!?" sounds pretty vague.

Well, there is always the Distrowatch.com listing to find a new distro.
If you are up to it, try Gentoo. You can pretty much bend it to your will.

I'm not familar with Intel Mac's but how about slackware or Zenwalk (slackware based)
I tried Fedora 8.
I've also tried Gentoo, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the downtime needed to install (12 + hours on my last install, although my last machine was garbage :)) kinda cripples me. I also have homework to do (:lolflag:) and 12 hours of no laptop is BAD.
And I tried SAM as well. When I use my touchpad, no matter what direction I try to scroll, it'll only scroll up and down...

[LaRoza]

Does Ubuntu work at all? Perhaps a base installation and you can build your own?

[Antman]

I tried Fedora 8.
I've also tried Gentoo, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the downtime needed to install (12 + hours on my last install, although my last machine was garbage :)) kinda cripples me. I also have homework to do (:lolflag:) and 12 hours of no laptop is BAD.
And I tried SAM as well. When I use my touchpad, no matter what direction I try to scroll, it'll only scroll up and down...

Have you checked out the new LiveCD betas?
Ubuntu 8.04 beta and Fedora 9 beta are out, and Gentoo also has a new 2008 LiveCD beta you could test.

[Antman]

Does Ubuntu work at all? Perhaps a base installation and you can build your own?

Good point... and I'm still curious what was "missing" with the Ubuntu install?!?!?

[Twitch6000]

dreamlinux might be fit for you but,I'm not sure about the intel mac part though.So just download and see.

[SunnyRabbiera]

If she is a PPC macbook then debian might be your best bet

[tubasoldier]

I'm just curious if you have tried Debian. If so how did it go for you? It has Gnome by default, supports ppc, x86(intel), arm, arc, ect..., Fairly easy to configure, huge repositories, very stable.