Can't decide which distro to try next

[zhogan85]

I use Arch/Slackware
test says they mayby to hard for me?

Haha, it told me that too, but Arch is my main distro and works fine for me...

[eyeofliberty]

Nice test! I got 100% on Ubuntu, Debian and Linux Mint. No surprise really...although I've always found Crunchbang to be quite intriguing...

Crunchbang is very nice, you should definitely give it a try. It offers a live CD, so you can't go wrong.

Yeah, I get Slackware and Gentoo. I already use Slackware on the desktop, and currently Lubuntu on the laptop (previously Arch with KDE), although I'll probably switch to Slack on the laptop soon. I'm not sure I want to go down the Gentoo path, though, although it is tempting.

[ratcheer]

The test gave me 100% for Kubuntu, Ubuntu, Mint, and Debian. I use Ubuntu, Arch, Siduction, and Sabayon. I have never even tried Kubuntu or Mint.

Arch and Siduction are my current favorites.

Tim

[Habitual]

After the package-manager, it's all pretty much the same "under the hood"
What package management system do you prefer?

[ratcheer]

After the package-manager, it's all pretty much the same "under the hood"
What package management system do you prefer?

I disagree, somewhat. Yes, they all do pretty much the same things, but are in other meaningful ways quite different.

For example, Arch Linux keeps itself on the cutting edge. Siduction is even more out front. Ubuntu is modern, but still quite stable, while Slackware and Debian have older technology stacks, but are rock stable.

Different people have widely differing preferences on this curve. I personally like to be on the leading edge, while others have a strong preference for stability.

Tim

[Majorix]

Try Debian. Or Arch. Those are what I use and you should definitely check them if you are distro-hopping.

[chocklet]

Brizlitman, it appears that Ubuntu is your first Linux. Do you want to try another easy-to-use distro, or something that is more difficult?

I'm using Ubuntu LTS because, compared to a variety of distros that I've tried over the years, Ubuntu
- is stable
- is user friendly
and, in random order...
- offers 5 year support
- considers the needs of enterprise clients
- has lots of software in the repository
- has a helpful forum for people with low levels of expertise
- is attempting to provide a modern DE

(by "modern DE" I mean a desktop environment that will provide a familiar feel to business admins and staffers who will be, and already are, using tablets and phones for much of their daily business activity.. i.e. a DE with a future)

There is no other distro like Ubuntu. Whatever else you try will give you a different experience.

There is plenty to see and learn about that is stable and user friendly. Distro options that are stable and user friendly require less effort than other options, so, if you have a real life, why not make things easy on yourself?

Try...

> PCLOS KDE or Mageia

If you have better things to do than mess with boot loaders, then try...

> Mint 13 Cinnamon

PCLOS and Mint have good track records and solid communities. PCLOS uses an older kernel. Mint 12 & KDE were not up to Mint 11 standards. Mageia has been through some turmoil but appears to be on the right track. These distros will likely provide good exposure to what FOSS offers desktop computer users for a minimum amount of wasted effort on things that, in 2012, should just work.

Good Luck!

[buzzingrobot]

Take the test!

http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Mine always comes up Slackware.

Hmmm. Recommended Debian for me, but didn't say Stable or Testing or Unstable. Also recommended OpenSuse, Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, and Mandriva. Sigh....

[Hylas de Niall]

Mint/Ubuntu/Mepis/Mandriva/Kubuntu/Opensuse

Tried Mint already.
Always have Ubu around.
Tempted by Mepis.
Mandriva seems too 'messy' right now (though Mandrake was my first ever Linux distro).
Not keen on Kubu.
Semi-tempted by OpenSuse.

Will prolly give Mepis a spin on one of my machines soon.

[wheeze]

SolusOS seems quite interesting, http://solusos.com/

From a former Mint developer, similar to the LMDE concept. Current version is based on Debian Squeeze, next version to be based on Wheezy.