Looking for some other Linux distros...

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

I have been using Ubuntu for about 5 months and it has been great. I recently have upgraded to Ubuntu Dapper 6.06 Beta 2 and it has been an awesome expericence. Lately I have been thinking of trying some other distros, so if anyone could help me with some names, it would be appreciated. First off, I am not really a Linux noob. I don't know everything about Linux but I do know quite a bit. I would prefer if the distribution was debian based (I had a horrible expericence with OpenSuSE 10.0 + Fedora Core 5 and rpms) and that distro has a good user base like Ubuntu. I am not abandoning Ubuntu, I am just branching out and wanting to try new things. So, any ideas for Linux distros ?

[aysiu]

A lot has changed with RPM distros lately. I know you're scarred, but a few RPM-based distros use Synaptic Package Manager. I would highly recommend PCLinuxOS (Mandriva-based) and Blag (Fedora-based).

The only other Debian-based distro I would recommend is Mepis, which (as of version 6) will be based on Ubuntu.

[nalmeth]

What kind of distro are you looking for though? There's a lot of debian based distro's out there, maybe you might like to try straight debian stable/unstable

http://www.distrowatch.com/

[MasonM]

I'd also suggest trying straight Debian if you want to experiment a bit. If you really want to do some learning, try Slackware. Slack is on my home PC (Ubuntu on my travel laptop).

Over the years I've played around with just about every distro out there, some are great, some not so great, but you can learn a little something from all of them.

If you really want a learning experience try Gentoo. If you are very patient and have a lot of time to kill go for Linux From Scratch. Now there's a learning experience for you!

Mepis is a very good distro, Warren is doing a great job there.

I understand how you feel about RPM based distros. I can't stand them myself. Dependency hell is no place to live.

[briancurtin]

check out archlinux.org

[DaMasta]

check out archlinux.org
yep yep

[RAV TUX]

I have been using Ubuntu for about 5 months and it has been great. I recently have upgraded to Ubuntu Dapper 6.06 Beta 2 and it has been an awesome expericence. Lately I have been thinking of trying some other distros, so if anyone could help me with some names, it would be appreciated. First off, I am not really a Linux noob. I don't know everything about Linux but I do know quite a bit. I would prefer if the distribution was debian based (I had a horrible expericence with OpenSuSE 10.0 + Fedora Core 5 and rpms) and that distro has a good user base like Ubuntu. I am not abandoning Ubuntu, I am just branching out and wanting to try new things. So, any ideas for Linux distros ?

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9904/topo3jd.th.jpg (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=topo3jd.jpg)


Dreamlinux Studio Edition is nice.

http://www.dreamlinux.com.br/english/index.html

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2076/dashboard26to.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You can even build your own Linux Distro if you wanted with their MKDistro Tool.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9681/construa7vf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The exclusive MKDistro tool allows you to build your own Distro from the ground up easily, in a completely assited way.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7129/debian8fi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Also here is a nice list of other Debian based distros on this page:
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=independence

you could of course try Impi Linux
http://www.impilinux.co.za/

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8906/impilogo029xj.png (http://imageshack.us)

ImpiLinux is a complete desktop operating system based on the Ubuntu operating system.
ImpiLinux focuses on providing operating platform solutions which cater for the needs of private sector and government users of all sizes, where stability, security and scalability are of utmost importance.
ImpiLinux is fully compatible with Ubuntu, meaning that any one of the 14000 software packages available in the Ubuntu "Universe" repository can be loaded onto any ImpiLinux distribution at any time without the hassles of software dependencies and incompatibilities associated with some Linux distributions.

Impi Linux offers four primary product streams:
- The free to use evaluation edition, ImpiLinux 6.01(Duty Free);
- Enterprise desktop and desktop server products (Business Class);
- Custom-built distributions tailor-made to a customer's specific requirements (Premier Class);
- Ubuntu (Economy Class), also free to use.


Take ImpiLinux Duty Free for a test flight

Duty Free installation instructions.

ImpiLinux Duty Free is an evaluation version of the ImpiLinux Business Class version, without the value added features and support.

ImpiLinux Duty Free includes:

- Live CD system
- Graphical installer
- KDE desktop
- The OpenOffice productivity suite
- The Mozilla Firefox Web browser
- The Kontact Collaboration Suite - e-mail, calendar, contacts, journal and news
- Two games
- Graphics packages, scanner applications and PDF viewers
- Multimedia packages - CD/DVD burner, CD and MP3 players, two media players
- Chat via IRC and Instant Messaging
- WLAN Manager
- Bluetooth Obex client
- Desktop sharing over a LAN
- Dial-up connectivity
- Enhanced security by way of a firewall and anti-virus package
- Enhanced Control Centre for management of hardware, the desktop, themes, system administration etc

We would appreciate any feed back that you may have on this evaluation version.

Please send any feed back to: info@impilinux.co.za

Once Duty Free has been installed it will not expire.

ImpiLinux Duty Free is downloadable from:
Internet Solutions - South Africa:
ftp://ftp.is.co.za/linux/distributions/impilinux/impilinux_601_EC.iso

[tseliot]

Yesterday I tried Debian Etch for the 1st time. And I can tell you that is an AMAZING system.

I did a net install (it's not as difficult as it sounds). It'only 1 cd (of small size). it was as easy as installing Ubuntu. The "Desktop" packages are selected by default and you don't need to mess with the xserver (or xfree as it was in Debian Sarge).

Totem-xine is installed by default. You only need to add the repos for non-free software and you've got something similar to Ubuntu but more customisable.

If you want to use "sudo" (a root account is set up by default) you have to type:
su
visudo
and add a line with your username below that of Root ( where it says: ALL, ALL, etc.).

It's a very nice distro, you might enjoy it.

I suggest you to give it a whirl if you have some spare time.

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

Yesterday I tried Debian Etch for the 1st time. And I can tell you that is an AMAZING system.

I did a net install (it's not as difficult as it sounds). It'only 1 cd (of small size). it was as easy as installing Ubuntu. The "Desktop" packages are selected by default and you don't need to mess with the xserver (or xfree as it was in Debian Sarge).

Totem-xine is installed by default. You only need to add the repos for non-free software and you've got something similar to Ubuntu but more customisable.

If you want to use "sudo" (a root account is set up by default) you have to type:
su
visudo
and add a line with your username below that of Root ( where it says: ALL, ALL, etc.).

It's a very nice distro, you might enjoy it.

I suggest you to give it a whirl if you have some spare time.
Thanks for the recommendation. I think I am going to install Debian but I have two questions. 1. Is Debian Etch stable or testing ? (because I thought that Sid was in testing but I'm not sure) and 2. Does Debian use Grub bootloader ? (I am almost certain that it does but I'm not 100 % sure) I want to dual boot with dapper.

[tseliot]

1. Is Debian Etch stable or testing ? (because I thought that Sid was in testing but I'm not sure)
Etch is testing (but I find it to be stable ;) )
Sid is (and will always be) unstable


2. Does Debian use Grub bootloader ? (I am almost certain that it does but I'm not 100 % sure) I want to dual boot with dapper.
Yes, of course it uses GRUB.

Use the Netinstall (smaller to download, about 180MB and easier to use). You can find it here:
http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

Etch is testing (but I find it to be stable ;) )
Sid is (and will always be) unstable


Yes, of course it uses GRUB.

Use the Netinstall (smaller to download, about 180MB and easier to use). You can find it here:
http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/
Thanks for your help. Now I just have to burn the cd.