Which distro for you?A test to determine which distro to try out for your x86 desktop

[RAV TUX]

Which distro for you? A test to determine which distro to try out for your x86 based desktop.

Distro Quiz (http://eedok.voidofmind.com/linux/chooser.html) — a test that recommends a distribution based on the answers.

I took the Quiz twice for two different computers, here are the results:

1. my Newer computer

Your ideal distro is:
Built for newer computers
Easy to use
Installed with everything
One that detects your hardware for you
Packed with many choices for an application
Full of the latest and greatest features that may take up processing power
Binary package based
Free from dependancy hell
unlike another OS in GUI Naturehere's how the distributions in the database match up to your choices:
Distro name // Match %
Ubuntu (http://distrowatch.com/ubuntu) 8/11: 72%
Mandriva (http://distrowatch.com/mandrake) 9/11: 81%
SuSe (http://distrowatch.com/suse) 9/11: 81%
Fedora (http://distrowatch.com/fedora) 9/11: 81%
MEPIS (http://distrowatch.com/mepis) 8/11: 72%
Knoppix (http://distrowatch.com/knoppix) 10/11: 90%
Debian (http://distrowatch.com/debian) 8/11: 72%
Damn Small (http://distrowatch.com/damnsmall) 9/11: 81%
Gentoo (http://distrowatch.com/gentoo) 5/11: 45%
Slackware (http://distrowatch.com/slackware) 7/11: 63%
Vector (http://distrowatch.com/vector) 8/11: 72%
Kanotix (http://distrowatch.com/kanotix) 10/11: 90%
Arch (http://distrowatch.com/arch) 6/11: 54%
Ark (http://distrowatch.com/ark) 9/11: 81%
LFS (http://distrowatch.com/lfs) 4/11: 36%
Beatrix (http://distrowatch.com/beatrix) 8/11: 72%
EvilEntity (http://distrowatch.com/evilentity) 6/11: 54%

Based on these results we recommend you to try(if you haven't tried it yet):
Knoppix (http://distrowatch.com/knoppix)



2. my older computer

Your ideal distro is:
Built for older computers
Easy to use
Installed with everything
One that detects your hardware for you
Packed with many choices for an application
Lightweight and speedy
Binary package based
Free from dependancy hell
unlike another OS in GUI Naturehere's how the distributions in the database match up to your choices:
Distro name // Match %
Ubuntu (http://distrowatch.com/ubuntu) 9/11: 81%
Mandriva (http://distrowatch.com/mandrake) 7/11: 63%
SuSe (http://distrowatch.com/suse) 7/11: 63%
Fedora (http://distrowatch.com/fedora) 8/11: 72%
MEPIS (http://distrowatch.com/mepis) 6/11: 54%
Knoppix (http://distrowatch.com/knoppix) 8/11: 72%
Debian (http://distrowatch.com/debian) 9/11: 81%
Damn Small (http://distrowatch.com/damnsmall) 10/11: 90%
Gentoo (http://distrowatch.com/gentoo) 5/11: 45%
Slackware (http://distrowatch.com/slackware) 8/11: 72%
Vector (http://distrowatch.com/vector) 9/11: 81%
Kanotix (http://distrowatch.com/kanotix) 8/11: 72%
Arch (http://distrowatch.com/arch) 6/11: 54%
Ark (http://distrowatch.com/ark) 7/11: 63%
LFS (http://distrowatch.com/lfs) 5/11: 45%
Beatrix (http://distrowatch.com/beatrix) 9/11: 81%
EvilEntity (http://distrowatch.com/evilentity) 6/11: 54%

Based on these results we recommend you to try(if you haven't tried it yet):
Damn Small (http://distrowatch.com/damnsmall)


It is a nice try but I don't believe the questions are the best choice, but I do find it interesting and fun. I may actually try a few new distros out.

[aysiu]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

[?????]

Ubuntu 9/11: 81%
Mandriva 7/11: 63%
SuSe 7/11: 63%
Fedora 8/11: 72%
MEPIS 7/11: 63%
Knoppix 6/11: 54%
Debian 9/11: 81%
Damn Small 8/11: 72%
Gentoo 7/11: 63%


and on the other test, I get

Ubuntu
Kubuntu
SuSE
Mandriva

[vertigo]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

debian
kubuntu
ubuntu

not a bad little test

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
I also prefer that test. I got:

Ubuntu
Debian
Fedora
Suse

[aysiu]

That's weird. I've taken that quiz in the past, and it's done a pretty good job.

I took it just now, and I got:

SuSE
Fedora
Mandriva
Ubuntu
Debian
Mepis

[ArizonaKid]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

I took this test and was

Debian
Fedora
Suse
Ubuntu

This is a good quiz and pretty much reaffirmed the distros that I have used. However, for wireless notebooking, Ubuntu has given me the best results.

Kubuntu and Mandriva were also listed with the comment that they don't use the desired desktop, which is obviously Gnome.

[Kapre]

I took this test and was

Debian
Fedora
Suse
Ubuntu

This is a good quiz and pretty much reaffirmed the distros that I have used. However, for wireless notebooking, Ubuntu has given me the best results.

Kubuntu and Mandriva were also listed with the comment that they don't use the desired desktop, which is obviously Gnome.

Got the same results as Arizonakid...maybe it was due to the PC being a few years old and your choice of having test/experimental software/apps.

Cool test though.

K

[RAV TUX]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
I haave to admit that the questions are much better on this test but a question the results:

1. SUSE
2. fedora

3. Debian
4. Ubuntu
5.Mandriva
6. Kubuntu

I have actually tried to load the first one and also the second both wouldn't load properly. Also Ubuntu wouldn't load either (EM64T; I run Ubuntu on my old computer)

The only one I heven't tried on the list is Debian. (& Mandriva)

Now from the other not so great question test it refered me to Knoppix. Guess what I'm running Knoppix on my EM64T computer right now and everything Just works.

I fugured I wouldn't have a problem since I have run Morphix without a problem which is based on Knoppix. The other distros I have run with no problems is Musix and Dreamlinux both based on Morphix.



what is so different about Knoppix and all the Knoppix derivitives that they just work when all the others won't work?

[curuxz]

Ubuntu 10/11: 90%
Mandriva 8/11: 72%
SuSe 8/11: 72%
Fedora 9/11: 81%
MEPIS 9/11: 81%
Knoppix 9/11: 81%
Debian 9/11: 81%
Damn Small 9/11: 81%
Gentoo 7/11: 63%
Slackware 7/11: 63%
Vector 8/11: 72%
Kanotix 9/11: 81%
Arch 8/11: 72%
Ark 10/11: 90%
LFS 6/11: 54%
Beatrix 10/11: 90%
EvilEntity 7/11: 63%

Kinda funny actauly because i started out with mandrake linux and 2 years ago moved to ubuntu :D so those are pretty close to what i want.

[Kryptizzle]

Distro name Match %
Ubuntu 11/11: 100%
Mandriva 7/11: 63%
SuSe 7/11: 63%
Fedora 8/11: 72%
MEPIS 8/11: 72%
Knoppix 8/11: 72%
Debian 10/11: 90%
Damn Small 11/11: 100%
Gentoo 7/11: 63%
Slackware 9/11: 81%
Vector 10/11: 90%
Kanotix 8/11: 72%
Arch 8/11: 72%
Ark 9/11: 81%
LFS 7/11: 63%
Beatrix 11/11: 100%
EvilEntity 8/11: 72%

And... on the other one.

Fedora
Debian
Ubuntu.

[bluenova]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
This site, needs to be updated, Ubuntu failed because:
Failed these criteria:
# Does not have a graphical installer

[Engnome]

Yeah 100% ubuntu :D

[John.Michael.Kane]

Using yozef Distro Quiz:


Distro name Match %
Ubuntu 4/11: 36%
Mandriva 5/11: 45%
SuSe 5/11: 45%
Fedora 4/11: 36%
MEPIS 5/11: 45%
Knoppix 6/11: 54%
Debian 6/11: 54%
Damn Small 5/11: 45%
Gentoo 7/11: 63%
Slackware 5/11: 45%
Vector 4/11: 36%
Kanotix 6/11: 54%
Arch 6/11: 54%
Ark 5/11: 45%
LFS 6/11: 54%
Beatrix 4/11: 36%
EvilEntity 6/11: 54%

Based on these results we recommend you to try(if you haven't tried it yet):
Gentoo

Using Aysiu Distro Quiz:


SuSE
Ubuntu
Fedora
Debian
In addition:Kubuntu/Mandriva show up at end.

[aysiu]

This site, needs to be updated, Ubuntu failed because:
Failed these criteria:
# Does not have a graphical installer Let the quiz-maker know.

In all fairness, Dapper's been out for only four days.

[qalimas]

On the first test I got mixed results, on the second it says I should be using Gentoo, Slackware, or Arch. Well, I guess it's pretty accurate, if it weren't for this being a laptop, I wouldn't have Kubuntu on it. I do keep Arch on my desktop and have been itching to try Slackware, but am too scared to try Gentoo.

[RAV TUX]

On the first test I got mixed results, on the second it says I should be using Gentoo, Slackware, or Arch. Well, I guess it's pretty accurate, if it weren't for this being a laptop, I wouldn't have Kubuntu on it. I do keep Arch on my desktop and have been itching to try Slackware, but am too scared to try Gentoo.

why scared of Gentoo?

I just dowloaded some Gentoo ISO's

[bonzodog]

heh..first test, I got:

Your ideal distro is:

* Built for newer computers
* Installed with a console installer
* Only installed with a base system
* Packed with only 1 program for each application to save space
* Lightweight and speedy
* Binary package based
* unlike another OS in GUI Nature

Distro name Match %
Ubuntu 7/11: 63%
Mandriva 5/11: 45%
SuSe 5/11: 45%
Fedora 5/11: 45%
MEPIS 4/11: 36%
Knoppix 4/11: 36%
Debian 7/11: 63%
Damn Small 7/11: 63%
Gentoo 9/11: 81%
Slackware 7/11: 63%
Vector 9/11: 81%
Kanotix 4/11: 36%
Arch 10/11: 90%
Ark 5/11: 45%
LFS 10/11: 90%
Beatrix 6/11: 54%
EvilEntity 10/11: 90%

Based on these results we recommend you to try(if you haven't tried it yet):
Arch

I was thinking of trying that.

the second test (aysiu's) recommended I try Gentoo or Slackware. I used Slackware as my sole home OS for 7 years.
I am actually thinking of trying Crux, or FreeBSD next, although I might go true Unix and go for Solaris x86.

[nuvo]

The second test pretty much hit the nail on the head as it brought up:
Ubuntu
Fedora
Debian
SuSE

I haven't tried Fedora as some friends of mine from another forum complained about it and I don't really like the idea of it being a test bed for Red Hat.
I've not used straight Debian as I picked up Ubuntu first, but I've used SuSE in the past and needless to say, we didn't get on well (YaST is huge and ugly, I'd rather launch smaller config tools based on what I'm trying to do).
Also SuSE was a bit boring the last time I tried it (when it still used KDE, had no frozen bubble (one of the best games ever) and hated my old WiFi hardware).

Other options it brought up were Kubuntu, which I installed through apt before ending up reinstalling Ubuntu 5.10 (I never liked KDE much), Mandriva, which never could detect hardware correctly (I stopped bothering after both version 8 and 9 were crippled by completely different hardware issues) and Foresight, which I haven't used (and the way it's put across in the description as a showcase distro, I'm not that bothered).

I'm quite happy with Dapper using XGL at the moment :D

[kassetra]

aysiu - fine little tool you have there:

Ubuntu
Debian


And on the original one:

LFS
Ubuntu
Debian
(etc....)

[dicecca112]

Your ideal distro is:
Built for newer computers
Installed with a console installer
Only installed with a base system
One that detects your hardware for you
Packed with many choices for an application
Lightweight and speedy
Source or optimized package based
Free from dependancy hell
here's how the distributions in the database match up to your choices:
Distro nameMatch % Ubuntu (http://distrowatch.com/ubuntu) 8/11: 72%Mandriva (http://distrowatch.com/mandrake) 6/11: 54%SuSe (http://distrowatch.com/suse) 6/11: 54%Fedora (http://distrowatch.com/fedora) 6/11: 54%MEPIS (http://distrowatch.com/mepis) 5/11: 45%Knoppix (http://distrowatch.com/knoppix) 7/11: 63%Debian (http://distrowatch.com/debian) 10/11: 90%Damn Small (http://distrowatch.com/damnsmall) 7/11: 63%Gentoo (http://distrowatch.com/gentoo) 9/11: 81%Slackware (http://distrowatch.com/slackware) 8/11: 72%Vector (http://distrowatch.com/vector) 7/11: 63%Kanotix (http://distrowatch.com/kanotix) 7/11: 63%Arch (http://distrowatch.com/arch) 8/11: 72%Ark (http://distrowatch.com/ark) 6/11: 54%LFS (http://distrowatch.com/lfs) 8/11: 72%Beatrix (http://distrowatch.com/beatrix) 7/11: 63%EvilEntity (http://distrowatch.com/evilentity) 6/11: 54%

[RAV TUX]

a better test then both of these would be one where I could plug in my hardware info, and then ask key questions both of these test fail on that part. Also both test should have a more extensive library of Distros available.

but both test are fun in a novel way.

[Iandefor]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/ I got SUSE as the distro that matches me best... burning the discs right now.

[RAV TUX]

I really hate all these stupid test.

[Quillz]

The test recommended (K)Ubuntu and openSUSE for me, which just happen to be among my favorite distros. Although I was able to sucessfully install Gentoo for a while, but stopped using it because I felt I was spending way too much time getting it configured properly. When one thing was fixed, something else broke.

[FyreBrand]

I really hate all these stupid test.What made you change your mind?

[aysiu]

What made you change your mind?
You mean between this post in June 2006 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1095184#post1095184) and now? I'd say RAV TUX has since become the resident expert on other Linux distros. Maybe the quizzes seem silly now to him.

I think the quizzes are great for new users confused by all the choices out there.

[RAV TUX]

You mean between this post in June 2006 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1095184#post1095184) and now? I'd say RAV TUX has since become the resident expert on other Linux distros. Maybe the quizzes seem silly now to him.

I think the quizzes are great for new users confused by all the choices out there.

aysiu, yes great for new-to-Linux users, but after 200+ distros....yes a bit silly


What made you change your mind?
testing and using 200+ distros....I realize that these are only good for beginners...

wait did I just say the same thing twice...I have to stop eating those damn chocolate covered java beans

maybe I am just being silly tonight.

[guitarmaniac]

hmmm, took the test (http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc) a few months ago and got vastly different results...

Freespire
MEPIS
Debian
Ark Linux
Kubuntu
Ubuntu

FREESPIRE! I must admit, I wouldnt mind playing around with it, but thats more of a n00b distro from what I've heard.
I feel rather insulted :"P

[FyreBrand]

aysiu, yes great for new-to-Linux users, but after 200+ distros....yes a bit silly


testing and using 200+ distros....I realize that these are only good for beginners...

wait did I just say the same thing twice...I have to stop eating those damn chocolate covered java beans

maybe I am just being silly tonight.I thought it could be something like that. It was just a bit cryptic so I had to ask.

[maxamillion]

I prefer this quiz:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

debian
ubuntu
kubuntu

[tagginannie]

Rav, I just got Page not found

The site is up again took the test and it said that

Debian
Mandriva
K/Ubuntu

may not be good for me because my computer is to slow and the rest because it they don't have "Does not have
application library" LOL

Distros I like
Slackware
PCLinuxOS
Debian
Kubuntu

[guitarmaniac]

i got a page error with that site too.