Choosing A Linux Distro. Why Should I Pick Yours?

I'm going to install Linux to my primary computer. It'll take about week until I get my new hard drive and have the time to start installing. So that's how much time I have to choose a distro!

 

People have been debating which distro is best is about as long as there has been linux distros, but I want you to recommend a distro for me. Everyone has opinion which distro is best, but why I should choose it?

 

 

First of all I'll tell a little background. I study IT at university and will be graduating next year. I'll start to work as a software engineer from the beginning of next year. So practically I'm a professional on communications and software design. I have experience on Linux, I've used it at the uni and have installed different distros to my own and friends computer in the past.

 

What I use my computer for? Graphics design, web design, multimedia (I listen to lot of music and watch films), downloading and of course web. I have wireless internet connection and use bluetooth (to connect my cell phone).

 

 

So, why "your" distro would be best choice for me?

SuSE Linux is a great distribution, it combines the ease for a newcomer and is very powerful like any traditional UNIX-like machines. It includes the famous YaST2 Control Panel which guides users through an easy installation and maintenance of the system.Furthermore, SuSE Linux provides you the freedom to choose whatever package you want to install and best of all, it's not Debian based.Debian systems are very restrictive and IMO, crappy because the DEB file handler jumps into dependecy hell and the APT-GET tool can't fix it. However, the APT-GET tool for SuSE (RPM) actually can fix and manage dependecies better since it actually tells you what library you're missing and tries to download it. On Debian, it just gives you parts of the library required.Furthermore, SuSE Linux doesn't require you to COMPILE EVERYTHING, which is very annoying, that's why it's better than Gentoo. However, I do agree that it adds customizability and optimisation, but most computer users don't need that, that's why I recommend SuSE.Anyways, that's my opinion on the distros.xboxrulz

but why I should choose it?

I think each one of us could telle you why he prefer a distro. But why should you choose it ? it's your own choice.

SuSE Linux is a great distribution, it combines the ease for a newcomer and is very powerful like any traditional UNIX-like machines. It includes the famous YaST2 Control Panel which guides users through an easy installation and maintenance of the system.
Furthermore, SuSE Linux provides you the freedom to choose whatever package you want to install and best of all, it's not Debian based.

I agree with that. Personally, I've used and use SuSE, Debian, RedHat 9, Fedora Core 4 & 5, MEPIS (pure crap... I don't like it at all), Ubuntu/Kubuntu, CentOS 4.3, Xandros, and several more (mostly server editions which wouldn't make great desktops). I can't tell you about Freespire because I can't get it to install on anything.

To start, cross off Debian, Red Hat 9, MEPIS (never use), and Xandros. Ubuntu is great and it is always the perfectly working OS. If you like KDE, go with Kubuntu or just install KDE on Ubuntu to have both Gnome and KDE. Ubuntu has always worked with what I needed it to do and is right up there on the lists with me next to SuSE. I actually couldn't really pick which one to put first so they're on the same line.

Ubuntu is easy to use for both pros and newbies to Linux. I wish Ubuntu was around when I discovered Linux because I know for sure I would have used it all the time! Ubuntu is designed more as a desktop OS than a server OS which is great.

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I'd suggest getting a few LiveCDs, personally the only one I've tried is Ubuntu and I love it.

wait, I'll do the oposite of what you want (and no, I'm not female )."My" distro is Slackware11.0 and while it works great, I must admit that it costed me a lot of time and research before I got working what I had to get working (except maybe wine). Slackware isn't exactly the 'easy'-OS like Suse or Ubuntu, most things have to be installed using command line because it uses another method of packages.For beginners I'd suggest to get Ubuntu in combination with easyUbuntu, does all the work for you and seems to work great on a friends' laptop (but it can also be the complete oposite, Ubuntu hardly works on my computer, booting takes ages and when it's finaly loaded, I have to wait minutes before it does what I want it to do), it's just a matter of luck .Suse isn't bad either, altough it feels a bit big, slow, heavy ... anyway, everything else but responsive, but hey, that might be me .

Thanks for the replies. At the moment I'm thinking Ubuntu. The posts here and after a talk with couple of Linux gurus at the uni kind of got me convinced. I'll try Ubuntu and if I don't like it, I'm going to go with either SUSE or Fedora. After getting some basic info and people's opinions on all of these, it feels like I can't choose badly. Well at least it's going to be huge improvement from the old Redmondian...

Update on the situation here... I installed Ubuntu and I'm loving it. Everything's working smoothly. What caused a bit problems was my WLAN card (Asus WL-138g) which doesn't have Linux drivers available. Luckily I was able to get it working with NDISWrapper and Windows drivers.

Hei Herco,I thing your choise was absolutely right!. Ubuntu is ROCK!. I've tried many distro before Ubuntu like Mandrake, Red Hat (9, Fedore Core 5) but When first try Ubuntu linux 5.04 (I requested CD Free). I love it. Now I'm using Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake) every thing works very well on my Desktop computer and my Laptop.I even did not need additional driver for my Intel Pro Wireless (for Wi-Fi) and my Nokia CDMA that I used for Modem. What happen to windows if we didnt install the driver??? just like the dead thing!.After this I want to try Kubuntu 6.10 (Edgy) because i never use KDE on ubuntu and i want to feel it!. LINUX IS ROCK!.

a little off topic :I have a doubt you have said that you used windows drivers how is that ?, I have a CDMA modem with windows only drivers (Qualcomm Technologies) .

I installed Ubuntu and I'm loving it. Everything's working smoothly. What caused a bit problems was my WLAN card (Asus WL-138g) which doesn't have Linux drivers available. Luckily I was able to get it working with NDISWrapper and Windows drivers.

just use NDISWrapper to load your WLAN driver.xboxrulz