Bread, milk and a Linux PC

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Each distro has its pluses and minuses

SuSE does not have true downloadable ISOs, you can only download an ISO to do an FTP install, which is no biggie if you have broadband, but is a major hassle if you don't. However, once installed SuSE is probably the best desktop system for the Linux newbie and the easiest to maintain.

Slackware, Debian, and Gentoo are a ***** to install, especially if you're not a Linux expert. however they all give the computer expert total control of thier systems. I've never used Slackware or Debian, but I have Gentoo installed at home, and let me tell you, once you get it up and running and fully configured, it is the most hassle free OS you'll ever want. You never even have to do a full update like you do with Windows (or even SuSE from time to time) because the portage system upgrades (not just updates) individual packages as they are released, so you never have to download new install ISOs and update your whole system, because it's always up to date. And it even compiles all programs from source, by itself, no intervention. All you have to do is have a daily cron job of "emerge sync && emerge world -U" (I use a capital U to keep some programs from downgrading) and you never have to intervene (well almost never). It's also one of the best Linux learning tools you could ask for. (Sorry, my Gentoo rant got a wee bit long there.)

Anyway Yellow Dog is nice but only runs on Mac hardware and if you're used to having the most up to date programs it's not for you because it's a bit behind the curve. It's basically Red Hat for Macs, which can be a positive or a negative depending on what you expect out of it.

Red Hat itself charges a premium for its enterprise edition, and Fedora has its problems too. Something about their distribution just rubs me the wrong way. That Windows/Grub boot problem is part of it, but there's more to it I can't quite explain. I just think SuSE is much better for the desktop.

And finally Knoppix, which bar none is the best Live CD ever made and a useful tool for any computer guru, is of course only a Live CD. There are ways of getting it to run on a hard drive, but no one who isn't a computer geek would even consider taking that route.

So yes, Mandrake does have its problems, but it's got its advantages as well. The fact that you have to pay for so much is most likely due to the fact that they almost went under. They are better suited for the desktop than Red Hat, although I still think SuSE has them beat overall. But other people I know still prefer Mandrake. And I'm wondering that since SuSE will in the very near future go from a KDE default to a Gnome default that KDE fans (and I'm certainly one) might be more willing to give Mandrake a try.

Posted by: Michael Kelly   Posted on: 08/03/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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