The problem with Linux distros...

[jdog]

You can see the nearly daily releases here: http://distrowatch.com

The problems are...what distros are actually doing anything and making forward progress? Ubuntu is with Unity. Linux Mint is with it's interface, features and ease of use out of the box. Maybe Fedora is by pushing forward with Gnome 3? How about OpenSUSE? I hear it is almost ready for 12.1 to come out but what changes are there?

I feel most of the other distros are the same old thing and really pointless to have them. Some add the AWN dock and others just jumble a bunch of software for a huge, bloated install.

Really though. Anyone else been impressed by any Linux distros lately (other than Ubuntu and Mint)?

[AYHJA]

I like Mint DE, and for the hell of it, I decided to install Debian 6 Squeeze...I think I like it better than Mint so far...Other than being stuck with just iceweasel, I'm having a better experience...That could be too, that I'm getting more comfortable working and moving around in Linux, fixing things doesn't seem nearly as hard as it did before...I got my sound working right away, and once I get square on how to install games, I'm good...

Funny you start this topic, I was just about to come and find or start a thread where linux users talk about what they like and don't like about the distro they use...As far as I know, there are about 5 of us who consider themselves Linux users, myself included...I don't think I'll ever go back to Windows full time, Linux is a tinkerers dream...

I don't really care about visuals, a good wallpaper does me well...I care about stabiility, and being able to use both my HDDs despite them reporting massive SMART failures is a big fat bonus to me...Windows will not even install on my drives, and Im running Linux like nobody's business...

I like LMDE, I will still consider that my favorite distro....But as it is based in Debian, I think I'll be here for a while....

[jdog]

Well, I mean just taking Linux to the next level. IMO Debian doesn't do that. The latest version just comes with standard Gnome. There's nothing special about it. Given, Linux tweakers can do as they please to it from initial installation. It's good to know the ins and outs of things sometimes but I'm not a programmer...never will be. I don't want to have to keep breaking things and fixing them because "that's just Linux."

I still use Windows and always will as that's a part of my profession. GIven, everywhere I work still uses Windows XP, which is laughable. I will always use Windows as I am also a gamer...although not one of the type that upgrade their computer 1-2 times a year for it. Last hardware I purchased was a Core 2 Quad Q9450 and Radeon HD 5850 back in 2009. I have zero intention of upgrading anytime soon until I get a chance to play Battlefield 3 and see if my system can handle it, which it should.

Back to Linux, I intend on getting a new laptop soon and will wipe whatever it comes with and put Mint on it. But I was curious to see what other distros are actually going the extra mile for the sake of taking Linux to the next level. I tried out Fedora 15 on a laptop at work and I think it will take a while to learn Gnome 3 because I was annoyed at how Fedora doesn't come with all the codecs, plug-ins, etc that Mint does.

[5829]

Still using Fedora 14 because of Gnome 3. I like applications on panels for easy access. I like putting things on the desktop, but I don't put too applications there. On the desktop I usually put documents, pictures, music things that I want easy access to without having to run Nautilus. I guess that I will eventually switch but it will take me a while to get used to it.
I am not Linux savvy and getting things to work sometimes can be a pain and the Fedora forums are really designed for people who know what they are doing.
If you want an explanation on why they don't include certain common software.
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems
One of the interesting inclusions is that they include IcedTea for their Java (it comes installed in FireFox) but don't include GNASH for their flash even though that is what they recommend and is in their repository.

Ubuntu was my first Linux distro. Somebody gave it to me to try out, but I did not care for their UI. So they gave me Fedora and I liked it better. At that time I did not know about Mint. Still don't care the Ubuntu UI, which is why I don't use it. Have not tried the Ubuntu forums for help.

Mint is pretty good. They kept Gnome 2, they install a lot of common software for you and their UI is nice. Have not used it much but it may replace Fedora if I get too frustrated with it. I did try Mint 11 and had trouble with the sound, but I did not try to fix it. Have not tried their help forums.

Not that much into trying other distros. About the only other Linux distro that I tried is Puppy because I wanted something small and quick to run off a USB stick.

So basically right not I am sticking with Fedora because they seem to be the most plain vanilla with their software UI's. But for somebody who just wants something that works without having to fool around getting it to work I would recommend Mint. I also that that Mint has the right idea of what should be included as options in their installation.


A Linux distro timeline
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... dt1009.svg

[jdog]

Pretty cool timeline thing there.

I think if it were as easy to install codecs, plug-ins, etc in Linux then Mint would sort of lose it's shine. I don't know but I tried a command line install to get Flash working on Fedora 15 64-bit and it wasn't working. If it's that f-ing hard to install something like Flash then I just throw my hands up on it. The Gnome 3 interface will take a bit to get used to though it is nice. Shows what they can do with Linux given the right creativity and development.

Mint does have a really nice updater and the Mint menu was a brilliant addition. Makes finding things practically cake.

[AYHJA]

Yeah, that timeline was cool...

As for gnome 3, I guess I don't know what Im missing...I'll look into it...But for codecs, what gives..? I haven't had to install anything to get vids to play in Debian so far...Its even thumbnailing vids over the network...

I'm all about trying distros now, I'll give Fedora a go tomorrow... :)

[5829]

Don't know what instructions you are following but installing Adobe Flash is simple. It is 4 steps.
Worked for me - for 32 bit. Have not tried 64. But it does cover 64 bit.
It did install for FireFox.

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Flash

Summarized (for 32 bit)
Download the YUM version
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
su -c 'rpm -ivh adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm'
su -c 'rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux'
su -c 'yum install nspluginwrapper alsa-plugins-pulseaudio flash-plugin'

I installed smplayer and vlc. I find that most of the audio/video codecs install when I installed those. Totem (default) most of the time will ask and most likely find them.

[AYHJA]

OK, I formatted and installed Fedora today...A few things...

I really, really like the new interface...Its enough to make me want to work with it, which brings me to my next point...This is by far the most need to be worked on distro I've tried so far...I dont' have any sound, there are no codecs, and I keep running into small bugs...It also ate my debian install, so from this point on I know to install Debian second...

But I DO like it, it should be perfect to run off of a thumbdrive 4GB or less...I think the .iso was no bigger than 550 MB...That leaves plenty of space for a persistence file...As of right now, the rankings would be:

1. Debian
2. LMDE
3. Fedora
4. Mint
5. Ubuntu

I think I tried Ubuntu for a few hours and couldnt decide why it was the most popular distro out there...If I had to pick a distro, it would def. be a mix between Fedora and Debian, which is kinda where LMDE comes in...With the gnome 3 interface, I'd settle on LMDE in a heartbeat...

[jdog]

I think I tried Ubuntu for a few hours and couldnt decide why it was the most popular distro out there...If I had to pick a distro, it would def. be a mix between Fedora and Debian, which is kinda where LMDE comes in...With the gnome 3 interface, I'd settle on LMDE in a heartbeat...

Ubuntu 11.04? Yeah, that Unity interface is something different. It's the most popular because everyone (for years) recommended it and it has the biggest user base for support.

[AYHJA]

The support base is outstanding, which I guess is why its good and recommended for people new to linux who may or may not be as geeky as us...Linux is not for the easily frustrated, that's for sure...Fixing or troubleshooting why things aren't working is taking up a huge part of my day as far as getting into it goes...One false move, and you will def. be on your way to reformatting unless you've got time to post support topics and wait for a reply that will tell you the obvious...I need to see if I can find a serious support forum for this Fedora, this is getting beyond me...

Kinda why I started that Fedora thread, not only have I had to end up reinstalling anyway, its a great guide for me to follow for myself...