Which Linux Distribution Do You Use?

[Matthew Schenker]

Hello Everyone,
For those of you who run Linux, which distribution do you use?  I'd be very curious to know, as I am still in the process of understanding who uses which distribution, and why.

If you want, also mention the distributions you have tried.

For me...

Distributions I've tried:
Debian, Fedora, Knoppix, Mepis, Mint, Open SUSE, PCLinuxOS, Sabayon, Ubuntu

Distribution I now use:
Kubuntu

Matthew

 

[Dan Lyke]

Ubuntu. I got there because I used Debian for many years because I adore the package management system, but didn't like their long release cycles. When my partner said she wanted to get away from Windows, I wanted something that used underlying technologies that I liked but I knew I couldn't give her a Debian disk.

She installed Ubuntu on her own. Her machine dual-boots into Windows (although I don't think she's used that option in half a year or longer, she runs QuickBooks under Crossover/Office), and the Windows install took a lot of intervention from me.

I've tried XUbuntu, but ended up missing one or two things that a full desktop has, so I'm back to Ubuntu. I don't remember why I chose that over KUbuntu, because I do run some KDE apps as well.

On other distributions, I used to use Slackware and SLS way back in the day (early to mid '90s). I don't like Red Hat's package management system. I've compiled my own system from scratch, so I could do Gentoo, but I like the speed and simplicity of binary packages. Everything else seems like a derivative of one of those core systems.

 

[Allen Akin]

Red Hat Enterprise 4 (on my web-server/main desktop machine, and on the server that controls my solar power system), Fedora 8 (on the family machine in the kitchen), Ubuntu 7.10 (recently installed on my laptop).

I'm using RHEL on the servers because Fedora wasn't stable enough when I last evaluated it seriously (two years ago, I think?).  That's changed, and the price of RHEL support is quite high for an individual, so within a few months I'll move the RHEL4 machines to either Fedora or Ubuntu.  I haven't decided which yet.

As far as the other systems go, I think Ubuntu has the edge for usability.  Fedora seems a little more solid, but it may be just that it's more familiar to me so I unconsciously avoid the weak points.

Allen

 

[mhch]

having a Unix laptop has always been my dream for about 10 years
(I started using Unix on VAX and IBM 370 mainframes) so I could
work from anywhere, even while on travel.

Along years and a sequence of Dell laptops, I used Slackware from 1994 (10 floppies
at that time) til 1999, then Mandrake (I'm in France) upto the 10.1 release, still being used.
Worked quite fine, and I subscribed to the light cost service providing regular package upgrades access
for a number of past releases. Usage has always been software development

I'm planning to use Fedora 8 soon. Reason being that at work (a 20 people electronics CAD
software company), computers run Fedora which I find pretty good.

 

[daveg]

I've tried Mandrake (now Mandriva I believe), OpenSUSE.

I now use Ubuntu. It is by far the most user friendly for installation, updates, and general use.

So Matthew, you did get your Kubuntu installation going after all... you had been having partitioning problems last time I checked.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

So Matthew, you did get your Kubuntu installation going after all... you had been having partitioning problems last time I checked.

Well, you know the easiest way to take care of partitioning problems?  Just let Linux install and take over your hard drive!  My partition problems only mattered when I was trying to preserve Windows.  Then one fine day I decided to vaporize Windows, and I've been very happy ever since!

Matthew

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I just ran across this article about Linux distributions.  It's very interesting (well, if you're involved with Linux, that is).

Linux Distribution Article

Matthew

 

[mhoy]

Run CentOS 5.x at home. Run numerous CentOS 4.x systems at work. I've been a user of RedHat since the 6.x time frame.
CentOS is a free rebuild of the RedHat code line.  If you are willing or need support, I must say that RedHat is really very very good about getting patches and updates out.

In most cases, you don't even need to reboot after an update, (unless it's a fix to the kernel).

Mark

 

[Steve Jones]

Ubuntu - Still dual boot but I'm close to eliminating (replacing) my last evil empire app, after which buh-bye bugs, so long slow loading, riba-derci reboots.

 

[harry_]

Mandriva!