Distribution of Choice (2009)

[interval]

Mint looks interesting, I've yet to try it though. I'm in the Ubuntu camp myself. This is after trying many distros; first Slackware back in the early days of Linux, this is going back to '95 or so, then red hat when it was red hat, mandriva, centos, and a dabble at assorted distros here and there.  The easiest by far to install and configure has been Ubuntu, hands down.

[pocosdad]

I'm new to your site and so far have enjoyed the appearance and discussions enough to want to throw my two cents in...
For those who have not tried a "great" distro take a look at PCLinuxOS...based on KDE or Ubuntu or xfce (your choice) it has everything in a very easy to install package...after all I did it!

[WildcatDan]

I've tried a lot of different distributions and the one I like the best is Freespire.  Freespire is the free version of Linspire (Xandros) and is based on Ubuntu 7.  Freespire uses the CNR client to update and to install software.  It's ease of use, for me, places it ahead of every other distro I've tried.  Beyond that, it does a good job of providing drivers for older hardware.  I've got an old Compaq that I beat up regularly with new Linux distros and, so far, Freespire is the only one to manage 1024x768 resolution on the graphics.  Everything else stays at 800x600.  That's right out of the gate, of course.  It's base VESA driver does a better job. 

[IH8U]

The concept behind Linspire was great but it was too far ahead of it's time. The whole idea of just clicking on the software that you want through CNR and having it download and install over the internet, instead of having to go to a store and buy it and running a cdrom with an installer was great. I believe the biggest problem for them at the time was broadband was a commodity. Currently I don't remember the last time I used a CD to install software, except for a game or OS. Another issue I think was the price. I remember Michael Robertson going on and on about how Lindows (Linspire) was going to be so much cheaper than Windows and blah blah. $99 seemed a little steep to me, considering back then that was the upgrade price for most versions of Windows. Don't forget about the fact that comparable versions of Linux were free. I think a better model would have been to give the branded OS away for free or close to free and then developed low cost applications specifically for that OS whether inhouse or through partnerships with other developers. Naturally I could be totally wrong but who knows since the project is now dead, except for freespire.   

[Black Viper]

I think a better model would have been to give the branded OS away for free or close to free and then developed low cost applications specifically for that OS whether inhouse or through partnerships with other developers. Naturally I could be totally wrong but who knows since the project is now dead, except for freespire.

Well, the previous model didn't work, so anything could have been an improvement.
I agree that it was ahead of its time and also agree that the price of admission was way too high for "what it was," a Linux distro. It seems to me, I could be way off base, but aptget was a tad on the difficult side to use when Linspire first came out, but now (based off of Ubuntu 9.10), it is "fairly" easy... ya still have to know what you want (so many options for the same kinda stuff), but the install process is very streamlined and "hands off", so to speak.

[WildcatDan]

When I find the free time to tinker around the shop, I like to keep up-to-date on the new linux distros.  My experience with Freespire 2.1.8 has been the best so I usually compare new experiences to that.  The problem I run into is that I'm always installing it on some older PC so I don't have an accurate picture of Linux on a brand new 64bit system.  Eventually I'll snag a more recent test machine.  As for cost, that is an issue.  I saw the price tag for Linspire and I just couldn't see it happening.  Especially when most Linux distros are free.  I'd sure like to see a new version of Freespire since it's been more than a year.  Linspire got picked up by Xandros so we'll see what they do with it.  The CNR concept is awful nice. 

[trashy]

I haven't posted for a while, but I did finally make time to check out Mint.  There are some pro's and con's that I am putting into a separate thread.

[DJanda]

Oops  I haven't weighed in on this thread. I have been using an old Red Hat distro on my old machine. It did what I wanted, and I saw no pressing need to change. However, I have gone to Ubuntu on my new (64-bit) machine. I just wanted a 64-bit Linux  Talk about fast!!! Yeee Haw 

[Runaway1956]

64 bit Ubuntu here.  I fooled around with Redhat a few times long ago, and never did make it run right, due to hardware issues and a total lack of support in my area.  Around the time WinXP 64 bit came out, I bought an Opteron, and had problems with drivers.  Went looking at Linux again, downloaded Suse 9.something, and it just worked.  Right out of the box, it just worked!!  Well, as time went by, I got more and more tired of administering Windows machines that seemed to be eaten up with malware every month or two, so I started a crusade to convert the family to Linux.  The wife especially resisted, until I installed Ubuntu.  Today, she uses a machine that dual boots to WinXP or Ubuntu - and she never boots to Windows. 

On my machine, the gateway to the internet, I'm kinda stuck with Ubuntu now.  It's been installed for so long, I hate to do a fresh install of anything, then try to migrate everything.  If/when I get a new machine, I plan to go Debian. 

[cuiq]

my first linux distro was Mandrake 7.0 that was around 2000/2001 since then I've tried many and have always come back to Debian, and am currently dual booting that with Arch linux. Once I broke away from my OS whoredom addiction. However i am finding myself once again inching my way to installing FreeBSD or the more newbie comfortable PC-BSD (more new user desktop friendly BSD). I've tried my hand at both before but didn't stick with it, but have always kept that an interest. So now that I'm done repairing so many computers I'm ready to take it on again as my new project.

[cheer]

Ubuntu here.  My main house server/media server is generally running the latest LTS release.  My email server is a few versions back, which means updating is going to be a pain, so I've been procrastinating.

I'm not crazy about GNOME, but haven't taken the time to try KDE, xfce, Fluxbox or whatever.  I've tried distros on and off since the original Slackware/Red Hat days, but really it was apt/Synaptic that made me a believer -- the package management just gives me tinglies.  Last time I tried Red Had I didn't think yum compared (though it's been a few years now, so who knows what's changed).

Sadly work forces me to say Windows-bound, and a few niggling things keep me dual-booting on my personal PC (video encoding tools like Avisynth, plus iTunes for my iPod -- I could probably get it working under Linux but last time I tried it did not go well).  I also wish I could use it on my media PC, but I need to be able to play Blu Ray discs.

Still, I use it where I can and continue to dream of switching to it fully...