Distribution of Choice (2010)

[Black Viper]

Which distribution do you use? Eleven choices this year (not counting "other") to cover a lot of bases.

Discuss:
1) Ease of installation
2) Ease of updating
3) Package installation support
4)

The 2009 discussion is archived here:
http://bbs.blackviper.com/index.php/topic,1475.0.html

BV EDIT: As of March 5, 2010, you can change your vote.

[Black Viper]

Ubuntu is my Live CD and desktop Linux pick so far this year. How about you?

[IH8U]

I chose Debian because I use only Debian based distros. I use vanilla Debian along with Mint, Knoppix and I am currently typing this on a laptop with Xubuntu. The same laptop I used for that cheesy comparison of Windows XP, Windows 7. With Xubuntu running on this laptop, it really has given it a new life. I hardly ever used this machine and now I use it more than any other machine I have.

Live CD, I would have to pick Knoppix, because I generally only use live CDs for repair.
Desktop OS, I would probably go with Mint.
Old laptop I hardly ever used (1.6ghz Centrino CPU, 1.25gb ram, 160GB hard drive), Xubuntu.

[DJanda]

Ubuntu, but looking elsewhere.

Ubuntu 64-bit reverted to 32-bit (the 64-bit had problems), so now I'm back to looking for a true 64-bit Linux. Debian may have one, but it seems to be for the older Intel IA-64 architecture.
----------------------------
Edit -- 13 hours later.
Ok. Turns out that the Debian 64-bit is for the old IA-64 architecture and is not compatible with x64 architecture (different instruction sets). So... I'm presently downloading a 64-bit Mint distro.    The Mint people state that this is optimized for x64 but that it may not be as stable as their 32-bit distro.    Oh well, us pioneers are a hardy lot -- fearless too 

Now I need to re-vote, but am blocked from doing so. Oh well maybe it will be REALLY unstable and I'll have to go back to 32-bit Ubuntu. 

[DarkDavil]

<3 My edition of CentOS. I just -- LOVE programming in it
Otherwise - i could just use the norm. ubuntu

[DJanda]

The saga continues -- Turns out that the x64 Mint is merely a buffed up version of the problematic x64 Ubuntu 

Now, Fedora has an x64 distro that they claim to be stable 

I dunno, apparently further investigation is required 

Is anybody here familiar with the x64 Fedora?

[neon samurai]

For desktop and server installs on the metal: Debian. The distribution focuses on Stability and Security which I prize over latest software versions on my desktop and for obvious reasons on a server.

Mandriva was my previous primary distribution up until version 2008.1 and is still a fantastic liveCD for an adhoc OS due to it's light resource demand and great hardware detection. versions 2009.0 or later will have newer hardware support but heavier resource demands due to KDE4 default desktop.

Backtrack. If I need a liveCD for my own needed rather than general user use, this is what I use more often these days. Of course it's real value is in security testing. A more complete toolbox of security tools is unlikely to be found.

Avira Antivirus liveCD. need a boot and scan with current signature files?

SystemRescue. For those "oh sh-" moments. Along with:
SuperGRUB, Gparted, Parted Magic, some distros for testing webapps, some distros for testing browsers..

[housiemousie2]

I tried the Gnome desktop, wasn't a good fit, so I tried KDE and loved it.  My lament is the vast difference between KDE3 and KDE4 and the sudden lack of support for KDE3.  Not sure what I will do in April when they release the next Kubuntu LTS... with KDE4 only.

Out of curiosity, to see what was being recommend, I looked at the Ubuntu Install Guide... now I am wondering why it does not recommend setting up a separate Home partition.  I haven't tried Karmic Koala, does the Live CD set up a separate Home partition by default now?

[Black Viper]

Out of curiosity, to see what was being recommend, I looked at the Ubuntu Install Guide... now I am wondering why it does not recommend setting up a separate Home partition.  I haven't tried Karmic Koala, does the Live CD set up a separate Home partition by default now?

Probably not the best thread location to ask.
Start a new topic, if you wish.

[housiemousie2]

lol Sorry, lost track of my thread manners for a second there.

[k0n5t4nt]

I like Archlinux the best, I like everything up to date.

[DJanda]

Finally! Debian Lenny (stable version) 32 bit on Laptop, 64-bit on Desktop. Life is good 

[Black Viper]

As of today, you can change your vote.

[BennyLava]

I like unbuntu/kubuntu the best. The ease of installation is well, very easy.

But as I am used to doing things al-la windows, I couldn't really find where you check for updates at. I like being able to manually tell it to check for updates, and if it finds some, then you can tell it to download and install them. That's nice.

[IH8U]

Ubuntu has a program to check for updates, that usually runs at start up or you can use the command line.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade