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What, in your humble opinions, is the best Linux distro? I'm looking for something to put into VPC to use on a regular basis alongside Windows.

Thanks!

LINUX what's a good idea

yea,there is over 200 linux distro.,each one has feature than other,but at last all of them are linux kernel

i tried:
open suse,deli,fedora,pclinux2007,& ubuntu2008 was the last one
why i chose this distro. :
1. include the latest update for linux kernel
2. many cool app. like WINe
3. security,....
4. as usual,this OS's is FREEEE

Debian-based distributions are my favorite. I personally use Ubuntu 8.04.1. Fedora 9 is nice too, except from my experience, is a little slower than Ubuntu.

If you are new to Linux, don't have any special requirements beyond "an OS for my desktop / laptop", and / or have well-supported (i.e., not too new) hardware, your best bet is usually to go with whatever is "hip" at the moment, as that's usually the best-supported distro for the time being.

Today, that'd be Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, if you prefer KDE). Good out-of-the-box functionality.

If you are a pro who likes to do things "special", have the latest hardware that might require some "fiddling", and / or prefer some manual work all the time over serious problems when you can least afford it...

...my answer is Gentoo. The package management beats the sorry crap out of everything else, and the support for off-the-main-road questions is excellent.

@Solar: A good package manager is one of the things I need most. I'm downloading the 700MB install CD as I write, so I should be able to set it up to install while I'm having dinner

@01000101: Ubuntu epic fails in Virtual PC (stupid M$ emulated crap), but I hear it's a great distro.

Troy Martin wrote:I'm downloading the 700MB install CD as I write, so I should be able to set it up to install while I'm having dinner

Oh boy, someone is in for a rude surprise...

Solar wrote:

Troy Martin wrote:I'm downloading the 700MB install CD as I write, so I should be able to set it up to install while I'm having dinner

Oh boy, someone is in for a rude surprise...

Hmm, it never downloaded properly. Stopped at 381MB and it doesn't boot...

What kind of rude surprise?

What kind of rude surprise?

Well, it doesn't involve your internet issues.

Solar was commenting on the fact that Gentoo is a source based distribution, ie., when you install it, it literally compiles everything right there on the spot. If you're only installing a command line system this may only take a few hours, but if you're installing KDE and the Glasgow Haskell Compiler, this may take *much* longer. (As in, go to sleep, wake up, and find it still compiling.)

Have fun.

From Men in Black:

Edwards: [shouting after Kay] Hey! Is it worth it?
Kay: Oh yeah, it's worth it.

"...if you are strong enough."



That quote brings the whole of Gentoo to the point, IMHO.

If you can be bothered, Gentoo. If not, Debian. The answer is as simple as that.

Depends on what you want;
If you want a simple linux distro, use Freespire, as they couldn't care less about freedom and have many more drivers than other distros.
If you want one that's a bit less simple, for newbies to Linux, but power-users of Windows, try Ubuntu.
If you want one that's a bit harder and you've learnt Ubuntu, try Fedora (which is what I use).
If you think you can take the work of compiling an entire system, Gentoo for you.

OK, I've narrowed it down to three choices:

Debian: (f***ing 21 CDs though)
Ubuntu: (oh god the tweaking I have to do)
Fedora: (minimal tweaking needed with FC3 )

Wikipedia wrote:Gentoo, a distribution targeted at power users

Should've read that beforehand...

Troy Martin wrote:Debian: (f***ing 21 CDs though)

If you want Debian, there is also the 3 DVD option or the online installation.

Cheers,
Adam

I have a DVD with Ubuntu 7.10 on it, so I'm installing it right now. Gotta set up a few default kernel args though, since it's looking for a USB mouse and not a PS/2 one.. VPC emulates only PS/2 mice..

Damn this is slow. It's been installing for two hours and it's only at 45 percent..

Troy Martin wrote: Debian: (f***ing 21 CDs though)

You could always do a web-install, unless your only internet access needs a special driver (BCM43xx an all).

But I'd recommend Fedora out of your choices.