In search of a new distro to try...

[LDC]

hi all

I am searching for a new distro to toy with, and it should be:

1) free
2) volunteer driven (not supported by "sponsors")
3) must NOT use proprietary drivers of sort
4) desktop oriented
5) not GNOME (whatever else is ok)
6) have package manager

the less known is the name, the more welcome

[bob]

Distrowatch is a good tool for that kind of search. Be a bit careful with the unknown distros though. One of them managed to bork my entire drive when it wiped all existing partitions without disclosing it as part of the install.

Also, have you checked out this list? http://www.gnu.org/links/links.html#...xDistributions

[iizy]

like debian or gentoo?
btw, the desktop manager is up to you, just install something other than gnome.

[LDC]

Originally Posted by bob

One of them managed to bork my entire drive when it wiped all existing partitions without disclosing it as part of the install.

ouch...
that's the exact reason of this post, I did already peeked at distrowatch but there are too many and it is very difficult to choose, so I decided to ask fellow fedorians

to toy with a new distro I will put it into a virtual machine, since currently I am totally satisfied with FC9 (and hope will be like this for a looooong time). Just trying to learn more and more

many thanks for the second link, it seems very interesting :P

@iizy: aren't they too much "famous" and sponsored?

[bob]

LDC, after giving you that link, I'm now downloading GNUstep for a trial. Looks like fun, if not a keeper, and it's a Live CD option too.

[LDC]

mmh, I am totally unable to code so GNUstep doesn't seems suited for me.... :\
btw I've found Dynebolic damn interesting, it also have a feat to create a local grid!!!!

[Gnafu the Great]

I would also suggest you browse, and post your personal results in, this thread .

[LDC]

uh... sure, once I find the new toy :P

[Dan]

Hmmmm.

OK. Try DreamLinux. http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04820

[LDC]

Originally Posted by Dan

Hmmmm.

OK. Try DreamLinux. http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04820

this will be the next one

[stevea]

Originally Posted by LDC

hi all

I am searching for a new distro to toy with, and it should be:

1) free
2) volunteer driven (not supported by "sponsors")
3) must NOT use proprietary drivers of sort
4) desktop oriented
5) not GNOME (whatever else is ok)
6) have package manager

the less known is the name, the more welcome

Do you mean a *Linux* distro or are you taking a walk on the wild side ?

For Linux your reqs 1), 3) and 6) are pretty standard. The big differentiator is item 5) Gnome vs KDE and then a plethora of very lightweight desktops. I've dinked with xfce and enlightenment desktops and I would definitely choose one of these for that 256MB, pentium III system, but there are really only two serious modern desktop choices - Gnome & KDE.

I'm trying to switch to KDE on Fedora and it's a slow learning curve but a perfectly competent desktop IMO. Nothing I dislike so far, but a lot of "how do you ..." questions arise.
--

I work with some BSD/Unix varients 40+ hrs a week and IMO the only one I'd ever consider putting on a personal system is OpenSolaris. It's fast light and works well, but it's corporate (not volunteer) and it runs Gnome by default.

Leigh123 had a glowing review of the new Debian (Lenny) release ((search for it)).

I hear good things abt Zenwalk and I don't think it uses Gnome.

Plan9 if you are truly strange (I see dead bunnies!).

[JN4OldSchool]

I would STRONGLY suggest either slackware or gentoo and STICK WITH IT! I lean towards Gentoo because of the online documentation. If you spend a few weeks on this distro you will learn so much of the foundation stuff of Linux. Plus, it is really not that hard, it is just intense. You have to pace yourself and quit when you start getting frustrated.

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml

is the x86 handbook.

[notageek]

Originally Posted by LDC

1) free
2) volunteer driven (not supported by "sponsors")
3) must NOT use proprietary drivers of sort
4) desktop oriented
5) not GNOME (whatever else is ok)
6) have package manager

From your requirements Debian fits the bill perfectly, and Slackware comes in second.

Debian has a package manager system which is quite frankly unrivaled in Linux, called aptitude. I found aptitude to be the best package manager system that is available in Linux.

Slackware too meets all your requirements, and its surprisingly simple system. Slackware is what Linux distro should ideally be. Simple, stable.

[RobertoVanto]

I am totally satisfied with FC9 (and hope will be like this for a looooong time)

Just for the next 6 months

[LDC]

Originally Posted by stevea

Do you mean a *Linux* distro or are you taking a walk on the wild side ?

mh, I am trying something different (total experimentation galore!!!), so I do gladly accept hints for the "wild side"

For Linux your reqs 1), 3) and 6) are pretty standard

maybe 1 and 6, 3 is a bit complex: even Ubuntu does use non-free code in the kernel, and so many other distros.

The big differentiator is item 5) Gnome vs KDE and then a plethora of very lightweight desktops. I've dinked with xfce and enlightenment desktops and I would definitely choose one of these for that 256MB, pentium III system, but there are really only two serious modern desktop choices - Gnome & KDE.

mh, my main (and currently only ) pc is an old AMD64/socket754, so I cannot do miracles, but since I feel like Gnome is starting to spoil (something that even remotely can be related to M$ make me puke) it is time to take a tour elsewhere and if things come to worst.... switch!

I'm trying to switch to KDE on Fedora and it's a slow learning curve but a perfectly competent desktop IMO. Nothing I dislike so far, but a lot of "how do you ..." questions arise.

mmh... this too can be interesting, do you suggest to download the KDE version or simply to install KDE in the "normal" one? or there are no differences at all?

I work with some BSD/Unix varients 40+ hrs a week and IMO the only one I'd ever consider putting on a personal system is OpenSolaris. It's fast light and works well, but it's corporate (not volunteer) and it runs Gnome by default.

I thought about it, but they made the mistake of having the user register before download. Boring.

Leigh123 had a glowing review of the new Debian (Lenny) release ((search for it)).

debian is not corporate?

I hear good things abt Zenwalk and I don't think it uses Gnome.

will search for this too...

Plan9 if you are truly strange (I see dead bunnies!).

urgh...you spotted me