If your hardware is supported (or at least works with it) You can't beat RHEL in terms of stability. However, even with external repos, you might not have all the packages you want, or the versions of them you want. CentOS still doesn't have 6 out (based on F12/13), so the hardware support is still about on par. 5.x could be problematic. However if you want to give it a shot, try Scientific Linux. It's at version 6, and claims to be 100% binary compatible to RHEL.

Fedora is going to have more updated packages and drivers, at the cost of stability. However, you will probably have better luck getting it on a laptop.

Can't speak for Ubuntu or Gentoo.

On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 1:24 PM, joel d <joelgroup@gmail.com> wrote:

I am setting up a new laptop and trying to decide on which distro to go with...
Probably the same list of finalists as everyone else in no particular
order (Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora / Ubuntu / Gentoo / others).

Has WLUG done a disto comparison night meeting?
I think it might be interesting.
Each person bring in a laptop with their favorite mainstream distro
(possibly 3 or 4).
Spend 20 to 30 minutes on each, showing the major differences
(installs / apps handling / etc) and why they like it.

Probably not a new idea.
If it's been done of late then please disregard as I cannot make as
many meetings as I once could.
(This is due to my personal schedule not due to lack of interest.)

Joel
_______________________________________________
Wlug mailing list
Wlug@mail.wlug.org
http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug