Depends on your hardware and what packages you want. 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

You could try the 'Linux Distribution Chooser' at http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/ I imagine it is a bit out-of-date now, but I doubt that much has changed. I use Ubuntu on my desktop at home. Ubuntu is generally pretty up-to-date. It is a good beginner's Linux. However, it gives you full access to Debian's huge collection of software so it can keep advanced users happy too. Because Ubuntu is so popular most problems and obstacles already have solutions online. Which is good, because Ubuntu tends to be toward bleeding edge - with emphasis on the bleeding. However, if you wait a few months after a release to install the most troubling issues will be fixed. On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 1:59 PM, E Johnson <iris.gates@gmail.com> wrote:

Debian Squeeze is very nice. Everything Works. The spacefun wallpaper & splash screen is pretty goofy, but they're easily replacable, & easily forgotten. I custom-install Firefox on all my Debian installations. Also note: I did not install KDE on my latest Squeeze, since I didn't want KDE4. Have xfce & KDE-trinity as choices of graphical environments.

HTH Liz J

On 25 March 2011 13:24, 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

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