[PLUG] Need opinions/advice on which release to use

[Rich Shepard]

On Sat, 7 Aug 2004, hilsy wrote:

> I'm in the process of acquiring a new home desktop which will have all the
> latest bells and whistles hardware-wise.  I've decided to completely
> convert over to a linux-based system with this new box.  I'd like to hear
> opinions on which release I should use (Mandrake, Debian, RH, etc.).

Jim,

  They are all good; each has strengths and weaknesses. Make a list of
what's important to you then compare the various distributions based on
specific attributes. That's what I did when I decided to switch from Red Hat
to Slackware. Others have different criteria and make different decisions.

  Should we also help you pick a car, house, wife or job offer? :-) Only you
know what's important to you. You'll need to make your own decision and
accept the results without the ability to blame others. Regardless, you
won't go wrong.

> I'll be using the box mainly for word processing, web surfing, possibly
> web hosting (if I can get my act together), and maybe a little gaming
> (though I rarely have time for that anymore). I'll need to be able to be
> compatible with Micro$oft word and excel for work purposes (will I need to
> run an emulator like wine?).

  Download and install OpenOffice.org-1.1.2. No emulator needed; whines are
accepted if not too frequent. I use it on a regular basis to read and
respond to documents sent to me by folks stuck with Microsoft. When I
produce copies MsOffice can read no one has complained it won't open. Same
with Excel and PowerPoint files.

  Pick the browser of your choice. I actually use 5 different ones -- at
different times and for different purposes. My main browser is mozilla, but
I've replaced it with firefox on the two hosts on which I could install the
latter. The other boxes run mozilla. Those copies are well locked down. No
cookies, java or other extraneous stuff permitted. When I must allow cookies
or java I use opera. I also use lynx and links when I don't want a gui
browser. Whichever one(s) you pick need to be well waxed to preserve them
from the surfing spray.

  Apache is the defacto universal standard for http servers. It is included
with every distribution.

> I've run both debian and RH 7.0 on an old (1997) dell notebook before.
> Debian was nice, but it wasn't ready for solid notebook use at that time.
> RH 7.0 was solid and worked well for that old, slow notebook.

  On my 1999-vintage Toshiba Portege I've run both Red Hat and Slackware.
For your declared uses, any distribution -- in a current release -- will
fully meet your expectations.

> Thans in advance. I'll now go back to my usual PLUG lurking.

  Give as well as take. It's more fun that way.

Rich

-- 
Dr. Richard B. Shepard, President
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc. (TM)
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com>