[PLUG] Linux distributions

[Nathan Williams]

I'll echo the endorsement for CentOS 7. It's reasonably new enough to offer
new-ish packages for desktop use, while also being the "gold standard" for
stability and long term support (EOL in June 2024). Add in EPEL and elrepo
for "extras", and you've got a pretty solid system that you won't have to
totally replace every 6 months.

In addition, it's got that new-fangled systemd init system that all the
major distros are going to be on within the next year or so, so you won't
end up having a really core piece of the system be different from what
everyone else is running (better supportability if you need help down the
road).

Cheers,

Nathan W

On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 5:04 PM Michael Rasmussen <michael at jamhome.us>
wrote:

> On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 01:56:53PM -0700, Nat Taylor wrote:
> > On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 12:43 PM, Michael Rasmussen <michael at jamhome.us>
> > wrote:
> > > On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 08:16:39AM -0700, Nat Taylor wrote:
> > > > I've been using Arch Linux with the cinnamon desktop.  Works great
> once
> > > you
> > > > get it installed.  I used the guide in Linux Voice magazine.  I
> suggest
> > > > reading some of those magazines, and taking a look at
> distrowatch.com .
> > > > As mostly a user now I find Linux Mint (LTS versions) with the Mate
> > > > desktop manager works great.  For servers I've started moving to
> Debian.
> > >
> > > My terse reply of "Not Arch" was made before seeing this message.
> > >
> > > The OP wrote "isn't cutting edge." I don't know of a distribution that
> is
> > > less
> > > cutting edge than Arch. How they manage to keep it organized and well
> > > functioning
> > > is a mystery. But they do. And I get the very current versions of the
> photo
> > > and video editors that drew me to it.
> > >
> > > But if you're not looking for that level of upstream tracking, stay
> away.
> > >
> > > OK, pacman is also a very excellent package manager.
> > >
> >
> > Looks like it's been 3 years since I installed Arch on this box, never
> had
> > a problem with an upgrade,
> > although it looks like there are only 12 packages i've installed from the
> > AUR, all but three of them done
> > by hand (did just install yaourt recently for a more automated process)
> >
> > I guess it is cutting edge though, I figured it was right up there with
> > slackware for ease of installation,
> > and learning about linux while you install.  It's always been stable for
> me.
> >
> > I think I started with mandrake 5 and debian woody, moved to ubuntu for a
> > while, then deserted and hopped distros for a while before landing on
> Mint then Arch
>
> Everything you say agrees completely with my experience. As an added point
> my
> last distro before Arch was Kubuntu LTS and it was a much bigger PTIA to
> maintain.
>
> My response was based on the OP's stated preferences. No matter how good
> Arch is it's
> not a match for his described target.
>
> --
>       Michael Rasmussen, Portland Oregon
>     Be Appropriate && Follow Your Curiosity
> The fastest way to become rich is to socialize with the poor;
> the fastest way to become poor is to socialize with the rich.
>     ~ Nassim Taleb
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