[Camarade_Tux]

This section really lacks stickies so why not start with a topic to index some linux distributions?

Many people don't know which distribution to install just because there are too much choice, I think we can help there.
Don't make it as long as the story as your life; the goal is too give an *idea* on which distribution will fit someone better.


Slackware:
Latest stable version: 12 (see this topic)
Latest developpment version: 12; updates approximately twice a year
Philosophy: Keep It Simple, Stupid; packages without dependancy checking
Pros:

• lightweight and fast
  
• up-to-date
  
• configuration does not rely on graphical tools; useful when your graphical server is dead...
  
• ultra-stable
  
• 110% customizable

Cons:

• installer lacks good repartionning tools (but has good partionning ones)

OpenSuSe:
Latest stable version: 10.2
Latest developpment version: 10.3alpha5, 10.3 stable planned for 04/10/07
Pros:

• up-to-date
  
• yast2, the easiest and most featured linux installation and configuration tool
  
• nearly perfect hardware support, including tv output, bluetooth, infrared, laptop power-management (better then XP's)
  
• all imaginable softwares have suse packages

Cons:

• a bit heavy
  
• too many dependancies sometimes

This post has been edited by Camarade_Tux: 03 July 2007 - 03:26 AM

[awergh]

i shall add some more i dont have much to say about them though

Fedora Core
Latest Stable version: 7
Includes KDE and Gnome
(it used to anyway)
Based off Red Hat
it uses the RPM packaging system
easy to use installer

Debian
Latest Stable version: 4
Includes Gnome
KDE?
It uses the deb packaging system

Ubuntu
Latest Stable version: 7.04
Includes Gnome
K\X\Ubuntu linux is based of Debian
It uses the deb packaging system
LiveCD based installer

Kubuntu
Latest Stable version: 7.04
Includes KDE

Xubuntu
Latest Stable version: 7.04
Includes XFCE

Mandriva
Latest Stable version: 2007 Spring
Formally known as Mandrake.
Easy to use, nice installer.
Includes KDE and Gnome
(it used to anyway)

[darrelljon]

Puppy:
Latest stable version: 3.01
Latest development version: 4.00; updates about twice a year
Philosophy: Old hardware/speed and responsiveness with ease of use
Pros:

• Fast
  
• Easy to use
  
• Good old hardware support
  
• Good community

Cons:

• Single user runs as root

PCLinuxOS:
Latest stable version: 2008
Latest development version: ?; updates about ? a year
Philosophy: Ease of use
Pros:

• Modern up-to-date software
  
• Easy to use
  
• Good hardware support
  
• Good community

Cons:

• RPM not quite as widespread as DEB

Knoppix:
Latest stable version: 5.1.1
Latest development version: ?; updates about biannually
Philosophy: KDE focused Live CD
Pros:

• Range of included applications
  
• Fairly easy to use
  
• Good hardware support

Cons:

• Hard disk installation isn't recommended

Linux Mint:
Latest stable version: 4.0
Latest development version: 5.0?; updates about twice a year
Philosophy: from freedom came elegance
Pros:

• Very easy to use
  
• Great hardware support

Cons:

• Proprietary software

MEPIS:
Latest stable version: 7?
Latest development version: 8?; updates about once a year
Philosophy: Ease of use
Pros:

• Good software
  
• Easy to use
  
• Good hardware support

Cons:

• Commercialism

Sidux:
Latest stable version: 2008
Latest development version: ?; updates about biannually
Philosophy: Making Debian easy
Pros:

• Software Compatibility
  
• Easy to use
  
• Good hardware support

Cons:

• Support

KanotiX:
Latest stable version: 2007
Latest development version: ?; updates about biannually
Philosophy: Installable Knoppix
Pros:

• Easy to use
  
• Good hardware support
  
• Software range

Cons:

• Support

DSL:
Latest stable version: 4.3
Latest development version: ?; updates about once a year
Philosophy: Old hardware/speed and responsiveness
Pros:

• Fast
  
• Small size
  
• Good old hardware support

Cons:

• Support

Debian Live:
Latest stable version: 4
Latest development version: 5?; updates about biannually
Philosophy: Stability
Pros:

• Stable
  
• Wide range of software

Cons:

• Slow development

This post has been edited by darrelljon: 26 April 2008 - 03:59 PM

[tain]

http://distrowatch.com/ maintains a more up-to-date and crowd-sourced index.

[Laser98IX]

Knoppix:
Latest stable version: 7.0.3 on CD (as of 2012-06-25)
"Knoppix version 7.0.2 (update), including Kernel 3.3.7, is now available as DVD image."

Pros:

• Lots of software on CD.
  
• CD burner integrated.
  
• Browser (IceWeasel) is clone of FireFox® and will run same/similar plug-ins..
  
• Word processor (Libre) is clone of OpenOffice® and will run same templates.
  
• GNU image manipulation program is clone of Gimp® and will open/modify/save same files.
  
• Will run from CD or RAM, but much faster if "TORAM" option is added during boot.
  
• Can be booted to RAM w/minimum of 1Gb; faster with more RAM.
  
• Excellent hardware detection and reporting.
  
• Will detect and allow use of almost every USB stick w/no problem.
  
• Hard disk install not necessary.
  
• Any computer with RAM, keybd, mouse, display, net-card, & CD-ROM can access internet.
  
• Even older hardware w/o hard drive works (minimum RAM requirements make ancient H/W difficult).
  
• Solid, safe, and very stable O/S.

Cons:

• CD burner slow.
  
• On Ver6.7.1 some JAVA app's don't behave very well.
  
• Not all web videos, "Flash," or videos will run.
  
• No planned updates to make "Flash" run because of licensing issues.
  
• Can be difficult for a novice to configure and use browser the first time.

Puredyne:
Latest stable version: 9.11 (carrot and coriander) on CD/DVD/USB (as of 2010-03-26)
"Puredyne is developed for artists, by artists. It's used for live music, installation art, hardware hacking, teaching, and more."
Based on Ubuntu and Debian Live.

Pros:

• USB stick installation.
  
• Fast, minimal package.
  
• Targeted to electronic, audio, visual artists.
  
• Optimized for use in realtime audio and video processing.
  
• Low latency kernel.
  
• Runs Pure Data, Supercollider, Icecast, Csound, Fluxus, Processing, Arduino, more.
  
• List of available S/W is extensive.

Cons:

• Not meant for typical internet browser user.

Musix:
Latest stable version:

• 2.1 for USB (as of 2010-04-27)
  
• 2.0 for CD and DVD (2009-11-28)

"One CD and you have it all: office applications, net, graphics, programing, midi, audio"

Pros:

• Heavily geared to musicians and performers.
  
• Lots of audio and music software included.
  
• Multiple languages supported: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, English.

Cons:

• Not Debian based: "A different approach: a didactic O/S"
  
• Primarily Spanish language development; English secondary consideration.
  
• Not all site URL's currently stable; may be gone soon.