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[linux-users] Which distro?

To: linux-users [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [linux-users] Which distro?
From: David Sumbler <david [at] xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 17:59:08 +0000
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Back to basics - I hope you won't mind a post from a very inexpert Linux user wanting some advice.

Over the last 3 years I've installed various different Linux distros on my Dell Inspiron 3200 laptop, with varying degrees of success. I'm totally convinced of the superiority of Linux over any variety of MS Windows, but up until now (and for the forseeable future) I'm dependent on W98 for internet access. (I need some advice on this some time, but that can be the subject of another thread.) I have some understanding, and a keen desire to learn, but time is limited (I have to work, and also spend time with my other half!). I have managed to compile the odd (!) kernel, and I've messed about with "Linux from Scratch", but I am still far from being expert at using and configuring Linux.

At the moment I am running RedHat 8.0, but this seems to be receiving a lot of criticism, and I myself have noticed a few oddities.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions as to the most suitable Linux distribution for somebody like me for everyday use. It's definitely time I stopped just experimenting and started using the damn thing. Amongst the versions I have already are RedHat 6.1 (as well as 8.0), and SuSE 7.3. (Unfortunately the SuSE installation discs seem to be playing up, though.)

Some of my criteria are:

1) I don't want to spend any more money on distros, so it needs to be something downloadable, probably in a CD-rom format. (SuSE, for instance, only seems to cater for ftp installation - there don't seem to be CD images available.)
2) Ideally there shouldn't be any conflict between setting things up using graphical or other tools (such as YaST) and setting things up by directly editing config files - which I much prefer to do when I know what I am doing. How else can I learn?!!
3) The installation needs to be reasonably well automated - as I said, I'm no expert, so I don't want to have to configure everything manually. (Mind you, I've not found a distribution yet that can find my cs4237 sound card, although Win98 sets it up without batting an eyelid!)

David Sumbler
david@aeolia.co.uk

http://lists.man.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/linux-users

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