which one?

[bufferman]

Here is what I am looking for in a distro:

1. It must be free
2. Easy installation
3. Good package management with dependency check


This pretty much leaves me with:

1. Fedora Core (yum/apt-get package management)
2. Knoppix (apt-get ?)
3. Mandrake (yum/apt-get again? )

I am looking to completely replace windows now. Which one of these 3 would you guys recommend. I was also looking at vidalinux which is based on Gentoo but it seems to be in beta right now. I was also looking at Mepis but I don't know what kind of package management it uses and whether it takes care of the dependencies or not.

So any help would be appreciated.

As per my previous post. I am still trying and loving Knoppix, but I am open to suggestions. Since Knoppix is based on Debian I am hoping it has apt-get.

[fatTrav]

Mandrake uses their own thing--urmpi. It's quite nice. I don't like FC2, so I can't recommend it. Mandrake is a good distro and urmpi's dep check and general prowess is on par with apt-get.

Debian sarge has a new, decent, installer. A newbie could struggle with it and get a base install.

I'd maybe recommend Mandrake the strongest only because Debian Sarge is like 10 cds or something and the Net install (one cd) gives you only a basic barebones install. [SSH/SFTP isn't even installed by default] I'm currently "struggling" with apt-get'ting a useable Debian on my test box.

[JayMan8081]

I would also recommend Mandrake. It is very easy to install and free. Once urpmi is configured it is very easy to get just about any program you can want. It will also allow you to upgrade a program or your entire system if you want. I'm pretty happy with it personally. I use it at home on a laptop and at work for programming. There are several helpful sites available as well such as easyurpmi for setting the sources for urpmi.

[bufferman]

hmm.. alright I will give mandrake a shot.
Does it have certain advantages over knoppix?

thanks.

[fatTrav]

all distros have advantages and disadvantages with each other.

i haven't used knoppix much at all, so i can't answer your question further. distrowatch.com may have some information.

[arkaine23]

Yoper.

faster
better
stronger

The developers are catering to Linux noobs. Highly optimized. Has apt-get/synaptic. Installs quick and easy.

[XiaoKJ]

I still say MEPIS

[bufferman]

I want to know more about Mepis.
What kind of package management system does it have. Does it detect and install all the drivers for hardware or are there some problems?

I know that mandrake and suse are very good at detecting 99.9% of the hardware in any computer.

Knoppix Live CD detected everything in my system. Although I had no way to check if it detected my modem. Is Linux supporting winmodems now?

thanks

[jbloudg20]

I jave found mandrake 10.0 VERY buggy. So buggy in fact, that with my hardware, I couldnt not get it to install. One time I was able to get it to boot, and it immediately crashed.

I have found Suse 9.1 Pro delightful, despite my nagging xserver problems.

[bufferman]

I was reading a review on linuxquestions.org where the person said that Suse pro 9.1 doesn't offer DVD playback. Has this problem been solved?
Also, does suse work with winmodems too?

I am wary of putting out $90 unless it's really worth it.

[jbloudg20]

Not sure about win modems... but SuSe can be had for nothing...

I am haveing HUGE problems with X server (I also had these problems with EVERY distro I tried) so I'm not sure about the DVD playback.

[arkaine23]

Suse is based in Germany, and because of software licensing regulations there, will not include a dvd decoder. Fedora does the same sort of thing and cautiously opts not to include mp3 support in XMMS. You can install the missing stuff yourself though.

[jbloudg20]

Originally posted by arkaine23
Suse is based in Germany, and because of software licensing regulations there, will not include a dvd decoder. Fedora does the same sort of thing and cautiously opts not to include mp3 support in XMMS. You can install the missing stuff yourself though.

Ah thanks for the information!