The right distro for me

[JOneil]

I basicly want a linux distro that runs primarily from the commad line, but can be put into GUI mode for using Mozilla and OpenOffice, but can be taken right out again. After all, I don't want to learn KDE or GNOME, but real Linux.
I want a distro that will force me to learn howto hand edit configuration files and work mostly from the commandline. Any suggestions?

[je_fro]

gentoo or slackware come to mind...
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php

[LNXchd]

Search the forum...lots of threads about this very subject. Debian is a good distro..you can run just about all distro's from the CLI. That's what a terminal is for. I used to run Debian Sarge with minimal install, x-window-system, fluxbox and used apt-get to install whatever apps I wanted. $ apt-get install openoffice.org, or $ apt-get install vim....or whatever. Might check out the following link as well. Good Luck and enjoy! :D
Distrowatch (http://distrowatch.com)

[LNXchd]

gentoo or slackware come to mind...
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php
Cool link..mine was Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mepis, and Debian. :rolleyes:

[JOneil]

OK, thanks guys. Ill try Gentoo becuase I researched that, and I think its ports system works kinda cool. I might even try to build myself a LinuxFromScratch somtime.

I've always been in love with words that start with 'G' too. :o

[xdakorx]

http://www.archlinux.org/about.php

[JOneil]

xdakorx, I checked that out, and it seems like it is written for me. Thanks so much. A distro for somone not afraid of the command line, and with no configuration utilities so I will be forced to do it myself. I think this is exactly what I was looking for.

[Icarus]

If unsure, take the OS quiz to make sure you are making the proper choice :D
http://bbspot.com/News/2003/01/os_quiz.php

[JOneil]

Apparently, I'm an AmigaOS kinda guy. But I think Archlinux is the best for me, from what I've seen.

EDIT:
I only have an original pentium in my computer and Archlinux only goes as low as 586. Is a pentium a 586 (I've always went with the 386 because I wasn't sure)

[JOneil]

gentoo or slackware come to mind...
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php
I took your test and I also came up with Gentoo and Slackware

[eskaypey]

If unsure, take the OS quiz to make sure you are making the proper choice :D
http://bbspot.com/News/2003/01/os_quiz.php

Nooo.. dont do that test, it'll just confuse you. I did it ages ago and i got something like Win95.

[LNXchd]

If unsure, take the OS quiz to make sure you are making the proper choice :D
http://bbspot.com/News/2003/01/os_quiz.php
What the monkey! I turned out to be Apple Dos 3.1...I think I'm gonna hurl myself out my window! Well, at least I am not Win95...could be worse! :D

[retsaw]

I only have an original pentium in my computer and Archlinux only goes as low as 586. Is a pentium i586 (I've always went with the 386 because I wasn't sure)Yes, a pentium is a 586, but Archlinux only supports i686, which is at least a Pentium 2/Athlon, the i586 version is unsupported and hasn't been updated for well over a year. Given this I'd suggest you try Slackware instead, though I do prefer Archlinux over Slackware.

[soulestream]

Slackware appears to be your best choice. I tried gentoo on a PII and compiling took forever.

Even though I am a slackware fan, I will say you can really use any distro that will run on your system, just use CLI only.

soule

[je_fro]

yeah....cli only you'll have a hard time telling the difference between distros.

[JOneil]

OK, thanks guys. I will get some of these ISOs and try 'em out. Gentoo might not work because I have a slow connection and packages will take too long. If I ever end up with a computer with an Athlon or better (I prefer AMD to Intel) I'll get an Archlinux CD. Ill get Slackware and see how it works, then maybe Debian because my unlce was gonna install Linux on one of his computers and he decided on Debian, then all of a sudden found he didn't have anytime to get around to downloading and installing it. Like I said, thanks for your help.