Flavor of Linux to install?

[Robert Meyer]

--- Ronald Maggio <r.v.maggio at worldnet.att.net> wrote:

> Hi Bob
> 
> Thanks for the offering. You did hand me Mandrake 8.0 and 8.1 I just wanted
> to know what the group would suggest.
> I am using Mandrake on two boxes now both 8.0 & 8.1, but I have another box
> that I thought I would try different flavor on.
> The box with 8.0 also dual boots NT Workstation : Pentium, and 8.1 is one
> its own :AMD
> 
> I'm working on the DEC Alpha as soon as the holidays are over with. I'll be
> posting on this list and LUGOR's list about my trials & tribulations with
> setting up the DEC Alpha and through that end get some input as to how (how
> to do it) and what steps to follow in approaching the problem of learning
> another kind of hardware & software installation. Plus also facing a new
> learning curve. ie: RedHat 7.1 on the DEC Alpha box. (trying to learn how to
> build and use a Linux Server) really truly!!! (trying an attempt to be funny
> here at this point)
> 
> I got the IntelliStation up and running NT Server and will be setting up the
> network in a (hopefully) few weeks. (God villing..Oy)
> 
> So the only other box I have left is the Celeron. I'm installing Windows
> 98SE 2nd version. (Yes Windoze)on the Celeron and maybe would like to try
> something different.ie: dual-boot.
> 
> I have one question is there some advantage to push the group towards one
> flavor? ie: Mandrake. As far as I can make from it I think your trying to
> help us understand the ins and outs of Linux if we are all using the same or
> similar flavor. I'm I right or am I right?

Actually, the flavor is less important than you might think.  The main
differences in the distributions seems to be the admin tools that go with the
dist and some minor file system layout differences.

I like Mandrake 'cuz it seems to be set up to be fairly easy to work with and
install.  This is a major plus when dealing with newer Linux/Unix users.  I
find that if things are simpler at first, it makes getting over the initial
startup on the learning curve much simpler.  I generally don't use most of the
config tools since I've been doing Unix for 19 years and like to get right into
the config files so differing admin tool sets are not terribly important to me.
 I have been making copies of Mandrake for the group with disks that were
donated to the cause.  If someone wanted copies of a different dist, I could do
that (If I have the dist in question).  I don't like some of the distributions
layouts, especially SuSE since they use that horrible 'yast' thing that makes
it's own giant config file and sets up all of the utils to read that file.  The
single largest failing in M$ operating systems is that damnable registry.  Even
though the SuSE config file is human readable, it's still one large, single
point of failure.  If that file gets whacked, everything stops.
> 
> Well nice talking to ya and I'll see and talk to you at the next meeting.
> Got to go and get some coffee now it 5:45 am.
> I must be nutts for getting up this early in the morning. Oh crap wrong
> night can't cheet and get a peak at Santa yet. Darn!

Ah, typically if I'm up at 5:45 it's 'cuz I've been up all night and probably
should have gone to bed hours ago.


=====
Bob Meyer
Knightwing Communications, Inc.
36 Cayuga Blvd
Depew, NY 14043
Phone: 716-308-8931 or 716-681-0076
Meyer_RM at Yahoo.com

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