Re: Which Linux to use?

[Pankaj Kaushal <apenguinhead@xxxxxxxxx>]

>>Hello dear friends
>>
>>I'm new to the Linux world. Although, I've got some
>>exposure to Unix. I like to install Linux on my
>>system, which is Intel p-III, 64 MB ram with 20 gb
>>HDD.
>>
>>I've got RH 6.0. But little confused over many
>>distributions available( I checked the web-site
>>Linux.com)
>>Can anybody suggest me which linux to use?
If i have to suggest u a linux disto i would definately ask u 
to get a debian cd set.

>>
---end quoted text---

This is a list ofsome of the  linux diso i've tried .
So tell me if something is wrong.


REDHAT
------

Redhat is the most visible Linux distributor. It is also the
first to go public with an IPO backed by big investment dollars
from the likes of Intel and Microsoft. Just like M$ Redhat offers several
distributions. professional personal and developer edition. 

Their documentation is also either on the CD or on the website.
So if you want a hard copy manual you may want to shell out a
little more for it. But if you're installing for the first time
it's nice to have a manual in front of you.


Caldera OpenLinux
-----------------

Caledra is another one of the companies planning to go public (IPO) with their
Linux muscle. Caldera owns the rights to DR DOS (Digital Research DOS,
for those of you who remember ancient the pre MS era). Caldera's distribution
is probably second to Red Hat's in the popularity contest. 

Caledra only sells openlinux a version known as OpenLinux /lite/ is availiable
for download.

S.u.S.E. Linux
--------------
Coming from Europe the SuSE distribution tries to emphasize the ease
of using the graphical user interface. It also comes bundled with the
StarOffice 5 for Linux and Corel's Word Perfect 8 for Linux. 

Caldera and Suse both put properietry software in their disto.



Slackware
---------
Slackware is one of the very first Linux distributions. It is also best
described as still haveing the same pathetic installation precess it had
five years ago. Not for loosers. Most of the Slackware users grow up to become
debian loosers. I haven't met a slackware user in a long time.  


Debian Official GNU/Linux
-------------------------
The official distribution is a little over $30, it comes on a 4 set CD with
source cd set and a printed manual. Debian is a little different from other
distributions. For starters, it is an organization, and not a commercial company.
Its operating system is based directly on the GNU work, it just happens to only
support the Linux Kernel as its base, but the plan is for that to change in the
future to swtch to The original GNU Kernel The Hurd . If you have not been to the
Debian site before then I encourage you to visit, they articulate so well the
concept of free software. Extreme Linux Operating System. This is not quite aimed
at the everyday Joe. But once installed is zen 

I am using debian eversince i tried it for the first time.

FreeBSD
-------
This is not Linux, just deserves special mention since I've used it.
(and Aman and Sandeep would kill me if I didn't) It is a variant on Unix
that started out in the academia few years ago. Like Linux it is free,
and is actually very widely used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to
run their servers. Not to mention other big names such as Yahoo and
Cdrom.com. 
I personaly like Freebsd very much but don't use it because of the
license. Its not GPL and I am in love with the GPL.

But I do have a GB devoted to it and use it when no one is watching. ;)


--
((lambda (foo) (bar foo)) (baz))
................................
 Pankaj Kaushal <pankaj@xxxxxxx>
 Proud to use GNU <www.gnu.org>