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Notes on different flavours of Linux operating systems which I have used and seen in use.
Yes Windows users are dependant on the GUI interface. But who isn't?
I am a old school Windows user (Back in the 3.0 days and before) I once owned a copy of Windows 1.1 for gods sake!
SuSE, Fedora Core (Formerly RedHat) and Mandriva (Formerly Mandrake) make it simple for someone that is not a computer Guru to look at
this "NEW" operating system and see the ease of use for their needs. Yes I do agree that *NIX operating systems like Debian, HP-UX and
Solaris are far better in the long run...but for a learning platform SuSE, RedHat (or Fedora Core) and Mandrake (now Mandriva) are great
for learning the operating system.
Now to talk about how each system differs from one another.
SuSE Linux (other variants; OpenSuSE, Novell Linux) is the OS of choice for me for my GUI needs. It is quick, stable,
easy to use and installations are done through a program called YaST (Yet Another Setup Tool) which allows you to dictate with ease what
you want to add to the system and what you want to take away. When you add software it will warn you and add software which the new pieces
are dependant upon which will make the use much easier. I have run into some problems with newer motherboards and sound cards not being
compatible but that is a minor set back.
Ease of Use: 10/10
Functionality: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Compatability: 7/10
Overall: 8.75/10
NOTES: For the Newbie Linux user this is a great system to learn the basics on and if you want a good GUI OS other than Windows I would use this.
Fedora Core (other variants; RedHat Linux) is a good overall operating system. It have a good range of drivers and seems to keep more
up to date on this end of things than SuSE or other flavours. I have had no trouble on the Driver side of this operating system but find
the RPM style of installation a little more difficult to work with compared to YaST or apt-get. I have not worked a lot with this OS but
in the time I did spend on it I saw that it is a good, stable operating system that is strong in many aspects.
Ease of Use: 7/10
Functionality: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Compatability: 10/10
Overall: 8.5/10
NOTES: For the people who want high compatability this is the route you should take on the Linux Road.
Mandriva Linux (other variants; Mandrake) I have no experience with this operating system so I will not go into an account for it.
Debian Linux (other variants; GNU/Linux) is a great system for stability over compatability. I have not found one problem with it
on the stability side (in fact my FTP server is running at 180 days without downtime now). The installation style of the OS is great
in you use a command line and just enter in "apt-get install <program>" and if the program exists it will install it for you. I have found
this a great operating system for people who like the comand prompt (Black and White Guru's as I call them) and are not scared to get
down and dirty. This is a solid system though not the most up to date on the drivers side.
Ease of Use: 5/10
Functionality: 8/10
Stability: 10/10
Compatability: 5/10
Overall: 7/10
NOTES: If you know Linux and want to have a strong, easy to set up and stable release go with Debian.
I am trying to show people a route other than Windows with this article. If you like the information you got from it let me know.
AldarHawk
I am a old school Windows user (Back in the 3.0 days and before) I once owned a copy of Windows 1.1 for gods sake!
SuSE, Fedora Core (Formerly RedHat) and Mandriva (Formerly Mandrake) make it simple for someone that is not a computer Guru to look at
this "NEW" operating system and see the ease of use for their needs. Yes I do agree that *NIX operating systems like Debian, HP-UX and
Solaris are far better in the long run...but for a learning platform SuSE, RedHat (or Fedora Core) and Mandrake (now Mandriva) are great
for learning the operating system.
Now to talk about how each system differs from one another.
SuSE Linux (other variants; OpenSuSE, Novell Linux) is the OS of choice for me for my GUI needs. It is quick, stable,
easy to use and installations are done through a program called YaST (Yet Another Setup Tool) which allows you to dictate with ease what
you want to add to the system and what you want to take away. When you add software it will warn you and add software which the new pieces
are dependant upon which will make the use much easier. I have run into some problems with newer motherboards and sound cards not being
compatible but that is a minor set back.
Ease of Use: 10/10
Functionality: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Compatability: 7/10
Overall: 8.75/10
NOTES: For the Newbie Linux user this is a great system to learn the basics on and if you want a good GUI OS other than Windows I would use this.
Fedora Core (other variants; RedHat Linux) is a good overall operating system. It have a good range of drivers and seems to keep more
up to date on this end of things than SuSE or other flavours. I have had no trouble on the Driver side of this operating system but find
the RPM style of installation a little more difficult to work with compared to YaST or apt-get. I have not worked a lot with this OS but
in the time I did spend on it I saw that it is a good, stable operating system that is strong in many aspects.
Ease of Use: 7/10
Functionality: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Compatability: 10/10
Overall: 8.5/10
NOTES: For the people who want high compatability this is the route you should take on the Linux Road.
Mandriva Linux (other variants; Mandrake) I have no experience with this operating system so I will not go into an account for it.
Debian Linux (other variants; GNU/Linux) is a great system for stability over compatability. I have not found one problem with it
on the stability side (in fact my FTP server is running at 180 days without downtime now). The installation style of the OS is great
in you use a command line and just enter in "apt-get install <program>" and if the program exists it will install it for you. I have found
this a great operating system for people who like the comand prompt (Black and White Guru's as I call them) and are not scared to get
down and dirty. This is a solid system though not the most up to date on the drivers side.
Ease of Use: 5/10
Functionality: 8/10
Stability: 10/10
Compatability: 5/10
Overall: 7/10
NOTES: If you know Linux and want to have a strong, easy to set up and stable release go with Debian.
I am trying to show people a route other than Windows with this article. If you like the information you got from it let me know.
AldarHawk
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