Best version of linux?

[Jordus]

I was looking into adding a linux partition and am wondering what versions of linux are the best now. Its been a few years since I last installed linux...

[Kirby]

Gentoo ftw...

[tj86430]

I don't know the answer, but I´m pretty sure it depends on your definition of best. Size, performance, ease of installation, user experience, configurability, ...

I very much doubt that any single distro would be best in all aspects.

[wms]

Ubuntu. Easy decision. If you want to actually use linux instead of fiddling with it, there is nothing better right now.

I used to be a big Red Hat fan (heck, I used to work for them), but eventually it was clear to me that Ubuntu was better for usability. I still like my old RPM+Yum combination better than Ubuntu's package manager, but otherwise Ubuntu is much nicer.

[CarlJung]

Ubuntu is the correct answer.

[Gresil]

Ubuntu or Arch.

[Jordus]

I am going to try to demo ubuntu and gentoo and see which I may like better.

Quick question though. The ubuntu info says you can install it on the same partition as windows, but it might slightly reduce disk performance. Any idea if the disk performance reduction is really an issue? Also, does that mean it effects disk performance only when running ubuntu, or does it effect disk performance overall in both OS?....

[judicata]

I'm another Ubuntu fan. I started using Debian around 10 years ago, and Ubuntu is based on that. I've never heard of using the same partition...these new-fangled things.

You can try to run it in VMware or virtualbox if you want, instead of dual-booting. I haven't done it myself, but apparently the performance is pretty darn good.

[zenith]

I am going to try to demo ubuntu and gentoo and see which I may like better.

Quick question though. The ubuntu info says you can install it on the same partition as windows, but it might slightly reduce disk performance. Any idea if the disk performance reduction is really an issue? Also, does that mean it effects disk performance only when running ubuntu, or does it effect disk performance overall in both OS?....

Gentoo... you're braver than I am

Distro-wise I've only really used Ubuntu (i try to forget about mandrake), it is good. KDE desktop is also worth checking out, I prefer that over gnome but that's just a matter of preference. Disk performance depends on how you resize the partitions, but since hard drives nowadays come with so much space that's not really an issue. Usually I make my linux partition around 20GB whenever dual booting since all the other stuff I do need windows so it ends up with the bigger partition

I'm another Ubuntu fan. I started using Debian around 10 years ago, and Ubuntu is based on that. I've never heard of using the same partition...these new-fangled things.

You can try to run it in VMware or virtualbox if you want, instead of dual-booting. I haven't done it myself, but apparently the performance is pretty darn good.

This is another option, I've tried virtual PC before and it is quite good, the only drawbacks are file transfer between the virtual and physical drives and window area being too small, but also worth checking out

[ethanb]

Disk performance will only decrease when using Linux on WUBI. Windows will run as slow as it ever did.

[Bill Spight]

My thought: One that you can carry in your pocket.

[Kirby]

I guess I should have asked what you want in the OS. I think that Ubuntu is better in terms of ease of use and overall usability. I like Gentoo because it is highly customizable and you can learn a lot in setting it up. You can also have a very fast OS if you only install what you need.

[Jordus]

If ubuntu is supposed to be the easiest I guess I will stick to that since I am already running into problems....

[Redbeard]

Ubuntu is good as a first distro. However, remember that Ubuntu is an African word meaning "I don't know how to configure Debian".

Debian/rules. In my experience, most serious Linux users eventually wind up using Debian.

Gentoo is for Ricers.

[oren]

Debian/rules. In my experience, most serious Linux users eventually wind up using Debian.

Or some of us Debian users became older and lazier and switched to Ubuntu.