Linux Distribution Comparison (for beginners)
Well, It seemed me to fail with my previous
linux distributions comparison. It's too few "practical" and takes the
wrong target. Experienced users don't care distcomp: they're able to choose their
software theirself, and such a writing could be just a "curiosity" reading
for them. The right target for such a piece is a newbie, who likes to move his/her
first steps into linux.
So, this would resolve this problem.
I hope this could become a little useful reading for the user who decided to try
linux and should choose blindly his/her software.
Linux distributions
You should know linux is just a kernel, thus a piece of software that drives your machines
at a very low level ("hei, CPU, tell me what's the sum of 8 and 3, and put the result
into the 4th register!".). Everything above that is software. It's not linux, it's just some code
written by people that choosed linux as platform for their software. Very, very often those
applications are free, free of prices and free for distribution, making part of projects like
GNU.
Since linux (kernel) is completely free too, you can combine OS core functions (linux) and
user applications obtaining still a completely free product, distributable to everyone from
everyone for nothing as many times you like.
So, you should know that after sometime in linux' life some people grouped and decided
choosing and organizing apps they liked and distributing them as a unique "distribution" or "distro".
First distros were free, made by volunter in the free time without obligation. Then some people
decided to work full-time on such an activity, saying "pal, our distro is better than the free ones,
since we've done much more work on this. But we like to eat! Would you pay a little bit for this software?".
They continue releasing their software for free on the net, but ask money for "packs" and
often for services and/or support.
Running the time, today we have many commercial linux distros, while the only one kept completely
free is "Debian GNU/Linux".
You don't have to think "Hei! They told me linux is free and windows isn't! Why now are ya telling
me I have to pay for linux too?". As I said, almost every distro releases its software for free on the net.
You can download as many times you want without taking one euro off your purse.
First, you can pay for having a great pack, 6-7 silver-cds, gadgets (like beautiful stickies) and
especially very complete and useful manuals. Second, the most expensive linux distro costs less than
one forth of the cheapest windows product. And it's better.
So, what you should remember is:
- Linux is a kernel onto people can build and use thousand types of software, and it's free
- ˜95% of linux' software is free, thanks to the project GNU
- a linux distro or distribution is a selection of a linux version and linux software,
distributed in a bundle
- almost all distribution are freely available on the net, in various forms (cds images, packages, ...),
but most of them are available in a "commercial" version too, like packs with
user-friendly manuals, gadget, many cds etc.
The Big Choice
Now, you have to start with linux and you must choose which distribution to load.
Often people ask me "which is the better distribution?": well, I hope you can
imagine there are not "the best distribution" and "the worse distribution".
Each distro has something its own. You just have to take the one that adopt best with your needs.
Some distro is more stable, some other as newer software, some other has easier configuration tools,
some other has better user-support, some other eat less space on your disk. There are many distros.
Since you (reader) are supposed to be more or less a beginner, we'll consider just the ones which
are easy to install and maintain, has good support, up-to-date software, has good integration with services
you're used to use (under windows, oftenly).
Mandrake (France), Lycoris (Washington), Suse (Germany), Debian (all around the world), RedHat (USA).
I'll try to express what's the phylosopy at the base of each distribution. Please try to get it, since this point
has a certain weigth.
You can take a look at a head-to-head comparison at the bottom of the page.
Mandrake Linux (mdk)
Mandrake team is great. Other distros are doing more and more restrictive licence on their software,
while those guys have always work well and release good as well as really free software.
They always supported linux' community (even economically), and they're really liked back by
linux people.
Mandrake's target is desktop new-bies. People that like to try linux and just "get it working".,
joung people more than "computer veterans": their graphics and software contains joyful
graphics and apps messages don't keep too distances.
At the time of this writing, Mandrake as reached its 9th(.0) version, and trust me it's easier to install than windows.
Mandrake features are:
- installation:
- shockingly easy to install. Much easier than Windows.
- good installation manual. Available on paper (with mdk packs) and online in pdf too
- always last kernels, so good hw support
- system refinement, personalization and maintaining; software availability:
- fine user-friendly user manuals (paper || pdf)
- the easiest and most powerful graphical packages (apps) manager I ever seen under linux
- very easy system manager. It groups toghether many os-side configurators in one
monolithic "Mandrake Control Center", which is really intuitive, easy too use and
powerful (can sets about all options available). It's not too stable, though.
- up-to-date software. Mandrake prefers having more desktop software than "high
availability blade servers" software.
- users support, documentation, community vitality:
- there's a pretty good site (MandrakeUser)
archiving a lot of HowTo(s), Guides and informations
- there's a helpful forum (MandrakeForum)
- there's a discussion site (MandrakeClub) that's
more than a discussion site, since it works at "score" (read faq), that guarrantee
fast and good help
- additional services/features:
- Mandrake's whole services extension is quite particular. Many users pay very low fees (5$ etc) for
services, but can reward those services helping the community etc.
- MandrakeClub is a service yet. You can pay for having priority help/informations/software etc.
Mandrake packs are quite cheap. You should consider buying one for having precious manuals. Packs are
available in many stores and online: MandrakeStore.
You can contact me by mail.