Redhat or SUSE?
 

Dumping W2K from my old Portege 7020 and going back to Linux. I haven't done a Linux install on a laptop for a couple of years. Going to do standard stuff; email (Evolution), browse, IM, OpenOffice, maybe some easy dev stuff using PHP/mysql, etc. I used to be a Redhat guy, but just not sure what's best anymore. What 'flavour' of Linux do you all recommend I use - Redhat or SUSE?

Been using both lately - my $.02: by a hair, Fedora core 3. All else being equal, the Fedora upgrade process (core 1->2->3... etc.) is simpler. SuSE differentiates update vs. upgrade. Upgrade requires booting from media (can be done online once booted from a "minimal" cd). Fedora can be upgraded on-line using the same mechanism used for patches and updates.

Of course, you could also consider Debian , Gentoo or the up-and-coming Ubuntu . See http://distrowatch.com/

i've been a fan of fedora. i've basically swapped my laptop over 100% running FC3.

-JC

Red Hat Fedora works great. Try CentOS if you want something that's virtually identical to RH Enterprise Linux.

i use ubuntu for my workstation. it has worked pretty well for me.

Always found SuSe to be flaky with hardware detection, my money is on RH.

SuSe
 

Huge Suse fan ,ou entire european op is up on it and it is far from flaky...rock solid and seems to be passing RH by fast

especially in sevrer and wireless support

I am getting serious about putting linux on a laptop and am wondering where a good primer could be found - everything from which version of Linux to how to install.

Any comments?

Thanks

Have a look at this: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...51025010202503

I've used both before, and have ALWAYS had problems with SUSE- frequently can't even get it to install itself properly. But generally I have no problem with Redhat. It's also a very nice system. :)

p.s. Ex-DSM flyer. Moved from DSM to JAX almost 5 years ago. :( :( Miss the damn place..

From what I hear, ubuntu seems to have rave reviews these days, especially for newbies.

Where can you find a free version of Linux for a laptop?

I am not sure I want to buy linux from Red Hat or Suse just to play with?

You can download them and then create install CD's. Redhat - Fedora Core and SUSE

JustLinux.com has the answers to nearly all Linux questions.

If you have the time to set it up properly, Gentoo Linux is IMHO the best distro out there. You can upgrade every piece of software on your machine with one simple command:

Emerge is the best package manager out there.

It's incredible. :)