Discussion on:

What Linux Distro Do You Use and Why

So what linux distro do you use and why do you use it?

I personally use Ubuntu, 32bit edition, as my Linux OS. It was the first linux dsitrobution I used and I amused to all this 'sudo' stuff in the terminal. Also the Ubuntu Software Centre, Package Manager and GetDeb have helped me get all the applciations I need. I don't like Unity but I don't like most of the GUIs, I want gnome 2 back.

I have tried things like Fedora, openSuSe, Linux Mint, arch, Puppy..... and you get the picture. If their was a Ubuntu (not Debian, although ubuntu is Debian Based) Linux distro that comes with Gnome 2 but is upto date with 11.10 then tell me about it as soon as possible.

And its been good. Once its running its stable, but getting it running can be iffy, I frequently get device not found errors and then it mysteriously doesn't boot.

Also, when running transmission, with even only a few connections it suddenly can't web browse anymore, but this could be Firefox related.

Also, browsing doesn't seem to work through the firewall, even though I allowed http through.

But these minor issues aside, the system works well, has most of the applications I want, browses the web just fine (except for fullscreen flash of course) and is generally fairly speedy.

And of course those cool window effects, people are always in awe when they see my grab a maximized window and see it stretch as I move it to another screen. Or when I open or close something and see it ignite.

Yeah, I like Mint for an "easy" distro. Never had problems like the ones you describe, though. Hrm. (Were you the one with the weird nVidia drivers/ on battery issue?)

Next time I upgrade or reinstall, I'm going with the Mint rolling distro (Debian, XFCE).

spent hours playing with the jelly windows

Just to do all the wacky stuff like playing with Compiz, or making a cool-looking Conky display on the side of the desktop.

Just to be absurdly excessive, I've run FreeBSD with a funky desktop in a VMWare image on an XP host, started from a shortcut in Microsoft Bob. But a transparent rotating desktop cube with extra effects and crazy window animations is always amusing.

edit: And here I go, strolling way off-topic.

edit2: Oh, and good to see you around, Dot Martin.

next couple of months look to be a lot easier than the past few, so I'll have a little more time to "annoy" all you guys (and gals)

Burn me a copy of the installation media, will you? That outta be a stone cold hoot on a vm.

I had the install rolled up in a zip file or something. The original media was DMF floppies (yack).

I'd probably want it looking just like it is now, but I wish Mint was a rolling distro.

Arch. Why? even I do not know. :P

I was running Debian, but I found every update would break something, and I have never been too fond of Ubuntu (again, I don't entirely know why).

http://www.ajopaul.com/2011/04/26/ubuntu-11-04-uninstall-gnome3-and-revert-to-gnome-2-x/

I'll try it on Ubuntu 11.10.... Hope it works

The article linked above is for reverting from gnome3 to gnome2 in 11.04, but since gnome2 is no longer available in 11.10 the closest one can get to gnome2 is by installing the gnome shell fallback mode as mentioned in the article.