Re: OTish: Which version of Linux for PC?

Brooks Moses said...
> Marc Cooper wrote:
> > I have a 'spare' PC (PIII 800) and I am contemplating trying Linux for
> > the first time. (This is not completely OT, since other than
> > exploration/education, I plan to use it for TeX.)
>
> One of the main recommendations, I think, is to get a current teTeX
> package and install that, rather than using the one that comes with
> whatever Linux distribution you use -- for some reason, those seem to
> often be out-of-date, or be missing important pieces.

Thanks for the advice. Although I use MikTex I have a TeX Live CD here
(2003 demo with Feb 2004 updates) that came with the LaTeX Companion; I
believe that this is teTeX on Unix. Hopefully, that'll work out -
assuming that I can get the CD/DVD drive working with Linux!

> > Which version - distribution, I think you call it - would folk
> > recommend?
>
> It's been a while since I've installed a copy of Linux, but these days
> what I would go with in Debian. My sysadmin friends all consider it to
> be the best, though the install process can be a little bit long and
> complicated -- but, on the other hand, it does give you a good sense of
> what all is being installed, and lots of control over that when you want
> it.

That's fine, probably ideal. Time to crack a fresh notebook, me thinks.

> Debian also has a good automatic update system; I consider it
> fairly telling that my sysadmin friends actually _use_ it (while I don't
> think they'd even consider using automatic updates on Windows).

Interesting. It's certainly going to be a whole new world.

> Debian comes in three versions: "stable", "unstable", and "testing".
> Their "unstable" is roughly equivalent to anyone else's "stable"
> version, and their "stable" version is "We don't change anything except
> security fixes after release, so you never have to deal with commands
> changing their syntax or functionality when you do an update." Even the
> "testing" is reliable enough that I know people who run their desktops
> on it, though they are people who like playing with new software toys.

As I typed, I ordered a copy, so I'll soon find out. Staggering that it
needs two DVDs (14 CDs seemed like way too much work - memories of the
old days). It was incredibly cheap too (even better if they provide a
VAT invoice).

--
Best,
Marc
.

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