Hey, all the Linux Experts out there, I'm looking for a new Linux distribution, but I need one to suit my needs. I'm looking for- Try and avoid the bloated crap, so minimum preinstalled software. 64-Bit Processor support. Supports .deb Live CD Support Can't use the standard Gnome as the Desktop Environment, since I hate how Gnome is laid out. = Linux 2.6 support since I have a BT Voyager 1055 USB Adapter (Broadcom 43xx Chipset, I believe) Any ideas?
Wow, let see, theres not alot of Debian Based 64 bit distros. I will recomend Ubuntu but because you don't like Gnome, try Kubuntu then, or Xubuntu.
Sounds like you want Xubuntu. That's what I run. It's a single Live CD used for trying it out or for installing, the install is pretty minimal, it uses XFCE instead of Gnome, it has support for most platforms - including x86-64 of course (I run Xubuntu 9.04 on my PPC G3 iMac, my PS3, my CoreDuo SBC, and my Athlon X2 64 bit system). By the way, if you don't like how a particular DE is laid out, you can always change it... get rid of the top or bottom panel, remove/add/move stuff in the panel(s), etc. It's really easy - just right click the panel or item in the panel and go nuts!
Thats a lot of Xubuntu, sir. I was going to say Puppy Linux, but it doesn't have 64-bit and .deb support (which, users from their forums say, "you don't need them anyway"). So, another vote for Xubuntu.
There is, I have one with Lxde on, I'd really want to use that but I have no clue on how to set up Wireless Connection on there. Debian isn't as easy as Fedora or Mint. =[
I'd say get Ubuntu (or Xubuntu if you prefer) and install either fluxbox, OpenBox or JWM and use that as the default window manager.
I would use Debian I just don't have a clue how to use the Live CD version of it and I can't seem to figure out how to connect to the internet using my Wireless Adapter. D: Yet using Ubuntu/Fedora/Mint it's simple. =P
Mint. Linux Mint. I have used it for a while. But which version, it depends. The latest version is "idiot proof," meaning you can't really do much until you mess around a bit and find all the hidden menus.
It should also be noted that you are never at any point during your Linux usage limited to the desktop environment included in that particular distro. Say, for instance, you fancy KDE or Xfce but already have a vanilla Ubuntu installation with GNOME; it's as simple as opening a terminal (or Synaptic, if that's your preference), and installing the packages kubuntu-desktop or xubuntu-desktop. From your next login you can select a desktop session and if you happen to like it, you can set it as the default.
If you like KDE the best KDE Debian Based distro IMO is Mepis. Also if you do like KDE out of interest why would you want it to be Debian based? Most of the good KDE Distros IMO are not Debian based, OpenSuSE, Mandriva, Fedora & even the KDE Live CD is OpenSuSE based. If you want to go with XFCE and you're comfortable with Ubuntu you could install Ubuntu as a Command Line install using the alternative CD which will give you just that and then you can install the Vanilla XFCE packages, do not use Xubuntu or install xubuntu-desktop as this will give you an XFCE system which almost perfectly resembles Gnome and will not give you a "pure" XFCE experience. Anyways if you do go this root install the command line system and then use: Code (Text): sudo aptitude install xfce4 The package manager should take care of the other dependencies such as the X Windows system. Your best option is to experiment until you find something you like.
A desktop environment's worth/functionality isn't really determined/identified by the distro wherein it's included... at least, not in any social circles I've been a part of. In the end it really is all a matter of preference, however. From most of my experiences going the apt-get install kde4/xfce4 route has resulted poorly; many essential features were missing that I needed to manually track down and install myself, not to mention quite a few dependencies being either outdated or missing altogether.
Well it depends on how it's implemented obviously. Most Debian based distros have terrible implementations of KDE, crashing, slow and or generally buggy. For example it is well known that Kubuntu has one of the worst KDE implementations ever. I use Slackware so everything I have installed is pretty much customised to the way I like it and I'm running KDE 3.5.10 on it which is brilliant because it's a pretty much vanilla KDE.
