My preferences for Linux:
I have used FreeBSD fairly regularly since 2.x and various flavors of Linux
since around that time as well.
As I was writing the first pass at this, I realized that many or most of the
problems I have with Linuxes are endemic to "Linux" (whatever that is) and not
to particular distributions. My main problems with most of the them are that
they are just so inconsistent. Directory structures, documentation, even just
where they install packages to by default - the standardization inside FreeBSD
and that which is supplied by the ports system just makes for so much more of a
sane and predictable experience.
Secondarily, apart from *some* of the source ones and the debian-based ones, I
always end up with broken dependencies or some weird circular inconsistencies.
I'm sure I could fix them if I were a rpm guru, but I am not. FreeBSD just
[generally] makes it so much easier and makes me not want to become an "rpm
guru".
Servers:
As you have probably guessed by this point, the only Linux that I feel suits my
needs well enough to have used it long term (on my own, that is, not when I've
been required to use it) is Debian and some of its progeny (including, in fact,
Progeny itself! :).
I usually end up with Ubuntu server. And it's OK.
Desktops:
Now, on desktops I flit around like a jack rabbit on crack. My desktop needs
are completely different from my server needs. I'm usually XP (for games at
home, work at work), so it's always the second and third OS on my boxes, so I
try 'em all. PCLinux is actually been very good to me recently (Surprise!
It's rpm based, too! How weird is that!). Kbuntu and some variants are decent
enough. None of these last long enough to need more than a few patches, so I
don't have the problem of dependency issues.
Rich Mahlerwein
Mobile: 715-891-7420
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