Candidate Distro List

=The Candidate Distro List=

About this list
Three key points for a candidate distribution:
 * 1) easy to use
 * 2) large hardware profile
 * 3) acessibility

Note from Paul:
 * Big five (Debian, Fedora, Mint, OpenSuSE, Ubuntu), and interesting others
 * List needs to be small and shrink

Mint


http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint

http://linuxmint.com/

Support Cycle: from mint website
 * Mint 12 and 9 supported until April 2013
 * Mint Debian: rolling distribution

System Requirements: from wikipedia
 * Recommended 1GHz 512MB RAM

Comments JP:
 * Mint 12 is based on ubuntu with a gnome environment. I installed and after a splash page comes up on the desktop that prompts you to download media and dvd codecs among other things like links to tutorials and other pages on the community website


 * Mint website says Mint Debian is neat because it is auto-updating - you never have to upgrade versions. but it is also therefore more unstable.  It also reqs knowledge of the command line to enable one-touch-click on laptops and other similar things.  They also says it is like ubuntu but rough around the edges.

Ubuntu


http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ubuntu

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Arch


http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=arch

http://www.archlinux.org/

Support Cycle:
 * Rolling

System Requirements:
 * (not listed)

Comments JP:
 * For advanced users familiar with the CLI and the layout of their system. Installation is robust and ncurses based; user must make many specific choices.  Also, once installed, boots to CLI first, no GUI installed by default, must install and start x manually.  research from arch website

OpenSuSe


http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=suse

http://www.opensuse.org/

Support Cycle:
 * ( Supported by Novell. )

System Requirements:

zed:

updated: 01/06/11

+: Install is very customizable and works with multiple monitor setups. Networking, sound and many other options can be configured at the time of installation. Gives the option to install either Gnome, KDE and few lesser known GUIs on installation. Most features work out of the box.

-: Software Package Management system not as easy to use as other distros. A few minor glitches on the GUI. Website can be difficult to navigate for help.

CentOS


http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=centos

http://www.centos.org/

Support Cycle: from centOS FAQ
 * Version 5 - until March 2014
 * Version 6 - until November 2017

System Reqs:
 * Minimum v5 - 256MB Ram
 * Minimum v6 - 512MB Ram

PCLinuxOS
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=pclinuxos

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

Puppy
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=puppy

http://www.puppylinux.com/

Support Cycle:
 * Wary and Racy puppy are both LTS (duration not stated)

System Reqs:
 * (not listed) though Puppy is intended NOT TO BE INSTALLED TO HD
 * it is intended to run off of a LiveCD AND the process to install to HD is long and obscure

Comments JP:
 * website is hard to follow
 * not much community support

Mageia
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mageia

http://www.mageia.org/

Support Cycle:
 * (UNDECIDED)
 * Mageia is a Mandriva fork that is 9 months old (brand new)

System Reqs:
 * 512MB RAM min - 2GB recommended
 * 6GB HD for full install

Mandriva
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mandriva

http://www.mandriva.com/

Support Cycle:
 * Mandriva 2011 end support cycle is undecided, but will be after Dec 2012

System Reqs:
 * Mandriva 2011 Reqs. min 1GB Ram

Lubuntu
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=lubuntu

http://lubuntu.net/

Support Cycle:
 * 11.10 will be supported until April 2013. It is the first official release as part of the Ubuntu cycle.

System Reqs:
 * A Pentium II or Celeron system with 128 MB of RAM is probably a bottom-line configuration that may yield slow yet usable system with Lubuntu. It should be possible to install and run Lubuntu with less memory, but the result will likely not be suitable for practical use. from lubuntu website

Kubuntu
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=kubuntu

http://www.kubuntu.org/

Support Cycle:
 * (not listed) it appears to follow Ubuntu's support cycle

System Reqs:
 * (not listed) but it is ubuntu with KDE and some different applications

Sabayon
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=sabayon

http://www.sabayon.org/

Support Cycle:
 * Rolling Release from Sabayon wiki 'Info' Page

System Reqs:
 * 512 MB of RAM (1 GB suggested) from FAQ
 * Minimum of 12 GB of free hard disk space for KDE and GNOME. from FAQ

Comments JP:
 * Based on Gentoo
 * Uses Entropy OR Portage Package Management
 * Robust website

Chakra
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=chakra

http://chakra-linux.org/

Support Cycle:

System Reqs:

Notes:
 * Forked from Arch
 * KDE desktop

Zorin OS
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=zorin

http://www.zorin-os.com/

Support Cycle:

System Reqs:

Notes:
 * Ubuntu-based
 * designed for linux new-comers -taken from distrowatch page
 * windows-like GUI
 * Includes Wine-like functionality

Ultimate
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ultimate

http://ultimateedition.info/

Bodhi
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=bodhi

http://www.bodhilinux.com/

Fuduntu
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=fuduntu

http://www.fuduntu.org/

Support Cycle:
 * (not stated on website)

System Reqs:
 * 900MHz
 * 384 MB RAM
 * 5GB HD

ClearOS
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=clearos

http://www.clearfoundation.com/

Joli OS
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=jolios

http://www.jolicloud.com/