31 Flavors of Linux

Flavors

Arch

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: Pacman
• Description: Arch Linux keeps it simple by being a lightweight and flexible distribution. It employs BSD-like techniques and is on a rolling release.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [1]

CentOS

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: RPM
• Description: Cent OS is “a free enterprise class computing platform” and is 100% compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• Screenshot: [2]
• Website: [3]

Crunchbang

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Openbox
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Crunchbang is Ubuntu but with the lightweight Openbox desktop and GTK+ applications. It is designed for speed and functionality.
• Screenshot: [4]
• Website: [5]

Damn Small

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Desktop: JWM
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Damn Small Linux is an extremely small, lightweight, and powerful distribution. It has everything needed for basic computer function and is excellent on older computers.
• Screenshot: [6]
• Website: [7]

Debian

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Debian is one of the oldest and most reliable distributions. Many distributions are based on Debian and it has one of the largest software library.
• Screenshot: [8]
• Website: [9]

Debian PPC

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Debian is one of the oldest and most reliable distributions. Many distributions are based on Debian and it has one of the largest software library.
• Screenshot: [10]
• Website: [11]

Dreamlinux

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Dreamlinux is a Debian based distribution that mimics the look of Mac OS X.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [12]

Easy Peasy

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Easy Peasy is an Ubuntu based distribution designed for netbooks. It has a mixture of open source and proprietary software installed.
• Screenshot: [13]
• Website: [14]

Edubuntu

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Edubuntu is Ubuntu but with a tightly integrated suite of education programs.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [15]

Fedora 11

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: RPM (yum)
• Description: Fedora is a general purpose distribution that was created by Red Hat.
• Screenshot: [16]
• Website: [17]

Gentoo

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: SRC (portage)
• Description: Gentoo is a versatile distribution, with characteristics from BSD, that is designed for advanced Linux users. It has no pre-compiled software.
• Screenshot: [18]
• Website: [19]

gNewSense

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: gNewSense is a FSF sponsored distribution that is entirely free (libre) and includes GNU programs.
• Screenshot: [20]
• Website: [21]

Knoppix

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: LXDE
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Knoppix is a Live CD distribution that is capable of system rescue, everyday use, and more.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [22]

Kubuntu 8.04

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Kubuntu is Ubuntu but with the KDE desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [23]
• Website: [24]

Kubuntu 9.04

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Kubuntu is Ubuntu but with the KDE desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [25]
• Website: [26]

Kubuntu 9.04 64-bit

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Kubuntu is Ubuntu but with the KDE desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [27]
• Website: [28]

Mandriva

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: RPM (urpmi)
• Description: Mandriva, formerly known as Mandrake, is a well established distribution that is suitable for general purpose use.
• Screenshot: [29]
• Website: [30]

Mint 7

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Mint is an Ubuntu based distribution that provides extras, proprietary and open source alike, to create a better “out-of-the-box” feel. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [31]

Mythbuntu

• Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Mythbuntu is Ubuntu but with added support for MythTV.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [32]

OpenSUSE

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: RPM
• Description: OpenSUSE is a Novell sponsored distribution that aims to make itself the easiest to use and most popular distribution.
• Screenshot: [33]
• Website: [34]

PCLinuxOS

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: RPM (APT)
• Description: PCLinuxOS is a distribution designed for ease of use for homes and small businesses.
• Screenshot: [35]
• Website: [36]

Puppy 4

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: JWM
• Package Manager: PET
• Description: Puppy Linux is a lightweight yet full featured distribution that can load the entire operating system into a computer's RAM.
• Screenshot: [37]
• Website: [38]

Sabayon

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: entropy
• Description: Sabayon is a Gentoo based distribution that offers pre-compiled software.
• Screenshot: [39]
• Website: [40]

Slackware

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Desktop: KDE
• Package Manager: TGZ
• Description: Slackware is one of the oldest and most reliable distributions. It can serve nearly any operating system need.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [41]

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu is the most popular distribution. It is easy to use yet extremely versatile.
• Screenshot: [42]
• Website: [43]

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS PPC

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu is the most popular distribution. It is easy to use yet extremely versatile.
• Screenshot: [44]
• Website: [45]

Ubuntu 9.04

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu is the most popular distribution. It is easy to use yet extremely versatile.
• Screenshot: [46]
• Website: [47]

Ubuntu 9.04 64-bit

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu is the most popular distribution. It is easy to use yet extremely versatile.
• Screenshot: [48]
• Website: [49]

Ubuntu 9.04 PPC

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu is the most popular distribution. It is easy to use yet extremely versatile.
• Screenshot: [50]
• Website: [51]

Ubuntu Studio

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Gnome
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Ubuntu Studio is Ubuntu but integrated programs for multimedia creation.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [52]

Vector

• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: TLZ
• Description: Vector Linux is a lightweight distribution that can be customized to meet nearly anyone's needs.
• Screenshot: [53]
• Website: [54]

Xubuntu 8.04

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Xubuntu is Ubuntu but with the Xfce desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [55]
• Website: [56]

Xubuntu 9.04

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Xubuntu is Ubuntu but with the Xfce desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [57]
• Website: [58]

Xubuntu 9.04 64-bit

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: DEB
• Description: Xubuntu is Ubuntu but with the Xfce desktop. It is 100% compatible with Ubuntu.
• Screenshot: [59]
• Website: [60]

Zenwalk

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Desktop: Xfce
• Package Manager: TGZ
• Description: Zenwalk is a Slackware based distribution that is “fast and slim.” It has one program for one purpose.
• Screenshot: [61]
• Website: [62]

Glossary

Difficulty

• Beginner: when you hear RAM you start running
• Intermediate: when troubleshooting is no longer trouble
• Advanced: RMS is on speed dial

Desktops

Gnome

• Description: Gnome is a desktop environment created by the GNU Project. It is made up of entirely free software and looks similar to the Mac interface.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [63]

JWM

• Description: JWM is an extremely lightweight desktop environment that resembles Windows 98.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [64]

KDE

• Description: KDE is a desktop environment created the KDE Project. It is resembles the Windows interface and features many eye candy effects. It uses more computer resources when compared with Gnome.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [65]

LXDE

• Description: LXDE is a lightweight desktop environment that is similar to KDE. It is designed to keep the computer resource usage to a minimum.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [66]

Openbox

• Description: Openbox is a lightweight and fast desktop environment that is designed for more advanced users.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [67]

Xfce

• Description: Xfce is a desktop environment that is fast and lightweight. It resembles Gnome and is suitable for older computers.
• Screenshot:
• Website: [68]

Package Manager

• DEB:
• RPM:
• RPM (APT):
• RPM (yum):
• RPM (urpmi):
• Pacman:
• SRC (portage):
• PET:
• Entropy:
• TGZ:
• TLZ:

Miscellaneous

BSD

Unix based operating system that is similar to Linux. There are three major versions: OpenBSD, NetBSD, and, FreeBSD.

FSF

stands for the Free Software Foundation, an organization that advocates the use of free (libre) software.

GNU

stands for GNU's Not Unix, is a project that tries to make free (libre) versions of all necessary (and unnecessary) software *for computers

Libre

is a more descriptive term for free software. It refers to free as in liberty not price.

Live CD

an operating system that is able to boot off the cd-rom drive without installing anything on the hard drive.

LTS

stands for Long Term Support. Ubuntu 8.04 LTS will be supported until April 2011.

PPC

the PowerPC architecture. Common PPC computers include the Apple G3, G4, and G5 Macintoshs.

64-bit

is a processor technology that improves performance. It will only work with 64-bit processors, but is usually backward compatible with 32-bit.

MythTV

is a media center front end for Linux that is similar to Tivo or Windows Media Center.