Hey, I am currently using Suse 9.2 and am looking to migrate from it and I am looking at either Fedora or Debain, can I ask anyone why they like Debian and what it is the like about it?

I am really a typical ex windows user in that I like most things to be pretty point and click graphical, and dont like using the consule, in this case do you think debian is the wrong distro for me? Also, how easy is it to install, thanks

What I like most about debian: package management and the fact that it doen't force you to use a point-and-click admin interface. Configuration is done on the console. So I'd say, yes, debian is the wrong distro for you.

Debian itself may be wrong for you, but you could always use a Debian-based distro like Mepis, which is entirely point-and-click--installation, adding of repositories, browsing as root, etc.

That is cool it doesnt force you to use a graphical interface, but does it offer it as an option? Or alternativly are there GUI interfaces that can be got for the debian tools?

I have heard a lot of great things about the stability of debian, but it being non-graphical puts me off, it would be good to have this as an option for newbies like me

i'd agree with Demian - Debian is probably a no-no if you're after 'point and click' ease of use. It might be as well to stick with SuSE, which I know from your other post you're having a few problems with - but you might find that the problems remain whichever distro you use.. I think you need to bottom out what's causing your present difficulties first.

If you then want to consider other distros, Fedora is a reasonable choice, but for the easiest distro of all to use / set up, look no further than Mandriva - that would be my personal choice as a good beginner system.

There's nothing that even comes close to how yast is integrated into SuSE. You could use webmin, I guess, and there are graphical tools for apt and other admin programs but there's no one tool to do all the admin tasks.

Once through the install, you can still be dropped straight into KDE and so use the same point+click tools though. As for package management, synaptic is a pretty front end to installing packages + installing dependencies, so you could still avoid the command line.
As suggested previously though, you might want to try a Debian-based distro rather than Debian itself, though I reckon you still get most stuff done without hitting the command line. Biggest problem would be no main control centre like YaST2 for controlling your hardware.

You could always give Debian a go and see how much you can configure without getting in too deep and see if it's a bit too much or whether it's a just a few little challenges to help you a learn a bit more about Linux!

Yeah it is worrying that if I switch distros the problems remain, the trouble is I dont seem to be able to solve the problems Ive got I have posted all the info I know and am still not any further forward

Cool How is easy is the install itself? I think the debian I can get is 3.1, I heard it was easier to install than previously, but not grahpical though?

So does synaptic offer a GUI for software instillation and updates?

Also - what do you like about debian in comparison to other distros?

You know if there are GUI intrefaces for hardware managment for it?

Mepis. Seriously. I've moved on from Mepis to Ubuntu, but Mepis was a critical step in my transition from Windows to Linux. It's all point-and-click, and I can't guarantee it'll solve problems you had in SuSE, but the #1 reason I see for trying out different distros is different hardware detection. Mepis is both a live and installer CD, so you can try it out as live, see if you have any problems, then install it if you like it--same CD.

And, if you eventually grow to like the console, you can use the console in almost every Linux distribution--that's always an option. The nice thing about Mepis is that it almost never forces you to use the console.

I think Debian's a great distro, but since you said you like to do things GUI-style, I don't think you should be getting that excited about Debian. Here's a snapshot of the Debian installer. Here's a snapshot of the Mepis installer.

Mepis is Debian-based. It uses the same package installer system (apt-get/dpkg), comes with Synaptic Package Manager, and it enables you to add extra repositories through GUI, rather than adding them manually through editing the /etc/apt/sources.list file.

Hi,
In my opinion, the two best distros out there are Debian and Slackware. But I would say I still prefer Debian because I am lazy
and haven' t taken the time to really delve into what makes Linux. Next choice will be FreeBSD, which I have already installed
and is great, but there are lots of new things to learn with it.
What are your aims ? Do you just want to USE Linux or learn it and tinker with it ?
I think if you want to use it, choose Mandriva or any of the most popular distros, Debian-based if you want.
But the only way for you to begin to learn something (not for the sake of it, but because you want to be able to fix things yourself
later, is to take the plunge with Debian).
This will help you to get a real Debian system with everything you need :

http://www.debianpure.com/

Have a look at it and use it, otherwise go to debian.org and use the latest edition of their net-install.
BTW, the screenshot shown by the previous poster seems a little outdated. There are WEEKLY images of
the net-installer, it improves all the time and ethernet cards drivers are more and more numerous.

cheers

I just read in a review there is an issue with it not installing the firewall as default or something?
is this an easy thing to overcome?
Does debian run faster and more stable than other systems?

You mean the only way you've begun to learn something is to take the plunge with Debian. I've learned plenty with Mepis, Ubuntu, Knoppix, Blag, and others. Debian just frustrated me. I think Debian's a wonderful distro for some people, but you can hardly say the only way to begin to learn something is by using Debian pure.

On the verge of sounding obnoxious, yes--it's called using Mepis, which comes with the Guarddog firewall enabled. But you can keep ignoring my posts if you want.

Sorry, I wasnt ignoring you

I know what you are saying about mepis, the only trouble Ive got is that I cant get a copy of it right now, the only distros I can get are Suse 9.2, Fedora 4 and Debain 3.1

Actually from a few things I read about debian there, they have made the install program a little easier and do you know they have over 16,000 packages available!!!

Perhaps with debian, it may be a little bit of a learning curve, but eaiser than the rest once into it?

Just a thought (I have no evidence of this)