[SOLVED] Gentoo or Ubuntu??

[gruven]

I just have to add, that arch is a great distro, and is like a binary gentoo, but I don't run it because they still don't have multilib for 64 bit.

I have 8 GB of RAM, and 32 bit just doesn't suit me. I much prefer 64 bit, so when they implement a working multilib, I will switch.

Either that, or FreeBSD gets 64 bit Nvidia drivers. I will switch wholly over to BSD then.

Oh, and CLI is where it is at. It is so much faster and easier to navigate once you learn the basics.

[Manchunian]

So is there an Arch Linux with KDE?

Oh, sure. Arch works just as well with Kde as with Gnome. Personally I can't stand the new Kde - it's far too bloaty for my tastes - but it works very well. Arch even has it's own customised Kde called Kdemod. The Kde 3.5 series of Kdemod really, really rocked. It was lightening fast and very flashy. But, I have to say, that the new Kdemod 4 hardly looks any different to Kde4 proper, and it doesn't seem any faster either. Shame.

[Jonathan183]

Hey buddy, thanks for the respone. You're not the first person to mention to me that Arch is like Gentoo and that it is a good distro. The only issue I have is it is CLI. I have heard of a KDE install called Archie, but I don't know if it's more than a rumor or if it is the same thing as arch. See for me, I am a huge KDE fan. So is there an Arch Linux with KDE?

You install the base system ... which is CLI only, then you install additional packages you want eg xorg and whatever desktop or window manager you want. I did add a comment to post #22 about kdemod-legacy - this lets you use kde3 rather than kde4. I tried using kdemod (now kde4) but did not really like it so went back to kdemod3. If you are doing a fresh install just put kdemod3 on the system

[Manchunian]

Hi Jonathan,

Long time no see! How are things?

If you are doing a fresh install just put kdemod3 on the system

I nearly did this, but hesitated because Kde3 is destined to die a death. Unfortunately, I think we have to get used to the idea of Kde4 - I think it's here to stay. One of the things that really narks me with this windows environment is the time it takes to start. For God's sake - you have to wait for around 20 seconds, and that's on my spanking new computer! It makes Vista look fast! So, as much as I loved Kdemod3, I'm back to using Gnome - which, unlike Kde, seems to get better with every release.

Edit: I've just logged onto Kde and timed how long it takes on my machine. 31 seconds for the desktop to appear - and another 3 seconds before you can actually do anything (for that stupid bouncing busy icon to disappear). Nuff said!

[MikeTbob]

Oh, sure. Arch works just as well with Kde as with Gnome. Personally I can't stand the new Kde - it's far too bloaty for my tastes - but it works very well. Arch even has it's own customised Kde called Kdemod. The Kde 3.5 series of Kdemod really, really rocked. It was lightening fast and very flashy. But, I have to say, that the new Kdemod 4 hardly looks any different to Kde4 proper, and it doesn't seem any faster either. Shame.

Gentoo uses KDE-3.5.9, and they claim they will be supporting it for a long time to come.
I've come to realize that KDE 4 is still buggy and whatnot but I've been using it for 2 straight weeks now........it doesn't seem incredibly bad to me. My most serious complaint is that the menu bar widgets disappear every time I log out.

Anyhoo.......Skittle, I recommend that you give Gentoo and Arch a try just for giggles, but not on a server. Good Luck.

[SkittleLinux18]

Hey, Jonathan, Manch, and MTB, thanks for the insight. I did give Gentoo a whirl before I went out of town for T-day. I mentioned here in a previous post and it was quite an interesting experience. haha... Didn't quite work my first time around. I'm going to try it again using the CLI installer instead of the GUI installer.

I tried install Arch last night on a Virtual Machine, but kept getting a failed error during the setup and then I would be dropped to a basic command shell.

I've got my Kubuntu 8.04 on my main linux computer that is working just fine, minus the couple of bugs that are supposedly not fixable to date. But they are so minute that I don't even run into them.

Like I said before, what is intriguing me about Gentoo, and now I guess Arch as well, is that it is possible to custom install both distros so that they are the most stable for my specific system. At least, that was what I thought. As I've done more research on Gentoo, I think I am taking that assumption a little too far. So I am going to keep trying on Virtual Machines with both Arch and Gentoo.

I would like to add a thought about KDE4 that has been on my mind. A lot of people are anti KDE4 for a lot of reasons, most of which I share myself. However, wasn't there a time when everyone hated KDE3 and wanted to stick with KDE2??

[SkittleLinux18]

I nearly did this, but hesitated because Kde3 is destined to die a death. Unfortunately, I think we have to get used to the idea of Kde4 - I think it's here to stay.

This right here is exactly why I can't stop thinking about the fact that everyone hated KDE3 when it first came out. It was the same thing we see now. e.g.

"Screw KDE3!! It's buggy, unstable, and has too many unnecessary changes! Stick with KDE2!"

"I'm sticking with KDE2. It has everything I want and none of that extra spiffy crap that slows the system down."

Then the releases for KDE3.2-KDE3.4

"Ok, I am starting to see some turnarounds with KDE3."

"Yeah, I think I'll have another go at it now that there is some improvement."

The release of KDE3.5.x

"I love KDE3.5!!!"

I am forced to wonder: The time table between the release of KDE3.0 and KDE3.5 was April 3, 2002 - November 29, 2005 (3 1/2 yrs). Would it have really taken that long if people had just got onboard with it sooner??

According to some articles I read, that is why major distros such as Kubuntu, Opensuse, and Mint have migrated to KDE4 so quickly. To tell you the truth, I think Kubuntu has the best working KDE4 on it. Mint hasn't released with it yet, and OpenSuSe has some bugs that should be worked out with the 11.1 and 11.2 releases, ect.

[SkittleLinux18]

I am going to set this thread to SOLVED because the questions I had regarding Gentoo... and now Arch have been answered. I'm having trouble installing/experimenting with both, so I am going to start new threads for them in the appropriate places.

Thanks everyone for your insights!