Hello... Distro recommendations

[Kano]

Of course latest one is always on the left side - look below preview release. Same URL + .md5 will be the checksum.

[indigo196]

Thorhammer is based on Debian Etch + >60 backports. + latest kernel (modified Ubuntu one).

Cool.

The reviews I had read on it said it was based on SID. Do you have a link to the site?

[Kano]

Thorhammer is based on Debian Etch + >60 backports. + latest kernel (modified Ubuntu one).

[indigo196]

Thorhammer has kernel 2.6.24

Its also based on the unstable branch of Debian. Not sure I want to go there, but I will do some reading on it. I am more of a 'stabilty' guy than a 'bleeding edge' guy. I just have newer hardware that is pushing me towards the bleeding edge or apparently a custom kernel.

[indigo196]

Problems like these are kernel-dependent, not at all distro related; it could happen on any provided they
use the same kernel. So when something like this happens
grab the latest kernel package offered by your distro and try again. Or better yet, compile and test the
latest git sources ;-)

OK... I am relatively new to Linux (about 9-10 months now. Are there any issues with grabbing the latest kernel and then still using repositories from the 'base' install. I have been reading the Debian forums, but not managed to find an answer to that.

If not then I guess I could go to the Kernel that 'Lenny' is using and still use 'Etch' repositories.

I am starting to think I am 'anal' about control and just need to bite the bullet and go with Gentoo... which seems like a royal pain in the arse.

[Kano]

Thorhammer has kernel 2.6.24

[mlau]

I am a bit worried that it will not 'see' my CD-ROM which apparently is a big problem for distros.

Problems like these are kernel-dependent, not at all distro related; it could happen on any provided they
use the same kernel. So when something like this happens
grab the latest kernel package offered by your distro and try again. Or better yet, compile and test the
latest git sources ;-)

[indigo196]

There are Firefox and Thunderbird in Debian just renamed to Iceweasel and Icedove. I don't get your problem...

I understand that Iceweasel and Icedove are 'rebranded' Firefox and Thunderbird... but I disagree with the application of Debian's belief that such a move was necessary due to Firefox trademarking the logos.

Was there a reason beyond the logos that caused the Debian Dev Team to rebrand the browser and associated programs?

Beyond that Debian 'Etch' did not properly recognize my sound card; from what I can tell it needed an updated ALSA. There was also problems with the network card. Debian is running on my work machine, but my home machine presents a bit of a problem unless I move up to 'Lenny'.

[Kano]

There are Firefox and Thunderbird in Debian just renamed to Iceweasel and Icedove. I don't get your problem...

[indigo196]

Thanks for the replies folks. I will check out Fedora Core 8 again. I really do like the apt-get aptitude synamptic in Debian and currently Debian would be my choice, but I think they are a little zealous when it comes to their excluding Firefox due to copyrighted icons.

I may also give Gentoo a try, but when I did try it on my older machine it took forever and I am a bit worried that it will not 'see' my CD-ROM which apparently is a big problem for distros. With Debian I had to add the generic.all_generic_ide=1 to the boot parameters to get it to read the CD.

All in all this seems like a pretty good place to discuss things without the 'zealot' nature of some of the other boards.

Thanks.