The MLUG currently lists over 100 Linux distributions. Which one is the best? Why are there so many different distributions? Which one has the most features?

The above are all commonly asked questions. I will try to offer some suggestions and answer the questions.

The best Linux distribution for you may not be the best distribution for me, or your neighbor. This is what is so unique about Linux - choices! The correct way to answer which distribution is the best for you, depends entirely on your needs and is maybe better answered by the next question.....why are there so many distributions?

The reason is very simple. Each distribution is made for a specific reason, or to provide a specific feature, or for a specific task. Some distributions are made for ease of installation, or ease of management, or for advanced features such as network security. Some distributions are made to provide a limited set of features, packages (programs), hardware support, etc while others are made to provide everything under the moon. Even still, some distributions are made to be hard and complicated. I know this sounds very odd, but there are some Linux users who enjoy to be able to say that "I use a Gentoo Stage 1" computer, or "I have rolled my own ROCK linux", or even still "I have made my linux from scratch!". Anyone, including you, may provide your own distribution for your own personal use, or you may allow others to also use your distribution. This is exactly how there was first a single linux kernel, then a single linux distribution, and now hundreds to chose from.

You can compare linux distributions to cakes.

If you go to a grocery store to purchase a cake, you might have to make a choice between a pre-made cake ready to eat, a boxed cake that you need to make, or you could simply purchase all the ingrediants and make it from scratch. Just like distributions, you can even further break this down into something like this: If you decide to purchase a pre-made cake, you may be limited in the flavors, size, type of icing, and the design of the cake. You have to accept the cake exactly how it is made. If you are able to modify the cake in any way, it will be very limited...more than likely you might be able to add some more "eye candy" or visuals to the icing. You wouldn't be able to turn a round cake into a square cake without damaging the cake in some way.

If you buy a boxed cake, you may be limited in the flavors that are available for both the cake mix and the icing. You might also find that you are limited to the type of cake you will make by the type of cake pans you have at home...such as round or square. Although you will generally have a few more choices in buying a boxed cake over a pre-made cake....there will still be limitations.

We can take this one step further in making a cake from scratch. With this type of cake, you are really not limited by anything. You can make the cake however you see fit. You can use any flavors, any ingrediants, any types of icing, multiple layers just means more ingrediants, etc, etc, etc.

O.k., now everybody can go and take a break....now that I have probably worked your appetite up for some cake....go ahead...have a piece then go to the next page.

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