Top 10 Linux Distros !!!

Well , this is for people like me who want to try some new OSes ... just a comparison of popularity of currently available linux distros .... its from very famous sites which is dedicated only to keep track of all available and working linux distros .. distrowatch

1 .... The number one is undoubtedly ... UBUNTU ....

• Pros: Fixed release cycle and support period; novice-friendly; wealth of documentation, both official and user-contributed
  
• Cons: Some of Ubuntu's own software (e.g. Launchpad, Rosetta) are proprietary; lacks compatibility with Debian
  
• Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages
  
• Available editions: Ubuntu,Kubuntu,Edubuntu & Xubuntu for 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors; Ubuntu Server edition also for SPARC processors
  
• Suggested Ubuntu-based alternatives: Linux Mint(desktop), Freespire (desktop), gNewSense (free software)
  

2 ... the 2nd is OpenSuSE ... from novell

• Pros: Comprehensive and intuitive configuration tool; large repository of software packages, excellent web site infrastructure and printed documentation
  
• Cons: Novell's patent deal with Microsoft in November 2006 seemingly legitimised Microsoft's intellectual property claims over Linux; its resource-heavy desktop setup and graphical utilities are sometimes seen as "bloated and slow"
  
• Software package management: YaST graphical and command line utility using RPM packages
  
• Available editions: openSuSE for 32-bit (i386), 64-bit (x86_64) and PowerPC (ppc) processors (also a non-installable live DVD edition); suse linux enterprise Desktop/Server for i586, IA64, PowerPC, s390, s390x and x86_64 architectures

3 ... another famous distro is ... fedora

• Pros: Highly innovative; outstanding security features; large number of supported packages; strict adherence to the Free Software philosophy
  
• Cons: Fedora's priorities tend to lean towards enterprise features, rather than desktop usability
  
• Software package management: YUM graphical and command line utility using RPM packages
  
• Available editions: Fedora for 32-bit (i386), 64-bit (x86_64) and PowerPC (ppc) processors; RedHat Enterprise Linux for i386, IA64, PowerPC, s390x and x86_64 architectures; also live CD and live DVD editions
  
• Suggested Fedora-based alternatives: Blag Linux and GNU(desktop, free software),Berry Linux (live CD),Yellow Dog Linux (Apple's PowerPC-based systems)
  
• Suggested Red Hat-based alternatives: CentOS, Scientific Linux, StartCom Enterprise Linux, Lineox

4 ... another famous distro is .. Debian ... on which many other distros are based upon , ubuntu for example

• Pros: Very stable; remarkable quality control; includes over 20,000 software packages; supports more processor architectures than any other Linux distribution
  
• Cons: Conservative - due to its support for many processor architectures, newest technologies are not always included; slow release cycle (one stable release every 1 - 3 years); discussions on developer mailing lists and blogs can be uncultured at times
  
• Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages
  
• Available editions: Installation CD/DVD and live CD images for 11 processor architectures, including all 32-bit and 64-bit processors from Intel, AMD, Power and others
  
• Suggested Debian-based alternatives: MEPIS Linux, Ubuntu, Damn Small Linux, Knoppix , Sidux, Dreamlinux, Elive,Xandros,64 Studio
  

5 ... Mandriva ... huh ?? , never heard before ... but they says its famous !! ..

• Pros: Beginner-friendly, especially the commercial editions; excellent central configuration utility; very good out-of-the-box support for dozens of languages; installable live CD
  
• Cons: The company's customer service has developed bad reputation over the years; complex, confusing web site infrastructure; dropping popularity due to its commercial nature and unpopular corporate decisions in the past
  
• Software package management: URPMI with Rpmdrake (a graphical front-end for URPMI) using RPM packages; "SMART" available as an alternative method
  
• Available editions: Freely downloadable Mandriva Free and One editions for 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors; commercial Mandriva Discovery, PowerPack and PowerPack Plus editions for 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64); also high-end "Corporate" solutions for desktops, servers and firewalls, all with long-term support options
  
• Suggested Mandriva-based alternatives: PCLinuxOS(desktop), MCNLive(live CD)

6 ... PCLinux ....

• Pros: Out-of-the-box support for graphics drivers, browser plugins and media codecs; fast boot times; up-to-date software
  
• Cons: No 64-bit edition offered; no out-of-the-box support for non-English languages; lacks release planning
  
• Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using RPM packages
  
• Available editions: MiniMe, Junior and BigDaddy editions for 32-bit (i586) processor architectures
  
• Suggested PCLinuxOS-based alternative: SAM Linux Desktop

7 ... MEPIS ... ah , why its on 7 , it should be on 5 ..

• Pros: Beginner-friendly; excellent hardware auto-detection and support; intuitive, installable live CD
  
• Cons: Software in its repositories not always up-to-date, lacks development roadmap
  
• Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages
  
• Available editions: Simply MEPIS for 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors

8 ... Knoppix .... this one is nice ...

• Pros: Unparalleled hardware auto-detection and auto-configuration; portable operating system that can be used for rescue, demonstration and testing tasks; provides a hard-disk installation script
  
• Cons: Recent releases somewhat buggy; lack of polish and unification of menus across the different desktop environments; slow when run from DVD
  
• Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages
  
• Available editions: Live CD and Live DVD editions for 32-bit (i386) processors
  
• Suggested Debian/KNOPPIX-based alternatives: Damn Small Linux, sidux,Xandros Desktop, Elive, Dreamlinux, Parsix GNU/Linux, grml

9 ... Slack ware .... it is the most oldest surving linux from year of '92 !! it should be on top , but i think its not as much popular as others ....

• Pros: Highly stable, clean and bug-free, strong adherence to UNIX principles
  
• Cons: Limited number of officially supported applications; conservative in terms of base package selection; complex upgrade procedure; no official 64-bit edition
  
• Software package management: "pkgtools" using TGZ (TAR.GZ) packages
  
• Available editions: Installation CDs and DVD for 32-bit (i486) processors
  
• Suggested Slackware-based alternatives: Zenawalk Linux (desktop), Vector Linux(desktop), SLAX(live CD),Slamd64 Linux(64-bit),Bluewhite64 Linux (64-bit),Wolvix (desktop, live CD),GoblinX (desktop, live CD)
  
• Other distributions with similar philosophies: Arch Linux ,Frugalware Linux, KateOS

10 ... Gentoo ....

• Pros: Excellent software management infrastructure, unparalleled customisation and tweaking options, superb online documentation
  
• Cons: Occasional instability and risk of breakdown, the project suffers from lack of directions and frequent infighting between its developers
  
• Software package management: "Portage" using source (SRC) packages
  
• Available editions: Minimal installation CD and live CD (with GNOME) for Alpha, AMD64, HPPA, IA64, MIPS, PPC, SPARC and x86 processors; also "stages" for manual installation from command line
  
• Suggested Gentoo-based alternatives: Sabayon Linux(desktop, live CD/DVD), VLOS(desktop), Ututo(desktop, free software only)
  
• Other source-based distributions: Lunar Linux,Source Mage GNU/Linux, Sorcerer ,Linux from Scratch
  

11 ... Free BSD ... i thought its only top 10 ... its decendent of old AT & T UNIX ..

• Pros: Fast and stable; availability of over 15,000 software applications (or "ports") for installation; very good documentation
  
• Cons: Tends to lag behind Linux in terms of support for exotic hardware, limited availability of commercial applications; lacks graphical configuration tools
  
• Software package management: A complete command-line package management infrastructure using either binary packages or source-based "ports" (TBZ)
  
• Available editions: Installation CDs for Alpha, AMD64, i386, IA64, PC98 and SPARC64 processors
  
• Suggested FreeBSD-based alternatives: PC-BSD (desktop), DesktopBSD (desktop), FreeSBIE(live CD)
  
• Other BSD alternatives: OpenBSD,NetBSD, DragonFly BSD

that is it ....

njoy reading ... and don't forget to try atleast one of above distros ...