There hasn't been one of these for a long time.
I gave up and switched to OS X and BSD for my Unix needs.
Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
21–30 of 30 posts
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#22Mint is pretty solid out of the box, better than Ubuntu imho.
You could also go the other route, install ubuntu server or something and install x, your preferred window manager and all that stuff yourself. Have been running a desktop setup like this for 3/4 years now and never had any issues other than having to reconfigure some *cked up X settings after dist-upgrade.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#23Archlinux isn't the most STABLE, but I've had less problems with it than any other distro. Rolling Release is a godsend, and the wiki provides excellent documentation. Just don't be put off if your told to RTFM when you ask a question.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#24Mint is pretty solid out of the box, better than Ubuntu imho. You could also go the other route, install ubuntu server or something and install x, your preferred window manager and all that stuff yourself. Have been running a desktop setup like this for 3/4 years now and never had any issues other than having to reconfigure some *cked up X settings after dist-upgrade.
I second Mint. Been using it for the last 4 years.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#25Mint is pretty solid out of the box, better than Ubuntu imho. You could also go the other route, install ubuntu server or something and install x, your preferred window manager and all that stuff yourself. Have been running a desktop setup like this for 3/4 years now and never had any issues other than having to reconfigure some *cked up X settings after dist-upgrade.
I second Mint. Been using it for the last 4 years.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#26CentOS
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#27Ubuntu works pretty well. Debian is solid too. Buying a computer that is meant and certified for Linux use is probably a wise investment.
You touch an intersting point: Linux reliable computer maybe a stronger point than the distro.
I had a toshiba that took weeks to find the actual way to make the soundcard works... and so the ATI graphics card... and the headphone jack did just mute the sound but didn't get music from it.
On the other hand the thinkpad x200 and x220 I got need zero work to "just work" beside the trackpoint.
My Asus ROG have also work without any extra work from my side.
Maybe a good rule of right hand would be to stick to intel wireless/cpu/graphics (no nvidia, no ati).
Dell and system76 also sell linux compliant machines.
Last but not least; tangent but if you change the requirement to stable *nix machine you can get a mac.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#28Although I touch the point of a linux "known to work" machine below, what are the odds that is not linux but a problem with hardware? memory would be my first guess.
Also, may you want to share more information about your set up? machine, specs? UEFI can play a big role on your problems.
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#29Ive been using ubuntu nearly 10 years as my primary os on every my servers and desktops, they really came a long way. We hated eachother bigtime, however if you decide to get on well with each other somethings may be unseen. However ubuntu is a great os and still my number one, and i love unity(really). Also the ubuntu comunity definitely rocks. You can find nearly everything's .deb packages, you'll have apt which is one of the main reason why i still use this os. It's dead simple. But if you really need low hardware and high performance i think you really take a look BSDs. However you need an os that runs well, is sufficient for doing internet tasks, can handle your scripting things, can do developping stuff, etc... go debian derivatives (ubuntu, mint,...)
Re: Ask HN: Most stable Linux distro for desktop use
#30Although I touch the point of a linux "known to work" machine below, what are the odds that is not linux but a problem with hardware? memory would be my first guess. Also, may you want to share more information about your set up? machine, specs? UEFI can play a big role on your problems.
[deleted]