User:OKtosiTe/Linux usage

I have used the following Linux distributions (in chronological order):

SuSE

 * 1999 - 2001
 * Tried SuSE 6.3, 7.1, and 8.0, but never quite got a feel for any of them. Too much branding and too much eye candy for my taste.

Slackware

 * 2001 - 2003
 * Found the basicness of Slackware compelling enough to use it for about two very educational years. Essentially using this distribution laid the foundation for the knowledge I've acquired on the topic of Linux so far; thanks Patrick Volkerding! Eventually I switched to Debian looking for easier package management.

Debian

 * 2003 - present
 * Debian offered a solid, easy to use package management system, while being very standards-compliant. I have stopped using Debian as a desktop system, but am still very happy using it on some servers.

Gentoo

 * 2005 - present
 * After using Debian on the desktop for two years, I got a bit frustrated with it being too free; Debian has very strict policies on what kind of software license is necessary in order to call something free software, resulting in some very common software packages not being included in the standard distribution. In early 2005 I decided to look for an alternative. Gentoo Linux was the first thing I tried, and I was so happy with its customizability that I haven't looked for anything else for a long time. Recently however, I have become weary of the hassle and time involved in merely keeping the system up-to-date.

Ubuntu

 * October 20, 2006 - present
 * Based on Debian and designed for Humans, what more could one desire? I chose to try Ubuntu because it works in way that is already familiar to me, and is much lower-maintenance than Gentoo.