ANTenna Blog -- Hardware & Software

Everybody loves a good list -- especially bloggers and opinion columnists. Here's a pointer to a list that is likely to make your job a bit easier if you're shopping for the right Linux distro for your business needs.

Over at TechRepublic, editor Jack Wallen has authored a piece entitled, "10 things to consider when choosing a Linux distro":

"I can’t begin to tell you how many people over the years I have consulted with about choosing a Linux distribution. And even with my own personal loyalties to one distribution or another, it always amazes me how certain distributions are better suited to various users and needs. So when I set out to write a 10 Things article, it only made sense that my first one be related to choosing a Linux distribution.

Of course, times and opinions change. For nearly 10 years I road the Red Hat/Fedora wagon. And then, after considerable thought, I jumped over to Ubuntu. Why? Because it fit my evolving needs. Many will argue that one Linux distribution is just like another — and I agree, on fundamentals. But when it comes down to everyday use, each distribution is different from the next. So why would you want to use Debian vs. Fedora or Ubuntu vs. Mandriva? Let’s dive into this and find out."

Whether you're an experienced Linux user or just testing the waters, I think there's something -- or several things -- in this list that will help you select the right distro. Not all of Wallen's points will help new Linux users or even make a lot of sense to them; his point about looking at a distro's default directory hierarchy probably won't matter if you're not already accustomed to using a particular distro.

Other points, however, including some of his observations about a distro's default desktop environment or security issues, are well worth noting no matter where you are on the Linux learning curve. I recommend giving the list at least a quick glance before you move ahead with your Linux distro hunt.