The ultimate Linux Workstation

[killfrog]

I'd like to suggest that someone write a nice HOWTO set up a good Linux workstation, not a server, but as an alternative instead of Windows.
There are a lot of users that think about migrating to linux in their desktops, and I also know there are a lot of nice "flavours" of linux distros, I tasted a lot of them, and I never could find THE ONE that suits all my needs (don't forget 80% of the world is "Addicted" to Microsoft, and everyone wants to be able to do most of the work they used to do in Windows)
Now, the question is, what is in your opinion the best Linux distro for a desktop computer? FEDORA? KUBUNTU? MANDRAKE?
Whatever it is, it would be nice to have a HOWTO for that, it can be called "The perfect Linux Desktop/Workstation Setup.

[rayit]

I use kubuntu with extra automatix

this works nicely.


RayIT

[guybrush]

i´m using ubuntu (not kubuntu, but the desktop environment is just a question of taste).
as a starting point i would install ubuntu with nothing special, and then add the software you need via apt-get/synaptic.
this would make a good basic workstation in my opinion.

if you´d like to migrate from windows, it´s much more work, depending on which software you´re using and how complex it is (e.g. not all office-documents work correct on openoffice, if so you should consider using wine or cedega to emulate office, if you have a license for it)

greetz guybrush

[sbovisjb1]

Well i plan on installing linuxBIOS and a gentoo kernel from stage 1. This will make you're system as powerfull it can possibly be. To learn how to install gentoo from stage 1 if you're completley lost goto: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Install_Gentoo_-_The_Gentoo_Developers_Method_with_NPTL_and_2.6_fr om_Stage1
to install gentoo (this was actually amasing, cause there were other links to my laptop :P) and linuxBIOS go here: http://www.linuxbios.org/data/lbdoc/lb-5.html.
That should get you started. Now if you dont want to take the risk you're self you can send (i believe) you're motherboard to the company to get a chip or have them customise it> http://www.linuxlabs.com/hardwareintake.html. All you have to do is tell them you're budget and quantity. I always say 30-50 :) and then you are having a system that boots between 3-8 secs!!