MEPIS
MEPIS is again one of the Linux distributions designed for both individual and business use. The distribution is Debian based and it comes as a CD or DVD. You can also purchase one from the website. The graphical installer takes you throughout the installation process and later you can configure your system with the graphical configuration tool, called the OS Center. This distribution is geared towards the new Linux users. Current release is 8.0.
Slackware
Slackware is possibly the oldest distribution in the Linux world. It dates back to 1993 and has a strong commitment to the UNIX principles. This distribution comes with 6 CD's and is available to download from the Slackware mirrors. Slackware is infinitely scalable and you can run a classical desktop or a huge server. However this flexibility comes with a price, this distribution leans toward the intermediate to advance users and involves a lot of tweaking the text files for your system configuration. If you want to get to grips with the UNIX operating system and want to understand the internal working of an operating system, then Slackware is one of your options. Current release is 13.
ArchLinux
ArchLinux is another distribution that is focused on the low minimum system requirements. It's flexible and lightweight. It can be installed from either a CD or from an FTP server, but the system assumes a good working knowledge of Linux and command line. There's no graphical installer nor wizard, so users are let alone with the text configuration files. ArchLinux distinguishes itself from the other distributions since it's updated on a rolling basis, meaning that there are no particular releases. Every time you update your system through the package manager (called pacman), you are automatically updating your computer to the next and stable release. Building packages are relatively easy and you can share your packages with the community via the Arch Linux User Repository. Current release is 2009.08.
Gentoo
Gentoo once a favorite of the Linux distributions for developers and advanced users. The founder Daniel Robbins quit the Gentoo project in 2004 and this is when the distribution began to lose popularity. Gentoo is extremely versatile and fast because all software you install is compiled from a source code, meaning that it is optimized for your system. Depending on the package size and your computer is not one of the fastest, you can expect long compilation and installation times. The package manager is called Portage and it's an excellent package system for managing software on your computer. Despite Gentoo introduced a graphical installer, it is not geared for the end users. The community is very active and friendly. Current release is 2008.
Conclusion
The top distros that we handpicked from various Linux distributions. If your favorite one is not on the list, we believe that everybody is using a "cool" Linux distribution which suits their needs. We hope that we gave you a brief idea on each distribution and maybe helped you on your way.
Until next article, happy tuxing!