[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by rcentros

ArchLinux is a "tinkerer's" dream. I ran it and -- when I got it all set up the way I wanted -- I thought, "why did I waste that much time?" Linux Mint, on the other hand, literally installs in about 20 minutes, and that includes almost all the applications I use and all the codecs, and add-ons, like Flash, Java, etc., -- that a Windows' install requires AFTER installing the OS, installing and configuring all the applications and drivers, updating the OS and updating the applications and drivers. And don't forget about the ten or so reboots that it requires. Once you've got that done, then be sure to find and install your malware applications, and be sure you keep them up to date. I just don't have the time or patience for Windows' maintenance.

But I understand what you mean about ArchLinux or Gentoo. At one time I may have enjoyed learning and using those distributions, now I just want an OS to load and use -- even if it's not "tuned" to the gnat's eyebrow for my machine (like it might be with ArchLinux or Gentoo). That's why I use Linux Mint, it's simple with almost no maintenance.

I happen to be using ArchLinux ATM, I enjoy the tinkering and have the time.

I more or less agree with this:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I've been a computer guy for 30 years, starting on mainframes and moving across and down. I've spent a lot of time popping the hood and fiddling with the insides.

But there's a limit to how much of that I want to do. I use Ubuntu these days because it does the best job I've seen in a Linux distro of figuring out what hardware it's being installed on, setting itself up, and Just Working that I've seen in a distro. I want to devote my time to using the system, not to fiddling to make it usable.