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Considering the success of Ubuntu Linux as a distribution of the open source operating system, it has become clear that locating good alternatives to this release is becoming increasingly difficult. With that said, I've decided to round up the best candidates that might serve as a viable alternative so you might be able to partake in the Linux experience without having to relying exclusively on one distribution.

The following roundup of alternatives is presented here in no particular order.

1) OpenSuSE

Despite not being a fan of RPM-based package management myself, there is really something to be said about OpenSuSE, despite my feelings on its choice of software installation. Unlike many other distributions out there, OpenSuSE has strong support from a community-based-system that is active, competent, and actually kept up to date with each distro release.

As for hardware compatibility, I found that the provided HCL (hardware compatibility list) is generally up to date and provides a good jumping off point for people looking to get started. Thanks to regular updates for OpenSuSE, users can be assured that they are provided with the latest hardware support and security patches as they are made available.

Another reason I like OpenSuSE is this: like Ubuntu with Canonical, OpenSuSE has some sponsorship backing from Novell. While I may not approve of everything Novell does or says, they have sponsored some projects that I have come to love, like Evolution (the Outlook alternative for GNOME desktop users).

Overall usability

One of the nice things about OpenSuSE is the ability to select either GNOME or KDE with the utmost of ease. This provides options with both desktop environments at the user's disPCLOSal, along with some new abilities that come stock with OpenSuSE 11.0.

One-click installation of software -- perfected by Linspire way back when and since then made popular by other Linux distributions -- has become the latest rage. Where this has proven to be most helpful is with the installation of multimedia codecs such as MP3 and DVD, not to mention creating a simple means of installing NVIDIA video drivers for 3D acceleration.

Then there is system management. From package installation to setting up your firewall, using YaST is where it is at. YaST is best suited for the KDE desktop, however I do believe you can still get to it from GNOME via its Control Panel.

Pitfalls

Honestly, OpenSuSE 11.0 has not really presented any problems to me thus far unlike previous releases such as 10.1, which was a messy release to update. With the PCLOSsible exception that sometimes the one-click installation packages can be a bit slow thanks to slow servers, OpenSuSE is a good distribution for those looking to get their feet wet.

2) PCLinuxOS

Heavily based on Mandriva, "PCLOS" as some like to call it provides migrating Windows users with what some might deem as the path of least resistance. Despite the claim that Win32 codecs are not shipping with the distro, oddly I found that other goodies like Flash were working out of the box without any extra efforts from me. Those using wireless devices designed for Windows like Broadcom chipset-based products, will also find PCLOS to be a natural fit. From its use of KDE to a sane menuing system for getting to settings quickly and easily, I can see why so many Windows users flock to this distribution.

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