My reply to a friends query on how he can use Windows 7 and his problems with Ubuntu 9.04 (quoting) "Also my UBUNTU 9.04 showing some probs like - Automatically Log Off, Sometimes just freezes and I have to reboot. I think now I have had my share of experiments with the latest gigs, can somebody suggest a STABLE and yet FULLY functional DISTRO for me to try"

===My Reply===

Download the Windows 7 RC1 which is legal/valid till June 2010. Else someone coming this side I can give the DVD!!

As about Ubuntu 9.04 - typical desktop Ubuntu problems - view the quick updates for trying to keep pace with the latest and greatest (there was three kernel update in the last month!!!) and some tends to be broken!! I thus typically use Debian (Debian 5.0 Lenny) view its updates are more thought out, less frequent and very very stable!! The freezes (mostly due to display hardware issues with the windows manager like Gnome/KDE!!) are non-existent in Debian. But I should admit, Debian configuration/tweaking does require a bit (actually - more than a bit!!!) of Linux familiarity!!

But my destop recommendation of choice is Mint (Mint 7 'Gloria' based on Ubuntu 9.04 and KDE Graphics Manager released a few days ago) Distribution. (http://www.linuxmint.com).
Read a nice review at http://1n73r.net/2009/05/09/linux-mint-7-review


I would recommend you use Mint 7!!
And of course how I wish Windows 7 was Open Source :-(
Am finding it rather good :-) and wouldn't mind paying for it only if it was open source!! (High Hopes!!!)

Wow!!! The 'India's Got Talent' show has been deservedly won by the 'Prince Dance Group', a group of gritty, talented, courageous group of young men from a small town called Berhampur, Orissa, India. I am humbled, proud and privileged to belong to the same place!! They showed the world that despite poverty and lack of resources, Indians can put up World Class act. A lesson for all of us!! BRAVO!!

A nice analogy - from 'the' man himself!!!


===Quoting====
Q: What makes you believe Linux will continue to gain momentum?

A: I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things. I compare it to science vs. witchcraft. In science, the whole system builds on people looking at other people's results and building on top of them. In witchcraft, somebody had a small secret and guarded it -- but never allowed others to really understand it and build on it.

Traditional software is like witchcraft. In history, witchcraft just died out. The same will happen in software. When problems get serious enough, you can't have one person or one company guarding their secrets. You have to have everybody share in knowledge.

--- Linus Torvalds

== End Quote===

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2004/tc20040818_1593.htm