Debian/Arch/Gentoo/Slackware VS Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Linux Mint/Fedora Usability?

You seem to be basically comparing server themed linux distros against linux distros designed for desktop use.

"Now on to my question do you think that the more GUI focused distros are easier to use than the more CLI focused Linux Distros."

Well...duh...but not for the reason that a GUI is provided. In many desktop distros, they put an increased emphasis on hardware detection, and when a driver isn't built in to the kernel...many times there are tools to download the driver for you. When I ran my first linux distro (OPENsuse 10.1 or something like that...) there was a GUI tool to use NDISwrapper. These tools do exist on the server distros, but you usally have to install them.

You also have to realize that it depends on the person. Personally I love Archlinux for it's minimalist philosophy. If you don't need it, then it is not installed. However it takes ages to set up and work on even if you know what you are doing. Arch is well known for having the best documentation on almost everything out of any linux distro. I notice that the majority of people in the forums seem to be more helpful then on the ubuntu forums...and better educated to boot.

Anyway, if you learn better by having stuff done for you and looking at logs, then yea...a desktop linux might be more approite, but for those people that like to learn things the hard way...nothing beats a man page or a distro that has better documentation AND examples than the man pages.

Opensuse Vs Fedora

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RE:

Debian/Arch/Gentoo/Slackware VS Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Linux Mint/Fedora Usability?

I tend to think that there are two types of Linux Distro those more focused towards the Apple Style it "Just Works" and it includes lots of GUIs and things like a bootsplash and then there is the more CLI focused Linux Distros.I tend to think that Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Linux Mint/Fedora are the...

Here is my take on GUI vs CLI usability (easier to use).

For a new user the GUI is much easier to use. For a user with linux experience and knowledge the CLI is easier to use. The CLI user also likes the additional control and feedback given by the CLI as opposed to the GUI. but often the GUI user does not understand the feedback and gets confused with memorizing all the commands and what the feedback means. They want a simple way to perform functions in linux. Since linux IS all about choices It offers both camps their choice.

Most linux users that prefer the CLI and distros like gentoo and slackware do not use aptitude to install software but compile and install from source. They would not be caught dead using aptitude

The GUI distros also have the terminal available fro those who wish to use it and can install software via aptitude or even compile and install from source.

Did you know that you can see all the boot process messages in the /var/log/dmesg (less dmesg in the terminal) and /var/log has logs for everything that you might want to see?

In the "old" days when there was no GUI or a very limited GUI new users who were not programmers had a very hard time installing and running linux. They did not understand all those hundred of lines

of text that flew by on booting that you could not read because it went by too fast and they did not understand. When they could read the text they did not realize that when there was a message that said something failed or there was a warning that it often really was not important and could be ignored.

I think that it is great that both GUI and CLI are available for users, and that new users are provided a clear graphical way to install and run linux. Many of those new users have proceeded to become linux programmers and make contributions to linux.

I personally like both GUI and CLI and use each at different times. I am glad that both are available.

Gentoo Vs Arch

the more user friendly distros are easier. remember its all linux, and there is nothing to stop you from using the command line in Ubuntu rather than the GUI. personally i like things that just work. and if i want to tweak them i do. there is nothing that says Ubuntu or fedora can't be as customizable as arch Linux. i do think that Deb based repos are better which makes it easier sometimes as well. when you hit something that's not in another repo sometimes its not too easy to install it. I love the Command line and do most things from it. but i still like a GUI there when i need it.