this is my first posting here ... back again running on Sabayon Linux Machine ... (german speaking) ... telling you about
my personal story why i moved back towards Sabayon 10 64 Bit Linux System:
... a typical ambitious PC user, in general working with Software for Multimedia, Grafik Design, Video Editing Composing ... never dropped towards Apples "all is easy" work & lifestyle ... although since years completely unsatisfied with Windows ... i decided to move away complete towards Linux Desktop making the experiment: "How good or bad ... how easy or hard" is the change towards Linux System without knowlegde about Console Commands and all this stuff ... my personal experiment of the last months, described below:
" Beginner Level on Linux Desktop ... find the best advanced User Distro ... resulting in optimal speed and stable Linux Desktop System ... featuring easy install and out of the box ready "
Hardware:
seperate Sata Harddisk, Intel Quadcore 64 Bit, using a "Linux Certified" (!!) AMD Firepro 3D V4900 PCIe 2.0 Videocard:
Ubuntu 12.4. LTS and Ubuntu based Distros:
Installation process was easy ... by default free Videocard Drivers where working, but not in a good way ... resulting nearly unreadable text after a while = on a high quality Samsung PVA Panel Monitor. So i decided to use the "nonfree" Videocard Driver from AMD (ATi). Because there was no easy "Beginner friendly" description, how to install the correct FirePro "Linux Certified" Drivers from the AMD Homepage, recommended by AMD... i tried the Ubuntu recommended fglrx Driver installation process with Ubuntu Driver Jokey. Easy installation but no Information at all before install, which Driver exactly is going to be installed. Rebooting Ubuntu the recommended fgrlx Drivers did not work with optimal Performance. ... Realizing now !! only manually i could try to install the fglrx drivers ... i tried doing this
...but failed ending several times in a non booting System with somthing like: Plymouth Bridge broken... frustrating to read in the Data Sheet of my AMD Videocard: "Certified for Linux" Ubuntu 12.4 LTS, Suse Linux ... Several Ubuntu based Distros i was trying now: Dreamstudio, Ubuntu Studio, Ultimate ... focussing easy Proprietary Driver installation = resulting in no sucess searching for optimal System Configuration and Stability.
next try on new Chakra Linux:
Using 2012.09 Claire KDE 4.9.1 September Release this month, offering easy switching choice between "non free" and "free version" Video Drivers. Booting new live DVD, the switch didn't work. So i installed Chakra Linux ...suggesting to find a understandable way of installing the correct fglrx drivers for my videocard... the thing was ending again in a unbootable system ...without deeper console knowlegde for me not to manage... frustrating me nearly the same like with Ubuntu: the precompiled offered "catalyst" drivers 12.8 for my AMD Videocard didn't work...
moving back to Sabayon
Sabayon 10.5 KDE 4.9 64 Bit. Installation takes a while offering me a total easy System install, same as advanced installing Options. System feels rock solid after Installation which is ending for me in a nearly optimal Performance "out of the box" KDE 4.9 "Eye Candy" Desktop. Video Driver configuration worked due installation in automode resulting in a perfect working Graphical Desktop Enviroment : giving me now exactly that, what ambitionated Newbies and Powerusers like me expect from out of the box ready...
Now i started Rigo to install Catalyst Control Center 12.8. Installation worked fine, showed me afterwards in the KDE logfiles exactly correct Parameters. On Sabayon System Installation the Proprietary Graphic Card Drivers are found automatically including correct Kernel Parameters and so on ... a unique and easy to handle Hardware detection !! : Compiz (OpenGL) Effects are running smoothly even when activated nearly all, great Picture Quality, working Streaming and Open CL, a subjektive much more stable System feeling with Speed and Power on the demand.
Sabayon is in my eyes "best Linux Distro" for ambitionated Newbies the same as Powerusers. With the advantages of a rock solid stable and bleeding edge featured System. Linux Newbies second learning step beside Rigo, is for me using "equo --help" bash command in the terminal, gives a understandable way, how to check, change, or fix a Sabayon System in a still amazing easy and nearly automatic way ... Portage, i didn't try out until now but the day will come ...
Sabayon compared to Chakra Linux or Ubuntu 12.4 LTS:
Sabayon feels more stable, the "out of the box" working features like Hardware detection and System Speed is optimal. Using the total "Newbie friendly" Rigo intaller is resulting soon a:
""out of the box" Linux Ferrari = Sabayon""
"open your source open your mind" = Sabayon
ciao
videOMoviEShine

