Arch Linux

Endperform

Member

From: Atlanta GA, USA

Registered: 2007-09-04

Posts: 94

Website

Arch to Ubuntu and back again

I figured I'd share my experiences and why I ended up back on Arch

I initially installed Arch on my old desktop and ran with it for quite some time.  I loved it, but at the time the tweaking things got a little old to me and I opted for the easy way out.  I installed Ubuntu.  I ran Ubuntu for a while, but realized that I was still tweaking things here and there (well, more like removing packages I don't need, disabling services, etc).  Eventually I got my new quad core box and the time once again came for a Linux install.

I came back to Arch.  My primary reason was the flexibility.  I don't need all of the extra things Ubuntu tosses into a base install, not to mention the fact that I didn't have much of a choice by default.  Now, I did try Ubuntu on the quad core temporarily, but got tired of it quick.  Arch seems to perform a little better for me on here, and the fact that I have exactly what I need with no extra crap just makes it that much nicer.

Anyway, just figured I'd share my little journey.  It's good to be back here.

hussam

Member

Registered: 2006-03-26

Posts: 488

Website

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

One of the nice things about ArchLinux is that it doesn't use metapackages. This makes users able to install only what they think is necessary.

Stythys

Member

From: SF Bay Area

Registered: 2008-05-18

Posts: 878

Website

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

well, no metapackages, but we do have a few 'package groups.' like if you run pacman -S gnome, it'll pull all of the gnome packages needed and install them.

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[home page] -- [code / configs]

"Once you go Arch, you must remain there for life or else Allan will track you down and break you."
-- Bregol

Shadowmeph

Member

From: West Coast Canada

Registered: 2008-05-19

Posts: 208

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

I was on Ubuntu which is the only other Linux I have used but I wanted to learn more about Linux so I installed Arch and uninstalled Ubuntu, I like Arch allot better but there are times, like right now ,that I am debating on going back to Ubuntu, the only thing that is keeping me on Arch is because I am learning so much linux and it is a good challenge for me . I think that it is funny that when I used to run both Windows and Linux Ubuntu I would always go back to Windows and the reason for this is because of gaming, Now I am in a way doing the same thing only this time it is between Ubuntu and Arch the only reason I wwould go back to Ubuntu is that it is allot easier o use I don't have to fiddle with things( namly my ATI card or xorg.conf)  if I want to play ET ( which is pretty much the only game I am playing right now) but if I switch back to Ubuntu I won't find out the reason why I am having problems with my card lol

tigrmesh

IRC Op

From: Florida, US

Registered: 2007-12-11

Posts: 792

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

@Shadowmeph,
Why not dual boot?  I kept my ubuntu install in case there were times when I was in a hurry and wanted something that "just works."  Over time, as I have gotten more things working in Arch, I have come to boot into ubuntu less and less.  (Actually, I kept Windows partition as well, but that's another story)

underpenguin

Member

Registered: 2007-02-01

Posts: 116

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

This is one of the great things about Arch, it keeps you coming back. I just reinstalled arch on my desktop, because I just get sick of all the smoke & mirrors that other operating systems seem to work on. Even with other linux distro's (ubuntu), it seems that a sacrifice of simplicity has been made for user-'friendliness'. In the end, those of us with more Linux experience don't find this friendly at all, because when we want to tweak something, we can't, or at the very least it takes a long time to figure out where the hell some package maintainer decided to hide a config file.

The first few times I installed arch, it took me a while to get things like audio & video, X, and other common apps set up, but this time after an hour or two I had a good working system. I'll sacrifice an extra hour any day if I don't have to deal with the copious superfluous software that ubuntu is so fond of.

Shadowmeph

Member

From: West Coast Canada

Registered: 2008-05-19

Posts: 208

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

@Shadowmeph,
Why not dual boot?  I kept my ubuntu install in case there were times when I was in a hurry and wanted something that "just works."  Over time, as I have gotten more things working in Arch, I have come to boot into ubuntu less and less.  (Actually, I kept Windows partition as well, but that's another story)

well I broke something in my arch and I cannot boot it but I am now wondering how I can install Ubuntu so I do have a back up but I cannot remember how to do this and still keep Arch so that I both systems in the Grub menu

stavrosg

Member

From: Rhodes, Greece

Registered: 2005-05-01

Posts: 330

Website

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

I did the exact same trip.. Once you get used to the flexibility a system such as arch can provide, you're spoiled. End of line.

Endperform

Member

From: Atlanta GA, USA

Registered: 2007-09-04

Posts: 94

Website

Re: Arch to Ubuntu and back again

The first few times I installed arch, it took me a while to get things like audio & video, X, and other common apps set up, but this time after an hour or two I had a good working system. I'll sacrifice an extra hour any day if I don't have to deal with the copious superfluous software that ubuntu is so fond of.

I spent a good 3 to 4 hours combing through Synaptic removing crap I didn't need, and there were still some things I couldn't get rid of due to some dependency on something else.  I installed Arch and two hours later had everything I needed, nothing I didn't.