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Ask HN: Arch Linux vs. Ubuntu, Thoughts?

by shivc on 6/3/24, 7:52 AM with 15 comments

I loved Arch, but the constant issues really got me to use Ubuntu for slightly more stable work since I was spending more time on working issues than actual work.

How has your experience been?

Also have you faced boot issues when dual booting with windows? as in a blank screen and pc not POSTing?

  • by joe200 on 6/4/24, 2:30 PM

    Use Debian Testing. Packages up-to-date. Compare the latest Ubuntu and Debian Testing:

    https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?firstlist=debian&secondlis...

    And I repeat what I said before: don't be fooled by the name of the release - "Testing". The name "Testing" exists due to an orthodox approach of Debian community that only the Debian stable can use "stable".

  • by heartag on 6/3/24, 1:04 PM

    I've been using Arch for over a decade at this point. It's broken on me a handful of times and needed a live USB to recover, but overall has been incredibly robust.

    My advice is to try everything out and then use what you like. Ubuntu is great and stable.

  • by Alifatisk on 6/3/24, 10:27 AM

    I don't have any experience with Arch but I can tell you that I've had tiny servers run Ubuntu for a whole year straight with no issues (except one incident where apt couldn't pull updates from internet because some files got corrupted somehow, but the solution was easy and I didn't lose anything).

  • by stop50 on 6/3/24, 9:56 AM

    Desktop arch and servers debian stable. Works for me. dualboot was often broken by windows, so i have moved only signleboot linux. I only occasional use windows in a vm which i download when i need it.

  • by znpy on 6/3/24, 8:16 AM

    Neither of those, frankly.

    Have used Ubuntu for years, got really fed up with they constantly changing their stuff and messing my setup. Snap was the last straw for me.

    I tried Arch briefly, was not impressed at all. It doesn't look like a reliable system at all. All of my friends using have had multiple major issues, almost routinely. I'm not a teenager anymore so I can't waste my time fixing other people's poor choices in systems development.

    I've switched to Fedora on the desktop (XFCE) a couple of years ago and it's been a dream so far. The system is rock solid, it's routinely updated, it's fast and light.

    On my home server I'm moved from RHEL 8 (developer subscription) to RockyLinux 9 (RHEL derivative). I've discovered RHEL for work and it's been a pleasure... Rock solid, reliable system.

    Try fedora, you won't regret it.

    > Also have you faced boot issues when dual booting with windows? as in a blank screen and pc not POSTing?

    Haven't used Windows in ~15 years, can't say.

  • by lordkrandel on 6/3/24, 1:23 PM

    Arch, rolling release is just superior stuff for everyday use.

  • by cranberryturkey on 6/3/24, 8:21 AM

    i haven't had any big issues with arch, i use it on my laptop and i use ubuntu lts for servers.