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Gentoo is a linux distro that is pretty much "linux from source".  It downloads source code for apps then compiles them on your box based on your compile settings.  This means it has a smaller footprint and is faster then most linux distros because each app is compiled for your arch.  If you want to try gentoo follow the install instructions to get the base system up.  Make sure you read the install docs about the make.conf.  Its the file that controls what apps get installed and what customization's you use.  Ive been running gentoo for a few years now and I have attached my make.conf as an example.  Using this make.conf the command 'emerge -av world' will install a fully functional Gentoo desktop using Gnome and everything you would want to do on it (burning cd's, web browsing, playin mp3/vorbis files, ect.) 

*Please note you will need to change the arch(CHOST)/sound/video flags to match whatever system you are installing it on, but the rest of the flags can stay the same

Code: [Select]

CFLAGS="-O2 -march=i686 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS}"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"

MAKEOPTS="-j2"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage/xeffects /usr/local/portage"

GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://gentoo.mirrors.tds.net/gentoo ftp://gentoo.mirrors.tds.net/gentoo "

SYNC="rsync://rsync.namerica.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage"

# following was used to bootstrap
#USE="python ssl zlib xml alsa cdr dbys dvd dvdr encode esd gif hal mp3 mpeg opengl vorbis nvidia aax samba java jpeg tiff fontconfig branding dv tcl tk gnutils modplug mng glib tk dbus ftp usb bzip2 expat gd nsplugin ncurses nptl perl snmp sockets spell truetype "

# Block Use Flags
USE="-evo"

# General Use Flags
USE="${USE} 3dnow 3dnowext aax alsa bash-completion branding bzip2 curl curlwrappers dbus esd expat ftp gd glib gnutils gnutls hal java mmx mmxext modplug ncurses nntp nptl ntpl nvidia opengl perl python readline samba snmp sockets spell smb sse ssl tcl threads tk usb xml xpm zlib"

# Codec Use Flags
USE="${USE} aac aalib avi cdparanoia cdr divx4linux dv dvd dvdr dvdread encode ffmpeg flac lame live mad midi mjpeg mp3 mpeg ogg quicktime real speex vcd vidix vorbis win32codecs wma xvid xv"

# Gnome/XApps Use Flags
USE="${USE} audiofile avahi firebird firefox fontconfig gnome gmp gstreamer jabber msn nsplugin offensive rdesktop truetype type1 X xinerama xmms xvmc yahoo"

#Compviz-Fusion Use Flags
USE="${USE} glitz svg"

# Document/Image Flags
USE="${USE} gif jpeg mng pdf png quicktime tiff"

INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard mouse"
VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia"
ALSA_CARDS="via82xx"