First of all, this thread is intended for the eyes of Linux users. If you're a Windows enthusiast like x9, either leave this thread now or visit http://www.gentoo.org/ for more information on the subject. 
Gentoo is considered a more "professional" Linux distribution. Considering the packages on the LiveCD/DVD are outdated even before release, the only proper way of installing it would be the minimal install, from where you pull every package you need from the internet, fully updated. Everything can be configured the way you want, and you can tweak it "just that little bit extra" for enhanced performance.
The flip side to this advantage in the Linux world is the compile time of the Gentoo distribution itself. Gnome in itself took me nearly a day and a half to compile on a laptop with a 1.4Ghz Intel Celeron processor, Intel Graphics card and 512MB RAM. Portage is a powerful tool for package management indeed - But without a decent make.conf file to optimize your installation, merely installing a larger piece of software can take hours on end.
Least to say, Gentoo requires a lot of patience, especially for "new blood" (in regards to the distribution) like myself. What do you other Linux users feel about Gentoo? How do you think it could be improved, and would you rather use a pre-compiled system such as Debian rather than the do-it-yourself process?
Lastly, discuss.
Personally, I think Gentoo is an excellent distribution. It caters for almost anything you could want in a Linux distribution (due to the large amount of tweaking and customization allowed). Taken directly from the handbook, "Gentoo doesn't hide what's under the hood."
Gentoo is considered a more "professional" Linux distribution. Considering the packages on the LiveCD/DVD are outdated even before release, the only proper way of installing it would be the minimal install, from where you pull every package you need from the internet, fully updated. Everything can be configured the way you want, and you can tweak it "just that little bit extra" for enhanced performance.
The flip side to this advantage in the Linux world is the compile time of the Gentoo distribution itself. Gnome in itself took me nearly a day and a half to compile on a laptop with a 1.4Ghz Intel Celeron processor, Intel Graphics card and 512MB RAM. Portage is a powerful tool for package management indeed - But without a decent make.conf file to optimize your installation, merely installing a larger piece of software can take hours on end.
Least to say, Gentoo requires a lot of patience, especially for "new blood" (in regards to the distribution) like myself. What do you other Linux users feel about Gentoo? How do you think it could be improved, and would you rather use a pre-compiled system such as Debian rather than the do-it-yourself process?
Lastly, discuss.
Personally, I think Gentoo is an excellent distribution. It caters for almost anything you could want in a Linux distribution (due to the large amount of tweaking and customization allowed). Taken directly from the handbook, "Gentoo doesn't hide what's under the hood."