TechieMoe.com

Introduction:

Redhat 9 is the last official foray by the Redhat Corporation into desktop Linux.  They've since discontinued any plans to make an "all-purpose" distro in favor of working on their server/enterprise version, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

Any desktop users who like Redhat's style should take a look at the Fedora project (link here). It's still an official Redhat kernel, but the whole package system and everything else is handled by the Fedora community.

That being said, there are still a few advantages to using Redhat 9 over Fedora, such as people who have newer ATI video cards (9200 and above).

I have witnessed first-hand a bug that makes Fedora 1.0 freeze in the install menu because it tries to load an incompatible driver, while Redhat 9 recognizes what it simply can't do and loads the generic VESA driver, which doesn't freeze and at least allows you to install the system, if you don't mind not having 3D acceleration. 

NOTE: The fact that newer Radeons don't have 3D acceleration is not Linux's fault; it's ATI's.  Their drivers are piss poor and near-impossible to install.

Install:

Installation from Redhat 8 to Redhat 9 hasn't changed all that much, aside from some superficial window dressing. The package selection screen is somewhat more simplified with little icons and groups for some packages.

Still, you must select "view all packages" to get to what Redhat 9 wants to install behind your back. And even if you deselect certain things they'll pop back up when you're installing.

Aside from that gripe, Redhat as always has great hardware support, GUI configuration was simple and the self partition/install went off without a hitch.

Package Selection:

You don't get a lot of choices with Redhat. I mean, sure, you can click the "view all packages" and scroll endlessly through the hundreds of packages with cryptic descriptions and take a gamble as to whether you really need them or not (I have done this) or you can check the "Throw caution to the wind and install EVERYTHING" button and set up a whole bunch of services you may never use and could potentially cause security risks on your system down the road.

Oh, did I mention that once you're inside the operating system the Package Manager doesn't show you all the packages on your system? I think I just did.

Most Annoying Feature:

Bloat bloat BLOAT!! Redhat is a very pretty distribution that will run on just about anything, PROVIDED you have at least 8 Gigabytes of disk space. A full "blow caution to the wind" install is around 3-4 Gigabytes but you need something to work with, right?

Who's it best for?

Redhat does a good job of making their distro pretty but still leaving the guts accessible to the Linux gurus. All audiences recommended.