Recs.
Updated
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Can by optimized to any given CPU by using proper compile flags
Since everything is being built on your PC you can tune the code to make use of your CPU.
Pro Great for anyone who is serious about learning the intricacies of Linux
It's useful for both beginners and professionals. For the installation, Gentoo offers various types, which are referred to as stages. Basically meaning how in depth you would want to go into the process of installation. For beginners it's useful to choose for a starting distro due to its various stages that can be very time consuming but beneficial as you learn the composition in general of Linux.
Cons
Con It takes long to update
Everything must be compiled to update and if you have to update the kernel or some heavy software like Chromium it can takes hours if not more on weaker hardware.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Con Optimus support
I really like the distro and dont mind its not being user friendly. However,, on notebook am i using I had to configure Intel+Nvidia hybrid. I used Ubuntu 16 on it 2+ years and did not even know its a hybrid. I am trying for 3 days to get proper driver/kernel/configuration setup - no success so far. I had similar troubles 1 year ago, not sure how I did resolve it then, but it was a pain I can tell you that. Shame. Docs are existing, but seems like they are only working for a guy that wrote it. Eventually, I spent 2 weeks in configuring fuckin X, and I am using Linux for 10 years. Avoid at all cost