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Re: [LUG] Linux Distributions

 

On 3/27/07, Simon Robert <simon.robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Richard Brown wrote:
> > Hi Robin
> >
> > On 27/03/07, Robin Menneer <robinmenneer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> I've just read this file (above) and am confused again, clearly debian
> >> is so wonderful that  I have been misled in getting ubuntu.  Help !
> >>
> >>
> > It's wonderful until you see the hoops you might have to jump through
> > to get your system going. Stick with Ubuntu, learn how to use it. Get
> > the konsole out. Learn shortcuts.... Get a second-hand box and use it
> > to test install various flavours. Find out the difference between
> > package managers. But most of all enjoy what you are about to learn.
> > It really is quite fun!
> >
> I know many people will strongly, to put it mildly, disagree with me,
> but... If you want linux as a desktop with graphical user interface and
> support for lots of different bits of hardware and all the other stuff
> that wimps like to have then you are much much better off with ubuntu.
> Sure Debian is very stable, use it as a mail server and it'll never fall
> over, use an older piece of kit for your server and Debian will have
> saved you money spent on buying new kit. But the only possible reason
> for using it as a desktop is ideological (not neccessarily a bad thing).

Hi,

If you use debian unstable and also allow access to the contrib and
non-free repositories then there is not much you don't miss out on.
Myself i would not use debian stable for a desktop, as mentioned its
great for a server. But yes its probably harder to set up then ubuntu,
but once all set up "unstable" is pretty good as a desktop.

>
> It is not the easiest distro to install and has little going for it
> looks wise. Nothing wrong with the look 'n' feel, but nothing great
> either. And while not rubbish at detecting hardware it is not as good as
> some others - ubuntu among them. Stick with ubuntu if you find it works
> for you. If there is a debian live disk you might check it out, but I
> don't think there is. Debian is not the most user friendly distro out
> there. As for the billions of applications you could install, unless you
> have some really specialist requirement which is particularly tricky to
> install and of which Debian is the only distro with a pre-built package,
> they make no odds really.

In some (many) cases you can just use a debian package in ubuntu,
proceed with caution, but it can be done.



-- 
Robin Cornelius
http://www.byteme.org.uk

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