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>> 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). Nah, I use it on all my desktops, there may be idealogical reasons in my choice of software, but I see little idealogical distinction between SuSE, Redhat, Debian - all are committed to removing non-free drivers, all are publically supporting free software in a big way, all make it relatively easy to install non-free software if you choose (I generally don't, although I have SUN Java on some servers for installing Javascript software would you believe). Okay Novell may have made a rather strange pact with Microsoft, but I don't see it as a reason to eschew SuSE (yet). Debian is my desktop of choice because it has a very low bug count, it is well supported (lots of Debian developers around to answer your queries, and fix your bugs (sometimes with over night) turn around!). And I use Debian on my servers, so I can transfer skills back and forth, use desktops for testing server stuff out, and generally learn about the future of my servers (and in some cases debug it) where it matters less. Basically the difference between Ubuntu, and Debian Etch as desktops is quite small if you know what you are doing. Here of course the beginners have no choice, as there are lots of things I had to learn about to get my Debian desktop working "just so", and I've been using GNU software - since before Linus wrote Linux. When I've tried Ubuntu I've always hit gross bugs - Bind9 crashing, mishandling of DVDs, etc. Perhaps I've been unlucky, but I think it gets an unduely good press given my experience. Ubuntu does a great job with the liveCDs, and hardware detection, I've yet to find a machine in need of rescuing that rather dated Ubuntu LiveCDs didn't boot, and mount the disks for me. > In some (many) cases you can just use a debian package in ubuntu, > proceed with caution, but it can be done. Down this path lies madness. If software you need is packaged for Debian and not in Ubuntu, and you want it in Ubuntu, file a request (or repackage it). It may be that no changes are required, but it is insane if everyone does the package switching between distros, when one person can do it once and share (and share the maintenance effort for when/if it does diverge, and have a proper reporting mechanism, etc). The trick with free software is to use its strengths, one of those is that you are free to repackage, and benefit by sharing it in the form that best suits your needs. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html