Negative Ubuntu Review

[jml]

I'm not trying to bash Ubuntu, in fact I have it installed on one of my laptops, but this is an interesting article about a reviewer's problems trying to install Ubuntu on an HP laptop. He raises a good point when he comments that all the hype surrounding Ubuntu has the potential of raising users expectations to unrealistically high levels. Enjoy.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201000451&pgno=1&queryText=

Joe

[fos]

I have installed Ubuntu several times, with each new release. I have never been overly impressed. I am currently using PCLinuxOS on my desktop, it has all the bells and whistles. My server is running CentOS due to it's rock solid stability and security. (Knock on wood.)

fos

[danieldk]

I think that for experienced users, there is little reason to use Ubuntu over Debian. Debian has nice cycles, support for more platforms, and doesn't change to much in an annoying way to make it "user friendly".

Though, for new users Ubuntu is ideal.

[jml]

I agree with you, Daniel. My main distro is Debian. The only reason I run Ubuntu is that it came installed on my laptop when I bought it, (from System 76.) Once I figure out how to get all of the hardware working with Debian, I will be switching over. My only beef with Ubuntu for new users is that it is based largely on SID, it has a very aggressive release cycle which makes it a bit more succeptible to breakage. I can't think of a better way to push new Linux users back to Windows or MAC OSX than to have an unstable Linux system.

And, FOS, I was very impressed with PCLinuxOS as well, (I keep a copy of it aroud to play with.) It worked with my hardware better out of the box than either, Ubuntu, Mint Linux, or SIDUX. And except for an old version of Kanotix, it was the only distro to recognize my wireless card and configure WPA encryption out of the box with no tweeking. Now that's impressive.

Joe

[lurch]

After some experimenting with Debian Etch and Ubuntu Feisty I have finally settled on Etch as my primary Linux distribution. In the end I just preferred the reliability and stability of Etch, no sudo, and a greater feeling of control over what's going on (almost a Libranet feeling ) over "Flash Harry" Ubuntu.

Today I will migrate another former Libranet user to Etch. My brother-in-law has already made the jump from Fedora to Etch via Ubuntu and is very content with the switch.

I'm still debating whether to keep Automatix installed with it's tweaks of the Debian Multimedia repo or just stick with the latter.

[bluesdog]

I have little interest in Automatix, as I've invested a goodly amount of time learning how to use apt, and am now quite capable of breaking my system without the help of someone else's script! :biggrin:

[AndreL]

HiiiHa! :cool:

[jml]

Lurch, I have read a lot of mixed reviews about Automatix. I used it once when I was using Ubuntu, but as I studied the topic, there were several things that concerned me about it. Once installed, it adds repositories to the sources list. It also installs things in such a way that they may not be removable with either apt-get, or symaptic. Some apps can only be removed with Automatix. While I did not have any problems with I find that the debian multimedia repo has pretty much everything I need. Just my two cents worth.

Joe

[lurch]

Joe, I think you are probably right. I've noticed some of things you mentioned in my use of Automatix. The debian multimedia repo worked very well for me when I used Libranet/Sarge. Automatix points to that repo for "its" codec installs. I'll be interested to see if there is any damage control after I remove Automatix. I'll report back if there is.