Linux=Chaos... Someone needs to fix the Linux problem
 

The problem being... THERE ARE NO STANDARDS... This is completely asinine. I cannot find a decent website, article, forum, etc. that actually compares linux distros for me. I need to get my work done and the linux community obviously has no clue on how to present their products.
I love linux and yet I can't find the right product. And people wonder why linux has had to struggle in the computer industry.
If someone knows which distro has the most/best compatible list of hardware and is no more that 512mb in size please contact me.
My suggestion is this community needs to get their act together or Linux will never be a dominating OS in the universe.

linux is about choice there are many distros but they are based on standards (posix) and the same linux kernel maybe we don't all want to be the same. linux compatible hardware (check the hcl) can work on any distro the distro is a matter of choice. but to say "THERE ARE NO STANDARDS" is completely asinine now DSL (Damn Small Linux) is small and knopix (and thus debian based) so it has good hardware recognition but it's a mini-distro and lacks some features. I don't think your going to get a full distro for 512mb why this size limit? you'd have a better experience with a full featured distro.

Of course there are standards...All distro's are basically the same and using the same kernels. The different distro's just represent different flavours and guess what? You get to pick one :) Just try some out, you don't need anyone holding your hand do you ;)

Most of em are free, if you don't like one distro....format your disk and try another. I consider the choice a beautiful thing. I don't know about you but I'm not interested in World Domination...I just want an OS that works for me and what I want to do with it.

Lol.

Then what's POSIX? ANSI C? ANSI C++? The multiboot standard?

That's only because you didn't look at the right places.

Here on LQ, I have seen (and participated in) many distro comparisons.

Which has anything to do with exactly what?

from http://www.debian.org
I call that a presentation.

Most other distros also present themselves.

If you mean `present themselves in such a way that <foo happens>', state so.

Your unwillingness to trade is not the fault of the market.

And that Linux *has* to struggle follows logically from what?

http://www.toms.net/rb/
It takes up a mere 1.44 megabyte and is compatible with any computer with a floppy drive.

Our act is together. Yours is not.

That's not the goal.

for a better understanding of GNU/Linux, read http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

--Jonas

I think linux has "its act together" just fine. If you look at server usage for any major database management system or web server, you will find Linux has a sizeable presence. Of course, desktop presence needs to be increased...after all, Linux wasn't created to be a Windows-like desktop in the first place. To get it there will take time.

If you would have done any searching on this forum whatsoever, you would have heard of http://distrowatch.com. Go there for your comparison/ranking of Linux distributions.

Also, yelling at us doesn't do you any good. We're the users here...if you want to organize a Linux summit to get all of the distros to use one common site, power to you (but they won't do it).

DSL Damn Small Linux is the best under 512mb (it's 50)!!!
Mepis is the best live cd with a live installer (easy) and the best os control center(easy).

Another problem... the linux community speaks to the rest of the world as if we know about all of this. 80% of computer users don't care about the jargon and all they want is something that is easy and works. For example: When I browse through Suse 9 Enterprise I see a lot of programs that have short names and no way of explaining what they are. So I have to do an internet search for ever app. This is not fun and I don't have time for this. If you want to cater to the market then something needs to be done about the way you present your products. I've been a Windows Technician for almost 10 years. At least 3 years as of recently have been with SMB and Home Markets.
Having a choice is great! But giving a windows users a choice will just confuse them. I understand the origins of Linux and what is has become.
I guess the biggest reason why I present this to you all is because I'm among the huge percentage of the market that is NOT EDUCATED on Linux. This is NOT my problem nor is it the rest of the market's problem. This is the Linux Community's problem and we think something should be done.

If I and others cannot get the help we need from the Linux Community then I will have to enter the development end and change things myself. I am not here to destroy the foundation of your precious OS nor am I hell bent on World Domination.
Truth: Linux is clunky, chaotic, but has so much potential.

And I'm not "yelling" at anyone nor am I trying to make enemies here. I represent 40 companies and many individuals that have the same questions and issues I have with Linux.

I've met a few people from the local linux group here in Houston, TX and I hear a lot of pessimism. I don't need pessimists and I don't need lack of confidence in this industry. I know that the possibilities of Linux are limitless that's the only reason why I push so much.

Re: Linux=Chaos... Someone needs to fix the Linux problem
 

One might question your searching ability.
Here are three links that showed up in the first twenty Google results for "linux distro comparison":

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=158074
http://www.freeos.com/articles/3777/2/13/
http://www.free-soft.org/FSM/english.../ladislav.html

I also have a comparison of Mandriva, Ubuntu, and Mepis on my own website. There are many distribution comparisons.

It just takes a little looking. Linux isn't just going to fall into your lap.

If you do not believe that Linux can be a dominating OS in the universe then you should not be using it. You might as well abandon all hope in it.

clintbrot - I've never used mepis and have no idea what the .iso size is I have use dsl

Skrilla - How is it our fault that you are uneducated? you expect knowledge to fall into your lap? get off your ass and learn something. you've obviosly never heard of the man comand. but it will give you quite a lengthy discription of any app on you linux system it even works on itself try:

man man

for details

First off if your not educted about a product that is NOT the communities problem that is YOUR problem. I don't know how to fix my car that's not Toyota's problem is it?

Second of all PLEASE JUMP IN AND FIX ANY AND ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE!!!! If you are capable and have the time then FIX IT!!!

Now what is it that your having such a problem with? I've always found the easiest way is to just ask if you can't find what your looking for online.

Johnson_Steve.... watch yourself... I'm not trying to start a fight here. And yes I have used the man command. I think you all are not understanding what I am trying to do here. Your intentions are always good but your execution is lacking.

RandomLinuxNewb you're business ethics are lacking substance. If you want Linux to be used more in the world YOU have educate the market. If a company wants their product to sell they have to educate the market. I'm using a basic business model here. I'm not some crazy loon that's trying to get a rise out of you.

Linux=Chaos ???
 

To make linux work for you .... you need to work at it.

There are simply hundreds of sites comparing all the latest linux distros here are just a couple

http://distrowatch.com/
http://www.linuxiso.org/
http://www.linux.org/dist/
http://www.google.com/linux

There are standards ...

http://www.linuxbase.org/

but just because there are standards doesn't mean that everyone sticks to them. If all linux distros were built on the same universal standards there would be 99.9 % less innovation and linux would become yet another stagnated corperation driven OS. Who is to say that one set of standards are better than another? if linux=chaos then maybe chaos=choice
remember the qualities you seek in a linux distro may be different to the qualitites someone else looks for.

im not sure quite what you're after here .... do you only have 512 MB hard drive space? or do you want to run it from a cd/usb pen drive?
have a look at this link ... there are lots of tiny distros here feather linux for example uses only 64Mb.

http://www.l0t3k.org/linux/links/livecd/

im sure there must be a way of running a livecd iso from a hard drive.

I dont wonder ... i think its pretty obvious

Windows XP Pro SP2 = $100+
Office 2003 Professional = $200+

SuSE linux 9.3 including Open office = $0
Mandrake linux including Open office = $0
Gentoo linux including Open office = $0

i could go on all day but im sure you get the idea

Financing for the development of MS/Apple OS's = $millions possibly billions
Financing for the development of linux distros .... a tiny fraction of the above figures

i think it all depends on how you look at it ... is the glass half full or half empty? where you see chaos others see oppertunity and flexability. Yes linux can be hard work sometimes ... it doesnt always do what you want straight away ... but hey no pain no gain. i've been using linux for more than 7 years now and yes i have been very very frustrated in the past, ive even formatted and reverted to using MS ... for a little while anyway.. but i'd be impressed if you could install windows into 512 MB's of hard drive space, not pay anything for it, reverse engineer it legally, modify it in any way you wish and then copy it and give it to your friends without fear of prosicution ;)

OK so my penny's worth ends here.

PS.
this is a very cool quote ... keep it in mind while you search for your perfect distro :)