Another Distro that is interesting
 

I just made a live CD of G New Sense

It is based on Ubuntu, but has eliminated items that were in Ubuntu that were not truly free. The Live CD ran fine and it has a new browser (Forget the name). In any case it ran very nicely on my Pentium IV machine. I'm going to try it on my windows/Ubuntu machine. It has Open Office and I like the feel of it. Has anybody else tried it?

i am of the opinion that Linux users are in general more discriminate in their choices - more thoughtful in general - so it is with some surprise to find that Ubuntu is at the top of anything - mainly because as any Linux long term user knows that anything done with Ubuntu can be done better, faster, more securely etc. with Debian.

i suspect Ubuntu with perhaps better publicity / mentions on line or in magazines is taken up by ex/dual boot windoze users - and like with evangelistic ex-smokers they tend to be more forthright and outspoken with their views.

therefore i think that the latest poll has been taken up these users.


anyway forgive my thoughts - i still think backtrack is the best investigative/security tool for linux.

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ubuntu,come on,come on,come on.......

y'know, it's responses like this that REALLY turn me off. I really don't mind if you don't care for Ubuntu or any other distro, but if you are going to leave a comment, how about saying WHY you don't like something. Even better, come up to the plate and say WHY you DO like something.

"Oh, you are using Linux XYZ? That is SO lame." I feel that comments like this are of no use to anybody. Perhaps Linux XYZ IS a lousy program, but unless you supply the background for your opinion, how can anybody make a qualified judgement? :scratch:

well, I started with Debian and then moved to Ubuntu.

It's like Industrial tools and home tools. Sure the industrial tool is more solid, last longer, can handle jobs big or small. But you need skills and training to use it.

Ubuntu is like the home DIY'ers edition that anyone can just pick up and use. That in my honest opinion, is the appeal behind Ubuntu. And it remains the best bet in converting Windows users.

That kind of statement takes GUTS, but I'll take you one step further.

Some of the biggest detractors of people moving into Linux in general are zealots who fight over which version of freedom we are using. I thought free was free and that is that. If it is free, I'm free to refer to it as I will, get over it. Your stomping on somebody's FREEDOM of expression is a turnoff to this same crowd of new users you are trying to wean off of Windows.

Then when somebody does convert and asks boneheaded questions, they are generally treated like a bonehead instead of receiving help. How many flame wars have you seen like this on either posts or IRC? If you want users to convert and allow Microsoft to fail, you have to be a little more approachable to new ideas and people. Afterall, all of the OS's will fail if you don't teach & treat people like they're at least human.

But that's my take.

I have read this assertion many times but I've not really seen it. It may have been true in the past or it may be true where I don't visit. (I have no experience with IRC and the only forums I have much experience with is LQ and, to a lesser extent, Ubuntu Forums.) I will own up myself to one time not knowing when to leave a thread (long after I was no longer at my peak either technically or socially) where the OP felt he had the right to dictate to Patrick Volkerding how he handled his distriubtion. And I would, if possible, like to help the newbie learn how to help himself, but usually this is in addition to answering the question. But I have seen very little "you idiot ..." type posts on LQ. And I don't think they would be tolerated.

They aren't - calling any member an idiot is against the rules. However, it is still a reasonable expectation that people do some research before asking a question, unfortunately we often come across situations where people feel wronged by that expectation.

IRC is often unmoderated and expectations can be very high - which is why we don't have an LQ IRC channel!

What you say is truthful and makes sense - Debian can be daunting - even to experienced users. - your point is well made. - and a excellent handle by the way.

As an alternative to Ubuntu converting windoze users, can i offer up PCLinux - if those nice people who run it, ever get their latest upgrade sorted, it offers a user friendly environment, and importantly if we consider converting those who had microsoft already installed on their machines a friendly forum where if you ask newbie questions you are not looked down upon and as with all linux distro's if you become curious and get under the bonnet you can make it dance and sing.

By the by, how many readers of this forum are also members of LUG's?

well,I just like this one.and have no any other feelings about it.
yes,you are right,I am using linux.but that does not mean that it is SO lame.at least ,i spent time on it,i did make a choice during many kinds of linux,and i choosed ubuntu finally.i just thought ubuntu is very nice and have a very pretty desktop,then what ? then,i fall in love with it.

the others make their own choices,its' none of my business.anyone have his own feeling about linux XYZ,anyone have his own ideas,do you agree with me ?

well,good luck...

I have to say that LQ is one of the most civilized forums I have seen with a few notable exceptions (you can't police everything!). Its refreshing. Also, someone mentioned that this religious fervor for one distribution or another turns Windows users off. Being in between the two worlds and spending most of my time with Windows users I can tell you that Windows users are just confused by all the different distributions. They have been dealing with MAC zealots for years so they are used to religious fervor. But choosing a distribution is just too daunting without a native guide.

No Windows users I know except one (a geek) has any special devotion to Windows; or their computer for that matter. Its an appliance they use to get stuff done (is anybody out there in love with their dish washer?). They are pragmatic about finding the easiest, simplest, least time consuming way to get their stuff done (video, music, e-mail etc). Right now, unless you are really smart (like most of you guys), Windows fills that quick and easy void for the average user. I wish I was smart!! Unfortunately I take the small bus to school.

By the way, LINUX is not free and shouldn't be. Aside from the cost of transition and maintenance, training and upgrades (still a HECK of a lot cheaper than Windows!)there is moral and ethical obligation to send money to the organization that did the development. That's why I never download a distribution and always pay for it by buying it from the organization that provides it. Like I did with Ubuntu, Suse and Mandriva (what a waste of money that was!). If I commit to Linux, the last thing I want is for the developing organization to disappear. Its important to support them so they can support you.

Off topic but curious: Has anybody noticed the startling similarity between Windows 7 beta and LINUX in behavior and look and feel? I wonder if the evil empire is stealing code.

Hi twwater,

Believe me this is not a flame war, but I do need to clear something up. I wrote that statement about Linux XYZ in quotes. That was supposed to be an example of what I consider an unhelpful statement. That wasn't my opinion. To tell the truth, I didn't even know there WAS a version of Linux called XYZ. Just to be clear on this, I feel everybody is free to express their opinions, it is just more helpful if instead of writing things like "Come on!" folks say why they feel like they do. I feel that idea is to share the information, and dissing folks doesn't help.

Best to you! :)

P.S. I am volunteering my time for a local charity and fix up old computers that have been donated or I have found at the recycle center. After I get them running they are given to a poor family that cannot afford to buy a new computer. Depending on the machine and the condition it is in, I may stick with Windows, if it has it, or put Linux on the machine if the version of Windows is way too old and the CPU can't work with new stuff. I need to use versions of Linux that have an easy menu system and the two main ones that work well for me are DSL for the older machines and Ubuntu for the newer machines. If anybody would like to suggest another system, let me know and I'll try it out.

I do agree!

I'd just like to throw in my two cents regarding Ubuntu.

I have to agree that it definitely, without a doubt, deserved that award. I'm not the most Linux savvy person here, actually quite the contrary: I needed a new laptop for school in August so I bought a Dell XPS... loaded with Ubuntu. :-) Since then I've become reasonably well acquainted with the Linux environment (between using Ubuntu on a daily basis and Red Hat at work) where now I don't need Windows for anything save for a few technical applications (schematic capture and PSPICE on Linux kind of sucks) and Office 2007 (until OO has better support). Now I'm even writing my own bash scripts and have pretty much everything streamlined. Of course I'm a pretty big techie in the first place so this stuff seamed to all work out for me, so I did have a few reservations about recommending Ubuntu to many of my ... hmm ... "not so technical" friends. I will say that everyone I have recommended it to has been able to install and use it with no problems. Furthermore, there is no other Linux distro that I know of that has a much widespread appeal to consumers.

Here are some of the biggest advantages of Ubuntu:

1.Linux in general has amazing online support, but bar none I have not seen as much support as I have for Ubuntu specifically. For just about anything I need, I type “Ubuntu” before my search query and I have in-depth detailed instructions on how to accomplish something on my specific build. Even someone completely inept can figure out how to copy and paste to a terminal. Once you tell someone they can type “Ubuntu” and then their question into Google and they won't have to deal with customer support in India, they will be very happy.

2.Ubuntu has an organization backing it. Why is this useful? You don't have to worry about your distro falling off the face of the planet and, oh no! I have to reinstall my OS because my distro is unsupported. Furthermore, you can count on continuous development, support and help. That takes a lot of stress off of people who just need something that works.

3.Ubuntu has made a large name for itself. This benefits all of the Linux community. Ubuntu has made its way into mass-produced consumer systems where people are more likely to use them. As someone mentioned before, it is a daunting task to jump into the Linux world with so many options. What Linux users don't realize is that people who are not familiar with Linux, even those technically inclined, don't fully understand the “pros” and “cons” listed for the various distros, all 27 million of them. I struggled with a lot of distros a long time ago trying to get into Linux. Ubuntu as become the Linux that you don't have to worry about. “Email – check, web – check, office – check. Okay Ubuntu sounds fine.” Most people don't need the ability to, as someone mentioned, do everything “faster” or “more efficiently.” I mean come on, Ubuntu is already leagues above Windows in those respects so really they're making a good transition no matter which route they take. If their needs change they can look in to other distros when it's not so scary.

4.Finally, and most importantly, Ubuntu is Linux! You can still do everything that you can on all the other distros. The important thing is getting people to embrace Linux. For it to flourish it needs the consumers to use it which will make companies build cross-platform applications and drivers. Ubuntu is doing a pretty good job at getting people to look at Linux.

In my opinion, mainstream versions of Linux are the most important. It's great that there are many distributions tailored to practically every use you can think of, but the important thing is really to get everyone's support so Linux doesn't end up getting phased out and disappearing completely, leaving us with *shivers* Windows 10.Suck or whatever or the next Apple iBankrupt.

Just my opinion. I am looking in to other distributions now that I am acquainted, but Ubuntu will always be my first love. ;)