Why Fedora over Ubuntu
 

I'm new to Linux coming from Windows. I've just installed Ubuntu and decided to try it over others just because it has a large community and plenty of support. But I noticed it installed in less than an hour from one CD, and Fedora installs in more hours with five CDs. I didn't install fedora, but used the live DVD. What's on these CDs? Is there an advantage to Fedora over Ubuntu. I'm not finding some programs that I want to use that are suppose to be in the U repositories.

The nature of my work: On windows I used Macromedia Studio (graphics suite), NetObjects Fusion (web editor), Koolmoves (flash animator).

Ubuntu Dapper 6.06

I prefer one disc distros. I've got a highspeed internet connection, so it's a lot easier for me to just add applications through the package manager and let them download and configure than to sit swapping discs.

In fact, if you've got a five disc distro, I bet that the bulk of the packages are out of date anyway. :)

I honestly don't find much of a difference between distros aside from package managers and the little unique touches in the user interface. If you can download or compile software for one distro, you shouldn't have a problem downloading/compiling for another.

.. you could be using one DVD instead. :D

The number of discs shipped by a distro does not reflect how good (or bad) a distribution is. Single disc distros are ok for people with good fast internet connections where its easy to retrieve packages on the net. Multiple disc distros are good for those on dial up or no net connections. Fedora Core has historically shipped on multiple discs because Redhat started shipping Linux when very few people had personal internet connections. You do not have to use all the 5 discs because you can do a network install using one disc.

In terms of software and features, most Linux distros are similar but have some customisations and apps that are unique.

That was my original thought when I chose Ubuntu, that I would simply add the apps I wanted rather than wade through alot of outdated stuff or remove the ones I did'nt want. I I guess I'm ok to be satisfied with what I have.

Thanks

Fedora Core 6 is more cutting edge than Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy). You don't need the 5 cds, you can do a minimum install with 2 cds or even download only the rescue cd (around 80mB) and do an ftp or http install.

I tried Ubuntu and it stayed less than 48 hours on my hard-drive. I'm glad that there are choices, For me, those are Slackware and Fedora.

Hello klarsin,

When I first tried Linux I installed SuSE 10.1, which was quite nice.
After a while I decided to try out other distro's, so I downloaded Fedora Core 6, and I also got a LiveCD of Kubuntu in the mail.

I installed FC6 on my machine, and ran the Kubuntu LiveCD on another machine (a bit older).

I didn't like Kubuntu at all. Don't know why... but it didn't have the "feel" of other distro's. At first I thought that their Package Manager is great, until I used it more than twice... then I started to hate it.
(Why, oh why doesn't any distro make Smart as their default package manager???)

If Ubuntu is the same as Kubuntu, only using Gnome, then I wouldn't bother with it until it has evolved a bit more... (and there shouldn't be a financial problem, since the owner is a multimillionaire or something like that).

I really like FC6... and with proper help, setting it up for multimedia use is a breeze (since it doesn't come with default mp3 or divx support)

About the CDs... I usually download the DVD, just so I could choose what I want to install, and then all I have to do is press "upgrade all" and then I have all the software updated... instead of downloading each software individually and installing it afterwards.

Good day,
-soundwave-

I installed Fedora from DVD and it did not take hours longer to install than the one Kubuntu CD I installed from. It also lets me make the package choices I want during install.
The only real way to begin to understand the differences in distributions is to try a few. Your opinion is going to be colored with your experience and preferences. Generally, major Linux distributions are all capable of the same things.

After coming from Windows and Linspire and using CNR I can identify with all this. I tried to download a couple of applications, but the Ubuntu package manager said they were installed but they were not anywhere to be found. This is annoying after flawless sucess with CNR. I don't know why people don't like Linspire around here. I think it's maybe because its like Windows proprietary or something. I like the simplicity of Ubuntu, but you are right that the download manager troubles me. Also I find the lack of an organized control panel very annoying. My serious other consideration was to go back to Linspire or Freespire now that CNR is free, or actually install FC6 to get a better feel than using the live DVD. I get the feeling I will be replacing Ubuntu soon just like you did... Any other opinions out there on all this?

Paul

Other key differences between Fedora and Ubuntu

--Fedora has SELinux, which is better for security (this may or may not interest you). A lot of people have had problems with this in the past, but it's gotten much better, so I've heard.

--Fedora is more strictly FOSS (open source) than Ubuntu is

--Fedora will include only wireless drivers that it thinks are any good. Ubuntu includes all (?) of them no matter what their quality is (and if the native driver is going to be poor, unless you're interested in helping develop it, you might as well use Ndiswrapper).

--Fedora comes with more packages, e.g. has gnome *and* kde, which is so much more convenient than hours and hours of post-install configuration to install everything that ubuntu, on one cd, does not include.

As to the graphics software you listed:
...not sure how good the alternatives are on linux (or whether there are any) unfortunately. Linux has flash-player, but not Macromedia studio, etc. I think...
try googling it

Flash For Linux is available for flash development.

Ubuntu 6.10 beats them all hands down in my opinion.

I can't believe anyone would choose Linspire/Freespire over Ubuntu. You have obviously had a much different experience than I have. CNR, is nice, but I could pack a lunch while programs loaded, and overall, it was one of the slowest OS I've ever used. I was running the same system I have now(2.4ghz Athlon, 1gig of Ram, 256mb ATI 9550), and it was just way way to slow. When you get down to it, Synaptic Package Mgr, isn't a whole lot different than CNR. I don't find it any harder/easier to use than CNR.

FC5 is probably my second favorite to Ubuntu, but I've found Ubuntu has a much wider user base, thus more FAQ's, Help sites, a fairly active forum here on LQ, etc.. Where did you find a Live CD of Fedora 6? I've never been able to find one, its always an install CD.

IGF

We should probably all go promoting Fedora Core 6 in the Ubuntu forum.

Why is it that the Ubuntu crowd feels like they have to act like the Jehovah's Witnesses?

The fedora unity project does make Fedora Core live discs. For Fedora Core forums, take a look at fedoraforum and for documentation take a look at fedoraproject. I'm not sure if Ubuntu has many more users that other distros, but it certainly has the loudest.

Where are these live Disks? I wouldn't mind having a FC6 Live disk.

I'm not trying to be a Jehova Witness :rolleyes:, I simply was reversing his question, as to why I chose Ubuntu over FC, which seems relevant to his subject. FC5 is a good distro, I like it, but I think there are a lot of reasons people prefer Ubuntu....

IGF