cascade9 |
04-03-2012 06:42 AM |
IMO *buntu 'non-LTS' releases are NOT suitable for a lot of 'I'm not a I.T. expert' windows refugees. The release cycle is too short.
Ubuntu releases are named after the year/month of release. 11.04 is from april 2011. 'LTS' versions are even years, every 2nd year (8.04, 10.04 and 12.04 will be a LTS as well). Normal releases have 18 months of support. LTS versions had 3 years support up to 10.04. Server suport was 5 years, but no windows refugee wants to run a system from a comamnd line.
18 months maximum then you must either upgrade (has been know to cause problems), install a fresh version (probably beyond the 'I'm not an expert' crowd) or use an unsupported version (no secuity updates, repos shut down so you cant get new software easily). Linux mint versions based on *buntu have the same short lifespan problem. Mint 12 is only supported to april 2013.
Just to make life more difficult, 12.04 is supposed to be getting 5 years suport for desktop use, but only the ubuntu (unity) release. Xfce, Lxde KDE and (possiby, havent checked) gnome 3 might end up having a support dropped earlier.
If you do want to run a *buntu, IMO the best way is to install LTS versions, then upgrade to the newer LTS version 3-9months after it is released...giving ubuntu a chance to clean up some of the bugs and upgrade issues. Or use a mint version based on a ubuntu LTS version.
I'd be more likely to setup/recommend mepis, debian or antix over ubuntu or ubuntu based distros, depending on the hardware its going to be installed on and the user.
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