Hello! I am currently running Linux Mandrake 8.1, and I am planning on switching to Debian soon at the recommendation of a good friend who can't rave enough about it. My question is, then, what kinds of differences should I expect, for example, in the install? Mandrake was really easy, but I don't know about debian. The only difference I really know in general between the two is about the apt get thing where it will download the dependencies for you, which would be SO nice since nearly every program I try to install has me running off to google to find often more than 5 dependencies (I gave up on printing, every dependency had a dependency had a dependency...).

Specifically, I'd really like to know how it handles things like setting up the video card, the sound card, that kind of thing. I have had gigantic problems with sound in Mandrake (some sounds work like if I play an MP3, system sounds don't) and with my CD-ROM (won't read it, gotten tons of help from tons of people, still won't read it). I want to make sure I do this new install right. If there was a website that would help, of if you have any advise I would appreciate anything. I'm still very new to Linux, and I really want to make sure I understand all this before I go and try a new distribution. Thanks!!

Debian, as with Slackware, is considered one of the more hard-core distros. I don't know why really, they're all beginning to blend for me.

apt-get is so simple makes RPMs look like a big mistake. Its actually too easy and makes me run to my masochistic side and play with Slackware.

Mandrake's install is very easy, very pretty, and often doesn't work... Debian's is an all out mess. Apt-get makes it so easy to fix things that I guess the Debian commie army has just never taken a good look at their 2.8 Million year-old installer.

Installing Debian is a lot like, (warning, following metaphor only holds up in the US), your 21st Birthday. There is a lot of stumbling, and you usually would like someone around who knows what he/she is doing to keep you from making a mess of things. That friend who raves about it? Staple him to a chair for the entire process.

CDROM? Er, are you sure you have the thing jumpered right? Ah heck, if it doesn't work after the Deb install post in Hardware and Aussie or I will get to it for certain if no one else does. Sound, same deal.

Luck,

Finegan

Yeah debianinstall is a lot of fun when you're used to Mdk and the likes. The only good thing I found about it is that you just download what you need and don't have to download 600mb isoimages to actually use 3mb of data from it.
I think I'll like debian if I ever get everything working - the sound for example.