Hi everyone,

Although I hope to solve my own specific needs via this post, I hope to "keep it rolling" so the entire MEPIS community has an information pool for this broad topic of MEPIS distro comparisions.

I want to compare and contrast the following MEPIS distros to satisfy both my general curiosity and specific inquiries:

1) 3.43 (live cd. . .this is the linux side of my dual boot set-up)
2) 6.00 (live cd)
3) 6.01 (live dvd)

If you have experience or knowledge related to at least two (2) of these three (3) distros, then I would like to hear from you. I only have experience with 3.43, although I did "test drive" 6.01 as a live disc.

I welcome generalized comments that could be helpful to anyone but I am also looking for specific comments related to:

a) Virtualization
b) TV
c) Scanning
d) Printing

Thanks!

The big difference in the two versions is that 3.4.3 was based on the Debian kernel and the debian repository and the numbering came from KDE because Warren coincided his releases as Debian added newer versions of KDE to their repository. Because Debian supports so many architectures things are slow evolving. Upgrading was like playing Russian roulette ... sometimes it worked and sometimes it screwed up your system. Also Warren didn't use a pure Debian kernel but modified it to suit our needs and upgrading the Debian kernel could cause problems.

Now Warren has switched to using the Ubuntu kernel and the Ubuntu repository because things are faster and work much better especially when doing upgrades. The numbering of Mepis 6.x now coincides with the Ubuntu numbering and our present version is based on the Dapper branch of the repository. Shortly after Ubuntu switches to it's newer branch and comes out with it's next release, Warren will follow suit with 7.x .

All in all we have enjoyed a radical improvement in stability and performance since following Ubuntu. At first many were skeptical about leaving Pure Debian and moving to Ubuntu which itself is Debian based but where Debian falls short in timeliness Ubuntu picks up the pace and builds packages faster then Debian could. It certainly helps that Ubuntu has money behind it in the form of Mark Shuttlesworth and Canonical whereas Debian relies on volunteers and donations not to take away from Debian because we are all indebted to their hard work to get us to this point in time and success.

Wayne

The DVD has what is available in the repository. For instance if you have a slow connection you could purchase the DVD via snail mail or get a friend with a high speed connection to download it for you and then you would have the same access to all of the programs that those of us with a high speed connection enjoy except of course you wouldn't be current with new upgrades which isn't really a big deal anyway.

Wayne

As far as your A-D question goes, certainly 6.x is more up to date but unfortunately as newer releases come out they are requiring computers with newer hardware so since room is a bain on the CDs older hardware modules get dropped and the newer versions mostly all need at least 256MB of RAM at least to preform properly. People with older computers with 128MB or less will have to stick with the older versions or switch to lightweight OSs such as Damn Small Linux or Puppy to stay on the cutting edge of things. Warren sometimes gets blamed because the newer releases don't work on the old puters but it is us users who are demanding bigger and better so if he doesn't keep up then he would loose support and drop in the charts so to speak. I think he might rejuvenate MepisLite if time avails him but he does have to sleep now and then.

Wayne

Also before going out and buying pricey hardware make sure it is going to work in Linux. The community has been very successful getting hardware to work but most manufacturers of hardware don't offer much help so support the ones who do and you will be a happier user. Eventually the manufacturers are going to get the message as more and more people crossover to linux and they start losing market share to their competition that recognize linux.

Wayne

I've got both 3.4-3 and 6.0 running on various machines.
I have had no trouble using my TVcard, printer or scanner in either one.

6.0 has been easier to keep updated because the Ubuntu Dapper repos are more stable.

Some wireless cards are better supported in 6.0 than in 3.4-3 although some common Broadcom cards that worked out of the box in 3.4-3's ndiswrapper are more problematic in 6.0

Debian has a number of apps that haven't migrated to Ubuntu's repos yet, but (completely subjectively) it looks as though new projects are slightly more likely to have an Ubuntu .deb than a Debian one.

I run 6.0 on my old Compaq Armada M700 laptop (Pentium 3 500Mhz 192MB RAM) because it runs a bit snappier than 3.4-3 does on that machine. RAM usage doesn't seem to differ much between the two.

I plan to continue using my constantly updated (since RC3) 3.4-3, but I think I would discourage a new user from starting with 3.4-3. Since Debian has moved to Xorg 7.1, getting it fully updated breaks the Nvidia install utility & the LiveCD reinstall X feature and requires reinstallation of some programs. 6.0 on the other hand just updates smoothly.

When "uncompressed" how much does the dvd (6.0.1) put on your hdd compared to the cd (6.0)? I would assume much more, but does anyone have any specific numbers?

Other than having many more programs, is there any substantial advantage of 6.0.1 over 6.0?

Thanks again!

I'm guessing on this but l would say that there would be very little difference because the DVD is just housing the repository that would be otherwise accessed via the net. If you have a high speed connection it would unnecessary to have the DVD.

wayne

I use Mepis 3.43.

Ever since I first started using it (whenever it first came out) I have noticed that, at any given moment, some of its repositories are not available. For example, if there are 4 possible repositories, then there is always at least one repository that can not be accessed for some reason.

Yes, I have double checked to ensure that all repositories are selected.

I use synaptic mostly, but during the few times I have had use a command line (apt-get) approach, it is the same story.

My questions:

1) Does anyone else using Mepis (any version) have this problem?

2) How can I fix this problem?

Thanks.

I don't think you will be able to fix the problem because it isn't being supported anymore. Running 3.4.3 is fine if it is working for you but it is like using windose 98, there are many people using it and it is doing for them what they have been doing with it for years but if they want what XP will do they will have to install XP and that applies here too. 3.4.3 was built for and with what was available at the time and if you want to do with what is available now you will have to install 6.x . I have been using linux for three years now and it is moving ahead so fast that it boggles the mind and l expect that three years from now it will be that much further ahead. Some may see that as a negative but it is not necessary to move with it if what you are using now meets your needs again using 98 as an example, l know many people still using it and it meets their needs for what they need to do so they never upgraded their machines and software with the rush. We probably won't need 7.0 when it arrives but you can bet your boots that most of us will WANT it! I guess what sums it all up is wants and needs? ... usually in this life we have way more wants then we have needs :-)

Wayne

hoe,

Thanks for your reply. A few questions:

1) So, the Mepis 3.43 repositories are no longer supported, correct? If so, then that could explain why I have had trouble.

2) Have you had any trouble getting up to date Mepis 6.0 repositories? Some other forums have suggested I switch from 3.43 to 6.0 and I am beginning to think I should.

3) When Mepis 7.0 comes out, does that mean that 6.0 will no longer be supported?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks again for all of your time!

My understanding is that Dapper which 6.X is based on will have long term support. I have updated my 6.0 several times with no problems thus far. I have a dual core intel and am using the i686 kernel and have Parallels Workstation installed with no problem and everything works great.

Wayne

The advice I was given at mepislovers was 6.0 updates can be accepted without hesitation. I applied about 125 at one shot. No obvious problems but the first time around some packages were not found. Sometimes you need to play a bit of "server-tag" as servers are unreachable or certain packages are unavailable at a particular server. All part of the fun.

My advice is go 6.0 or go straight debian etch. Warren and the Mepis community can't be expected to have much interest in maintaining 3.4.3. Maybe you have already read threads like this
http://www.mepislovers.com/forums/in...2283;topicseen

Having said that, I still have an install of 3.4.3 running. Other than checking debian.org/security semi-regularly, it only gets software updates as needed. Major updates are done with fingers crossed.

Maybe you have already read threads like this
http://www.mepislovers.com/forums/in...2283;topicseen

muddywaters:

No, I actually haven't yet read threads like the one you posted. Thanks for the update.