Why did MEPIS abandon the Ubuntu base used for MEPIS 6, and go back to Debian Etch, as I understand it? Did the developers think the Ubuntu base didn't work as well? If there is an article you can point me to with a link, that will be sufficient, thank you.

I found this article on google...

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6170488551.html

Ah...so it was all about the release cycles. Otherwise, I thought that because Ubuntu and MEPIS are both Debian-based, basing MEPIS on Ubuntu sounded like adding a pointless layer of complexity.

Hi -

Actually, a central issue was that an Ubuntu-based distro simply doesn't lend itself well to periodic upgrades. You can read more about the issue here:

http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.p..._7_Upgrade_FAQ

PS:
I just updated my laptop from Mepis 6.5 to Mepis 7.0 a few days ago - and I'm delighted! Mepis is good - and the new Mepis 7.0 is terrific!

IMHO .. PSM

I just upgraded from 6.5 to 7.0 by retaining my data in the home directory as can be done and using the same default user and password, while choosing use the old user data.

Installation went pretty smoothly. Overall, this version seems a little more solid in how it runs with less erratic behavior. The live 7.0 CD can read and write NTFS files as should be expected.

Some of the settings are set back to default in appearance and you have to reinstall many applications such as kaffeine, VLC and so on. Mplayer seems to behave itself a little more, but is still quirky.

All of my Firefox plugins and favorites were retained. As always, if you can't play a file's format, go to http://www.media-convert.com.

Mplayer and VLC can be made to play flash video, but it may be easier to use the Firefox add-on Downloadhelper to download the video and then use the media-convert to change it to Linux DivX + AVI.

Youtube and so on works properly. Overall, aside from better looks and more solid performance, Mepis 7.0 can be considered more of a refinement or evolution of Mepis rather then a whole new animal.