Ubuntu Linux Preview Released

psykelus writes "Ubuntu Linux, a Debian-based distro (formerly flying the flag of 'no-name-yet.com') annouced a preview of their first release (Warty Warthog) earlier today. Ubuntu is the most shiny Debian-based distrobution ever, sporting Gnome 2.8 and an extremely streamlined, mostly automatic installation & configuration process." For a limited time, they're also sending out free disks on request.

Comments

Sounds awesome.

[mcc]

But there's been ... like ... nine Debian derivative distributions to come out in the last year.

How do I know which of these will follow through, which of them will continue to be active in a year, and which ones will have maybe two more minor releases then just sort of peter out? How do I know what will happen to this one, in the long run? How do I justify not just taking the safe route and installing vanilla Debian?

I'd love to have a "user friendly" Debian distro to recommend to people so that they aren't stuck using Mandrake, but when three projects aspiring to that title crop up a year... can I consider them safe to recommend? I just don't know what to do.

Re:Sounds awesome.

[Beatbyte]

your "BEST of everything" != my "BEST of everything"

that's the problem. it's a flaw (if you see it as a flaw) that's fundamental to the system.

Re:Sounds awesome.

[sp0rk173]

I honestly don't think there is a good reason. Probably the main difference is that debian might be a bit more difficult to tweak to use the latest packages, whereas Gentoo stays pretty up to date, even when you don't have it keyworded (read: stable). For example, I'm expecting Gnome 2.8 to be in portage within a couple days. Infact, packages are getting merged in slowly. The downside to that, of course, is that an early adopter (again, a keyworded, "unstable" portage) might have an unstable system. I've always used keywords and have noticed very little, if any, instability. With gentoo, you just learn more. That's the reason i use it. I like things to play with to expand my knowledge on a subject. Gentoo does that. Gentoo also has a very intelligent system for handling rc scripts, that seems to just work. rc-update is just awesome. The downside to Gentoo (and it's a highly over exagerated downside), is it's compile time. To put things into perspective, I emerge sync (update the portage tree) daily. For the past week i've had maybe one or two small programs that needed to be updated, and the total compilation time was less than 10 minutes each time. Even with the compile time, the system is perfectly usable while the compile is taking place. Now, if you wait a month between each emerge sync && emerge -u world, you're going to be compiling for a LONNGG time. Your key to using Gentoo successfully is keeping it up to date.

What it comes down to isn't whether or not Gentoo or Debian is intrinsically better than the other, rather which of the two suits you better. I've used debian, and I didn't like it. I come from a mainly BSD background, so i appreciated portage, i appreciated a more simplistic rc script setup, and i appreciated the merits of a source-based distro. Gentoo just fits me. I suggest you try both, and come to a conclusion on your own. Otherwise, you'll be tainted by dogmatic views from both sides, trolls, and flames.

Re:Sounds awesome.

[LiquidCoooled]

Because I don't believe in rebooting a computer to run a specific program.

That blows, its like going back to ZX Spectrums with tapes.

I want to run what I need to run on the box I am on.
I expect it to take a matter of clicking and almost instantly having the software up.

I dont ever want to have to "reboot into windows to play a game". Fuck that! I haven't paid thousands of pounds for computer hardware over the years to regress.

[/rant] Ahhh, I feel better now :)

Re:Why is this necessary?

[makohill]

I think you're oversimplifying each of the projects out there. I know from my work with Debian that Debian itself means a lot to many people. Debian has a lot of things people like -- tons of packages and a great package management system for example -- but that's not enough for everyone (or even anyone).

For many, Ubuntu may be little more than Debian with frequent time-based releases and a more polished desktop -- which alone is a benefit over other distros and even windows

For others, it will be the emphasis on translation and internationalization that seals the deal.

Since many of the developers on Ubuntu are Debian developers, we're going to start by making a distro that has all of the things we like about Debian and puts them in a easier, more managable package that fixes some of the most frequently heard problems and annoyances with Debian that are tough to fix within Debian for a variety of reasons.