First Look at Libranet Linux 3.0

SilentBob4 writes "Mad Penguin has published a comprehensive review of the latest Libranet release. New in this release are an improved installer and revamped/modernized AdminMenu that rivals Mandriva's MCC and SUSE's YaST. Aside from major desktop versions lagging behing a version or two, this release easily puts Libranet in the same league as Ubuntu, and the review has sparked some "Ubuntu vs. Libranet" arguements so far, one on the Libranet forum itself. Check it out for yourself. The review is complete with many screenshots as well as Flash movies of the AdminMenu & installer in action."

Comments

If It's In A Class With Ubuntu...

[TheWanderingHermit]

If it's in a class with Ubuntu, why pay something like $85 for Libranet before even trying it, when you can get Ubuntu for free, try it, and if you like it, then pay for it. (Or not pay for it -- as you decide.)

My experiences with both Ubuntu and Libranet

[yotto]

Ubuntu: I have installed Ubuntu multiple times and every time it installed with no issues, except once when I muddled around with the settings before letting it do its thing. It is the only distro I've found that sees my nic in my laptop with no effort on my part. I am extremely happy with it and plan on putting it on my main computer as soon as I can justify a new HDD.
Libranet: I saw that I had to pay for it and wondered why I should, when Ubuntu is so nice for free?

(Yes, I am going to be donating to Ubuntu in the very near future)

The real difference

[MoogMan]

Libranet
========
New user $89.95
Existing Libranet users, seniors, disabled and students $64.95

Ubuntu
======
$00.00

Re:The real difference

[Anonymous Coward]

Add to that their problems wit technical support. Libranet itself does not provide technical support. The people who help are other users on their mailing list (and forum). Recently there was a situation where one person (who never helped anyone) on their tech support mailing list complained about comments in signatures on email from the people who answered almost all of the support questions. Libranet sided with the person who complained (and had never helped or answered a single question) and pissed off the people providing tech support. When that happened, most of the people who were helping everyone else left the list, leaving the remaining users to fend for their selves.

So if you want help for Libranet, don't count on getting it from them or the support mailing list Libranet's own people emasculated.

Re:The real difference

[Phillup]

I haven't got the 3.0 version yet, but I will.

So, my answer covers version 2.8 which I paid for.

With that version, Libranet was by far the easiest way to install Debian on SATA drives, install RealPlayer, install Acrobat, install Java, install NVidia drivers and set up the sound system correctly.

Each of these things alone is not hard, they just take time. So, it really depends on the value of your time.

My bill rate easily justified the cost, based on the time I saved using Libranet to do the installs.

Since then, the Debian installer has gotten *much* better. So, at this point I could not justify buying 2.8.1.

But, if version 3 of Libranet will set up and install on Raid 1 drives, then I can. Because this is something I do often and it still isn't easy with Debian.

A lot will depend on how often you do the installs...

HTH