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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."
That's close to my attitude -- and I used to use Libranet.
I started with another distro, got it when I couldn't afford to pay for a distro. When I had the money, I bought a boxed set, even though I didn't install it -- I just felt it was a good product, and wanted to support it.
I'm using Mepis on some systems, but may switch to Ubuntu or straight Debian (I'm still evaluating). When I decide which one, I'll buy a box set, even if I don't need it, to support the distro (if it's Debian, I'll average the cost of the other distros and donate that much).
Libranet could get away with charging $70 for a copy when they were the only Debian based distro with easy install, but that's not the case anymore. When compared to free Mepis, Ubuntu, Knoppix, and Kanotix, the value per dollar for Libranet is pretty low.
I'll go with something I can try for a few weeks, then pay for (and yes, I do pay for it) before I'll go with upgrading to something I can't test that I have to pay for.
If I'm going to shell out that much for a distro I can't download for free, they sure as hell better provide me with something useful that makes it worth that extra money, and Libranet just doesn't have anything to offer that Ubuntu doesn't have for free.
Yes, it's 5 CDs, but if you have broadband and you're using Debian, that's just window dressing and not really worth paying for.
Now if they offered some kind of tech support that was above and beyond other distros, I'd consider it, but they don't.
I hope so, considering that Libranet uses Ubuntu packages.
Open Source Sushi
That also raises the question (or repeats it): What does it offer for $90 that you can't get for free from Ubuntu, Mepis, Knoppix, Kanotix, or other Debian based distros. As of now, there is no way I could justify paying for their earlier versions. With the easy setup of other Debian distros, I don't feel I could justify $90 for Libranet. It took me all of 20 minutes to get Java (including plugins for Firefox), Flash, mdadm (for raid), and nVidia drivers to work on two systems, when I installed them both at the same time, with MEPIS. Compare their $90 to the cost of any other distro. I just don't see how I could justify $90 for Libranet. $30 or $40 maybe, but not $90 when it really doesn't offer much more than Ubuntu or Mepis. One deciding factor for me was learning it was based on Ubuntu packages, since there are questions about how Ubuntu packages get along with Sarge packages.