Full Disclosure mailing list archives
Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning
From: "Jonathan A. Zdziarski" <jonathan () nuclearelephant com>
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 17:58:15 -0500
Debian maintains security fixes for all stable packages, so none are really outdated.
security fixes != software updates. granted one could upgrade with apt-get if they had the bandwidth, but the software I've seen in Debian 3.0 was lacking at least a few notable versions.
Debian 3.0 CD3 uses a 2.4.18 boot kernel, so you can install under 2.4.
Why put this on CD3 instead of CD1? There are far more 2.4 users than 2.2 users out there. Installing Debian using the standard practice (starting with CD1 and moving up) is kind of like installing windows 95 and upgrading as you go. But either way, why not go with 2.4.20?
Finally, if "poorly designed" means you actually have to read the install prompts, then yes, I think you're probably right. However, the neophyte I gave an install CD last week didn't have a problem, so that issue is overblown.
By poorly designed I mean text-based, crappy looking, not very user-friendly for the average person we're trying to win over from Windows. In the setting of desktop OS, Debian is probably the worst distro available due to its very archaic install tool and the lack of several important drivers in the default install to even bring up X on many systems. Any good Linux distro geared for desktop users has to be able to hold its own against the simplicity of a Windows setup, if we're ever going to gain market share. There are some very basic requirements that must be met: 1. A simple, graphical setup 2. Out-of-the-box support for a wide range of hardware 3. Post-installation tools for configuring printers, users, etcetera 4. A graphical, easy-to-use patch system 5. Simple, yet standardized enough to be used by savvy Linux users Debian meets maybe 1 or 2 of these. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
Current thread:
- Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Joshua Levitsky (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Tim Groninga (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Karl DeBisschop (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Jonathan A. Zdziarski (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Timothy J.Miller (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Jonathan A. Zdziarski (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Chris Smith (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Jonathan A. Zdziarski (Nov 04)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Timothy J.Miller (Nov 04)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Timothy Demulder (Nov 04)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Peter Busser (Nov 06)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Tim Groninga (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning |reduced|minus|none| (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Michael Gale (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Richard Massa (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Jonathan A. Zdziarski (Nov 03)
- Re: Fw: Red Hat Linux end-of-life update and transition planning Paul Tinsley (Nov 03)