24 Aug
2004
24 Aug
'04
9:30 a.m.
Don't give up just yet!
On Tue, 24 Aug, 2004 at 12:38PM +0200, mark(a)kfm.co.za spake thus:
<snip>
energy - to drown people - to open portals of thought
and
Drown people? That's a Freedom that linux doesn't really give you.
<snip>
My linux thought is that the main difference between
linux and
windows is that under windows everything is packaged i.e. that
one installation will actually get that desired product to work -
while under linux a lot more time is spent on finding the correct
patches mixes matches reading than end time using/producing.
Obviously linux has flexibility power stability way beyond the
confines of windows or mac but it is the tieing up of those 'loose
ends' which make it easier for a new user to get going that make
the ultimate difference. While windows users have licence issues
some linux users have other.
I know where you're coming from. As an experienced user, I have no
problem with manually keeping a system udpated, patched ans running
smoothly. Generally, I know where problems that occurr are likely to
come from. The thing is, I don't want all that hassle. If I did,
I'd use LFS. Instead, I use Gentoo.
Gentoo isn't just for ricers. Personally, I find it has the nicest
package management (although that's probably not the best way to
describe it). I've also used Debian, but I still prefer Gentoo -
mainly because it's a little more configurable (like USE flags and
such) and it's a lot more up to date - Debian is safe, stable and
tested to death, Gentoo has regular updates to all components, and
still seems more stable than Debian Sid.
Now, I recommend you give Gentoo a try. Sure, there'll be some pain
- the install process consists of some instructions and a command
prompt - but it's worth it. For a start, you know how your system is
constructed to some degree. Secondly, installing stuff and keeping
stuff updated is a doddle. To install Jack, I type "emerge
jack-audio-connection-kit". When Jack gets updated, my system
updates next time I do an "emerge world". Thirdly, the documentation
is really nice and #gentoo on irc.freenode.net is a very helpful
channel.
Now, I know that other people will favour other distros. I know that
Gentoo isn't for everybody. But I like gentoo, and I think you
might, too.
Give it a whirl. If you're reinstalling all the time anyway, why not
try it out.
Have fun.
James
<snip>
--
"I'd crawl over an acre of 'Visual This++' and 'Integrated
Development
That' to get to gcc, Emacs, and gdb. Thank you."
(By Vance Petree, Virginia Power)