[Malvern] Debian and Ubuntu.

[Richard Forster]

Ian meant http://efficientpc.co.uk/
I would probably buy my next machine from them.
But don't worry if you don't want the Ubuntu they offer, they would 
probably also install any of the other main or not so main-stream 
distributions. They wouldn't be able to offer the same mythbox 
functionality with Debian stable though  :-)

In addition, the SSL bug may have affected everyone who used a secure 
website with a certificate generated (or requested) by a broken Debian 
machine. This includes Fedora and even Windows users. Plus the blacklist 
files are now taking up space on all your hard drives - yes drives are 
huge but that's not really the point is it.
I think the episode gives far more credence to the philosophy of 
contributing upstream and always trying to use the official version of a 
package. (Yes, there were attempts made by Debian to do this but the 
messages didn't get to the right people.) Any distribution specific 
patches have to be very well understood before they go in, understood by 
someone who doesn't necessarily have the day job of maintaining that 
software.

In my last job we used Fedora *only* because it was easier to update it 
off-line when you only had windows boxes on-line. That and it was "what 
we knew". In my new job we have a mix of Ubuntu (pronounced Umbongo) and 
CentOS for when commercial apps are written for RHEL.

Cheers

Rick



Ian Pascoe wrote:
> Evening Geoff
> 
> As an alternative to Knopix  try the Test CD - it seems to be getting alot
> of notice these days.
> 
> One additional point, and again hands up for selfishness, Ubuntu is provided
> to OEMs; anyone interested in a nice new Ubuntu desktop that has green
> credentials see www.Efficient .co.uk
> 
> The SSL bug may have got you if you at any time have created pass keys; the
> story behind this is an interesting one of misunderstanding - however,
> cannot complain at the way it was handled once it came to light.  This
> episode gives some credence to Mark Shuttleworth's backing of the idea to
> get distros and projects talking more closely together.
> 
> Unfortunately can't comment on other distros but from reading various on
> line news feeds etc it does seem that the general opinion is that Ubuntu is
> an easier install than most - as always it's what you're used to.
> 
> Ian
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Geoff Bagley [mailto:geoff.bagley at btinternet.com]
> Sent: 08 July 2008 10:28
> To: ianpascoe at btinternet.com
> Cc: Malvern at mailman.lug.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [Malvern] Debian and Ubuntu.
> 
> 
> Hi Ian,
> 
> Thanks for the reply.
> 
> I have often heard the point you make about Debian keeping up to date.
> I have, over the years used both the "stable" and "testing" versions of
> Debian,  and have never felt
> constrained by any failure of software to keep up to date.
> 
> However you mentioned the kernel.  That would be more serious I
> suppose.  I guess you mean
> the other stuff not keeping up to date with the kernel.  I imagine that
> all the other distros must keep
> pretty close to the fruits of the kernel team, which I guess IS up to date.
> 
> The biggest recent cock-up with Debian was the ssl fiasco, but that has
> now been fixed.
> As far as I know, it never affected me.  I apt-get update most days.
> 
> They tell me that Ubuntu is easier to install, but I haven't found
> that.  I have often installed
> Debian "stable" over my broadband.  Upgrading to "testing" is also easy
> by alteration to
> /etc/apt/sources.list
> 
> Knoppix is generally touted as a diagnostic tool.  Does anyone use this
> as an alternative to Ubuntu.
> Some Debian-based distros appear to be one-man bands  (Mepis ? ).  That
> would worry me a little.
> At least I can trust pure Debian to be just that - pure.  I understand
> that Canonical  are not too fussy about
> what Ubuntu includes.  The onus for that must lie with the punter.
> 
> Anyway,  many thanks for your views.
> 
> There are differences between applications like compilers.  I guess that
> affects all the distros.
> Some software can be unnecessarily complex because they are trying to
> support MAC and M$ as well.
> The  GNU stuff is nice and clean.
> 
> Hope to see you sometime.
> 
> Best regards to all the Group.
> 
> Geoff.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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