[HLUG] debian 3.1

[Julian Robbins]

j michaelson wrote:

>hello everyone,
>
>i bought linux format and it had debian 3.1 on the cover dvd. i've
>tried debian based distros like ubuntu and kubuntu but they didn't
>come with much software (this is a major problem since i don't have an
>internet connection), so i was quite keen to give debian a try.
>
>the installation seemed a bit prehistoric compared to distros like
>suse but it didn't give me any problems. the only problem i did have
>was with the screen resolution, the maximum i could set it too was
>800x600, which is a bit low considering my monitor can handle
>1600x1200. i couldn't find any yast-like graphical configuration tools
>so i had to open a root terminal and use this command...
>
>dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
>
>... i guessed my way through most of it and enabled the higher
>resolutions that i wanted.
>  
>
Linux format hinted as much re the monitor resolution issues. Debian's 
good, but a little conservative sometimes, as its mainly used as a 
server installation.

>i'm still getting used to debian, but i kind of like it. it lacks a
>lot of the fancy graphical tools of the more modern distros, but that
>just pushes me to actually learn a bit more about the system. i like
>the fact that they favour older stable programs instead of the buggier
>modern versions (nothing to stop me installing the newer stuff if i
>want it). their ideology is pretty sound too.
>  
>

You still have the GUI-tools of Gnome and especially KDE.

Ubuntu is good, but as you say only ships with a single cd. Suse ships 
with about 7 cd's or a DVD but is quite a different kettle of fish 
compared to Debian.

I dont know if you ever tried the old Debian installer, you actually to 
know which modules for which drivers you used ! Ok if you were quite 
techie, but useless for newbies. Its soo much better now.

Julian

>john michaelson
>
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>  
>