Re: Debian vs. Fedora on Laptops [*faked-from*][heur]
Hi Ryan,
Have you considered a Debian based derivative? I would wholeheartedly
recommend Libranet GNU/Linux - http://www.libranet.com/. Current version is
Libranet 2.8.1, but this is getting a bit old in the tooth these days, at 18
months old and it is also 100% compatible with Debian. The fine fellows at
Libranet (Jon & Tal) have provided the means via a "safe update archive" to
bring 2.8.1 more up to date, and it's easily doable to install from both
Debian Sarge and Sid sources.
At the moment at home (i'm holidaying at my parents place at the moment,
forced to use Windows *sigh*) i'm running KDE 3.3.2 (well all of the KDE
3.3.2 metapackages that were available as of 4 days ago), Gnome 2.8, XFCE
4.2 rc2, OpenOffice 1.1.3, Gimp 2.2 and various other applications and
desktop environments. Mostly pretty easily upgraded courtesy of the Debian
repositories.
Libranet GNU/Linux offers other areas - ease of installation with their
installer (about on par with the Sarge installer i'd say - and remember this
installer is near 18 months old now), adminmenu (sort of like Suses YAST but
without the bells and whistles), fine support from Jon & Tal, and excellent
help via the Libranet User Forums (the best i've honestly seen in many years
of using GNU/Linux distributions). In fact, even given the age i'd rate
Libranet as the best, and i've used a lot of distributions before switching
to Libranet. You may want to read my review here:
http://www.desktopos.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=28
The areas of weakness of Libranet 2.8.1 are with wi-fi setup/installation
etc.
Better, 2.8.1 is now available as a free download, no gimmicks, no crap, no
time expiration. The free downloadable version is exactly the same as the
one I paid for. Even better, is that Libranet 3 is only just around the
corner after a fair time of development by Jon & Tal. The Libranet 3 beta
is due by the end of December 2004 (ie in a few days!!!), and hopefully
should be released by the end of January. I've heard no real information
yet on what it will contain, but as one of the beta testers for Libranet I
think it will be grand. Of course I am NOT allowed (or going to) post
details of the content of Libranet 3 or screenshots etc until it's final
release. That's only a matter of courtesy to the hard working folks at
Libranet. And good manners.
Dave W Pastern
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan D'Baisse" <ryan.dbaisse@gmail.com>
To: <debian-laptop@lists.debian.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 12:21 PM
Subject: Debian vs. Fedora on Laptops [*faked-from*][heur]
My apologies for x-posting this. I originally posted it to
debian-users and THEN noticed that there was a group specifically for
laptops. It won't happen again.
_____________________
I am looking to move from FC2 to Debian, but have questions...
1. I am still a Linux newbie. Most of the install issues, both with
the OS and with applications, have been taken care of for me with the
slick install wizard and the RPM-based installations. How much of a
learning curve would one be faced with from Fedora to Debian?
2. I have been reading two books, "Linux Pocket Guide," by O'Reilly,
and "Beginning Linux Programming," by Wrox. Both tend to stress Red
Hat and Fedora. Will these books still be of use to me on Debian?
3. My primary machine is a laptop (Toshiba 5005-S507). Most of the
info I can find on Google, pertaining to laptops, is for Fedora or
Mandrake. How well does Debian handle laptops? Any URLs would be
GREATLY appreciated.
4. My second biggest problem on Fedora was/is wireless support. I am
currently using FC2 with Linuxant's DriverLoader software on my
Linksys WPC54G PCMCIA NIC. Be honest; am I going to be crying if I
try to set this up?
5. And, finally, my biggest problem, and one of the reasons I am
looking to leave Fedora, is ACPI. I have to bypass it with later
versions of the FC2 kernel and with the base install of FC3. And,
unfortunately, there are problems with my NIC if I bypass it. How
tightly integrated is ACPI with Debian? Any chance I can get away
from these issues by switching from Fedora to Debian.
Thanks, in advance, to anyone who chooses to respond. Again, I have
tried looking, but keep coming up with tons of info for Fedora and
Mandrake. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx,
Ryan
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