Re: Is Debian the last OS ?
Most newcomers to Linux will (understandably) start with a commercial
distribution that they can find shrink wrapped on the shelves. That
pretty much rules Debian out for them, but those who discover it later
on tend to stick with it.
Completely new to Linux/Unix, I started with Redhat 4.1, and then later
Caldera, and didn't get too far with either one. I got them installed
but was pretty much lost after that when it came to configuring them,
installing software etc.. Finally I stumbled across a couple of posts
about Debian that stirred my interest. I just went to the web site,
started reading, downloaded a few files, and soon had the base system
installed - this was the bo distribution.
Contrary to most, I found Debian to be easier to learn. With the others,
the whole system got installed right up front from the CD. But with
Debian, I installed it piece by piece, package by package because I was
downloading it over a modem. Dealing with it in smaller chunks I found
myself leaning how to configure it, catching on to the package system
etc., and soon was hooked for good.
Tom
Mark Suter wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> How common is the "Debian last" practice, that is, try other
> distributions (including non-GNU/Linux) and then come to Debian
> to stay?
>
> Within Humbug[1], approximately 2/5 of the membership are now
> Debian users; however, only a few went straight to Debian.
>
> For me, Debian is the high point in most respects on a long road.
> In my work as a Systems Administrator I have used Solaris, Irix,
> Digital Unix, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and GNU/Linux. Within GNU/Linux,
> I've used MCC Interim Release, Yggdrasil, Slakware, Redhat and
> Debian.
>
> I still use all the non-GNU/Linux systems at work and they *do*
> have advantages, e.g. OpenBSD for security and crypto or Solaris
> for some serious 64 processor hardware; however, I believe that
> "Debian last" has allowed me to appreciate how good Debian
> GNU/Linux really is.
>
> Debian is improving all the time. Given the nature of the Debian
> distribution, I think that it is inevitable that Debian attract
> more first-time users.
>
> I believe that Debian will get there without needing to force it
> in that direction. For example, we Debian does auto-detection,
> it will be done *right* and this will be one step towards the
> "first distro" status.
>
> In any system that novices can use, the challenge is to scale
> to expert users. By aiming at the expert/developer end of the
> spectrum, Debian has avoided this very difficult problem.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> -- Mark John Suter | I know that you believe you understand
> suter@humbug.org.au | what you think I said, but I am not sure
> GPG key id F2FEBB36 | you realise that what you heard is not
> Ph: +61 4 1126 2316 | what I meant. anonymous
>
> [1] http://www.humbug.org.au/
>
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