Re: Debian Lenny Based SimplyMEPIS 8.0 is Released
Daryl Styrk wrote:
Jimmy Johnson wrote:
Hi Neil, I'm along time Debian user (7 years) and if there was
something wrong with Mepis I would not suggest you trying it, saying
that, Mepis has one click tools that Debian don't have, like it will
repair grub for you with a click or reinstall a working
x-configuration for you with a click, install and save /home with a
click, add and remove users with a click, check file-systems with a
click, the list goes on... Sure these things can be done without "One
Click Linux", but why?
One day the "Debian Live CD Project" may create such a live cd but not
today. :)
I do love Debian, even as frustrating as it may be at times. I would
hope one of the projects goals is to make using it easier and easier
with each release. I do agree with Jimmy, what is wrong with "One Click
Linux"? Being able to prove that your above it? Regardless those in the
know would be able to tinker away to their hearts desire, while
defaulting to and making available an easier generally user wide system.
I'm just guessing here about whether or not this issue applies to these
specific tools people are talking about, but one issue that has often
prevented quick uptake of some tools/implementations/ideas from Debian
derivatives into Debian proper is that Debian proper supports a much
wider range of architectures than any Debian derivative I know of.
Mepis, for example, just supports x86 hardware. Ubuntu is the same.
Ubuntu used to support PPC, but I'm pretty sure they dropped it. Debian
supports those plus SPARC, ARM, MIPS, IA-64 (different from x86-64, or
amd64), and others I've never heard of let alone ever seen.
They don't call it "the universal operating system" for nothing. I
think only NetBSD, 'the operating system you can run on your toaster,'
supports more architectures, but my impressions may be outdated.
Anyway, the advantage for computer users the world over is that Debian
is an option available to them when other distros are not. The
disadvantage from the perspective of JoeBlow-x86-home-user is that
Debian development can be slower and lag behind other distros in some
areas because Debian has to port what it incorporates to so many
architectures, and that takes time and developers, each of whom have
their own particular priorities and special problems unique to their
architectures.
So I think it's incumbent upon Debian users to decide whether one of
these more targeted distros, like Mepis or Ubuntu, might be better
options for them, and one of them very well might be. As for me, I've
tried many other distros (Debian derivatives and otherwise), and I keep
coming back to Debian.
Michael M.
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