mepis vs. debian
Posts: 18
as an ex windows user, i have been trying very hard to learn the basics of linux/unix thanks to mepis and ubumtu i have had the chance to do so.
recently, i once again tried debian with the same end result, the installer did not work because it did not recognize the hardware on my computer. namely, my cd rom. i am sick and tired of wasting my time on some outdated operating system that cannot recognize the hardware on my computer. i have heard alot of complaints from a cetain person from the debian group regarding mepis and ubumtu. i guess maybe they're just jealous:)
anyway, i just wanted to ask can i run programs from debian 3.1r2 on mepis?
More Information Please
Posts: 5513
Danny Joe, welcome to Mepis. Can you please give us more information on your problems? Exactly which version of Mepis are you trying to install and where did you get the CD? Did you download and burn it, buy it, get it from a friend?
Next, please tell us what kind of hardware you have. Make, model, amount of RAM, CPU speed, size of hard drive(s)? And, since you seem to be having problems with the CD, give us whatever you know about it.
Regarding your question on packages. Many (most) of the Debian packages are obtainable via the Ubuntu and Mepis repositories. If they are different from the Debian versions, it is that they have been adjusted to run better in their respective environments.
Let's get past the first few installation hurdles, and then we'll be happy to show you where you can learn more about installing other software 
Jon
off topic
Posts: 18
thank you for your imput, i greatly appreciate it. i agree that mepis is all that i need.
off topic
Posts: 18
thank you for your input, i was not trying to instal mepis, i was just trying to learn the basics of linux/unix by trying to install debian, apparently the installer is a bit over my head, but hey, mepis works great so... i'm happy.
ps. ubuntu works great too. thank you very much.
danny joe ritchie
Posts: 516
My suggestion is to make partitions for more than one Linux distro and make MEPIS the main Linux install because it is easy to repair when things get screwed and you always have access to your files thanks to the Live CD, install other distros on the other partitions, if that is what you want to do, but you may just want to stick with MEPIS for a while, until you know your way around. When Etch goes final next month(if Debian stays on schedule) give it a try, it will be an easy install.
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Odd
Posts: 147
I have never seen a GNU/Linux distribution that didn't recognize a CDROM. If it booted into the installation at all, it recognized the CDROM. Are you sure the CDROM is not going off on you?
In answer to the main question, Mepis will have most, if not all, of the same programs within the repos that Debian has, except that in Mepis they will be newer versions since Sarge is a little older. You wouldn't want to actually use the Debian repos with Mepis, but you wouldn't need to.
Mepis is great. Enjoy it.