The Competition
For the first time it appears MEPIS actually has competition!
There is a new Debian derivative called Ubuntu http://www.ubuntulinux.org/. It has a separate LiveCD & install CD. It appears to be based on Debian Unstable (I think), rather than Testing & is a Gnome system rather than KDE. It has a few holes, but not many; some of which are related to the fact that there is no real root account unless you add one after installation. They offer compiled versions for i386, AMD64 & PowerPC. It is a free, distribution. Like the 2004 MEPIS, Ubuntu should not need to be installed from CD ever again--all updates should be handled with apt.
Hardware detection does appear to be generally as good as MEPIS. It does not, however, appear to be as stable as MEPIS. I'm betting Ubuntu is the most stable "Unstable" Debian available, but will never be as inherently stable as a Testing based MEPIS.
Don't get me wrong--I'm not switching, but we're no longer the *only* easy, open source Debian worth looking at.
Lance
I dun like the 'art'
I hate the fact that there are semi-naked people 'vogueing' on the default desktop.?? Not only that, but the circle thing they got going on the login screen is strangely like that burger king commercial with the King in the bed with the dude.
It's not a bad distro...but the no root account kicks my tail.?? Forget about that.?? After installing,??I can say it is simply a Gnome based desktop with nice eyecandy.?? I'll stick with gnoppix to show off a specifically Gnome based distro.
thats such a bad picture i'm
thats such a bad picture i'm a bit stumped for words!!
they look like they're about to be abducted with their mysterious ready brek glow all around them...
[i]Don't get me wrong--I'm no
Don't get me wrong--I'm not switching, but we're no longer the *only* easy, open source Debian worth looking at.
Where did you get the impression that Ubuntu is especially easy to install, or there are no other Debian based distros that are easy to install?
Ubuntu's install is almost the same as the new Sarge install, I think it skips a question or two, that doesn't make it much more easier. Granted, even Debian now is not that hard to install... I'm curious if it comes though with all the Java, flash, mplayer, winmodem that Mepis comes with or how easy is to get wireless card to work.
simplicity
No two systems are identical, so as the saying goes "Your milage may vary". You asked:
> Where did you get the impression that Ubuntu is especially easy to install, or there are no other Debian based distros that are easy to install? Ubuntu's install is almost the same as the new Sarge install, I think it skips a question or two, that doesn't make it much more easier. Granted, even Debian now is not that hard to install... I'm curious if it comes though with all the Java, flash, mplayer, winmodem that Mepis comes with or how easy is to get wireless card to work.
1) Simply stated, by easy to install I mean as easy as Windows or Mac OS for a first-time computer buyer. Yeah, I know they come pre-installed these days, but they've auto detected 99% of hardware & boot into a full GUI desktop for almost a decade now. Linux/BSD/Unix should do no less for the first-time home/office user.
2) From my limited use, hardware detection was GENERALLY equivalent to MEPIS. No it's not as well refined as MEPIS, no Flash nor Java; a media player does open from Firefox when you click on a mpeg link, but they failed to play for me.
Like I said, "It has a few holes..." but comparisons are inevitable as the casual reviewer or shopper will see "MEPIS or Ubuntu" as "Coke or Pepsi" or "KDE or Gnome".
We know MEPIS is better and we need to be explaining why we're better (without direct comparison) up-front on the home page.
Lance