On 13 Nov 2004, Robert Parker wrote: > On Saturday 13 November 2004 00:35, Emil Perhinschi wrote: > > > > > > I guess Debian is the best if you just want to start doing non-geekish > > stuff like reading mail, writing term papers/articles/poetry/... , > > listening music, watching movies or writing your own apps ... > > > > If you need a distro to compile your own packages on it, to configure it > > the way you like it etc., then I guess it does not really matter which > > one you use ... as long as you login as root and start a text editor all > > Linux distributions are almost the same thing. If you want to have the > > meanest and leanest Linux installation ever seen, you can always > > install no matter what distribution and start building a Linux from > > scratch ... > > I'd disagree with the above. Fedora for one thing has had it's libaries > 'enhanced' to stop you compiling apps that might allow you to do stuff that > the MPAA / RIAA don't want you to do. Mandrake being more or less the most > "Windows" like distro stomps on any attempts to configure it the way you want. > Both of those distros are brilliantly easy to install, and there are plenty > of users who are happy with the default way they set up so they do have their > place. >
[snip] Debian in the past has been said, with some justification, to be difficult to install (though this was exaggerated). But the new Debian-installer should put an end to that. I've just installed Sarge on my new Thinkpad and once I got the boot parameters right everything then worked practically out of the box, including sound and wireless connection to the internet. Most impressive! Amthony -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] || http://www.acampbell.org.uk using Linux GNU/Debian || for book reviews, electronic Windows-free zone || books and skeptical articles -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]