On Tue, 13 Feb 2001 15:44:45 -0500 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I got a few friends who are interested in (trying)linux. For TRYING > purposes I want them to use a debian based Linux. I love using debian > 2.2 > and I am pretty new my-self(1.5 year). I think it might be a little to > overwelming for them. I beleive there are three to chose from Corel, > Storm > and Libranet. > > I have tried the first two but Libranet I have not tried yet. Anyone > tried Libranet? Are there any reasons not to use the others? I wouldn't > want the users to try Linux and despise it.
I am not happy about Libranet at all. There appears to be no upgrade path at all using apt-get, there is nothing worthy of mention on the Libranet ftp site. The only way to upgrade a Libranet distribution is to add Debian sources to sources.list - the Libranet-specific apps do not seem to be available at all. If this is so it would seem pointless to bother with Libranet unless you are happy purchasing further CDs in the future to keep the Libranet apps current. This goes completely against the Debian philosophy of easy upgardability over the 'net using apt. Libranet also does not allow downloading of its distribution - to use it you have to buy a CD. Even Corel provides a freely-downloadable iso image. I emailed Libranet about these points and they stated that they merely create a Debian build at a particular moment in time. They feel that using Debian sources is entirely reasonable. I feel this compares very badly with the sterling efforts Stormix Technologies put into their distribution. Libranet seems to be doing very little indeed in comparison. I would be interested to know what they are giving back to the Debian community. No, the rising star in the Debian fold, apart from Debian itself, of course, appears to be Progeny Debian. Beta 3 is available for free download and is actually very usable indeed - maybe even for the new user. The install is certainly very straightforward. -- Phillip Deackes Using Progeny Debian Linux