Don't get me wrong, as long as Mandriva is around, I'll stick with it. I have tried many distros, trying to find a reason one that was superior to Mandriva. I haven't found any that have made me want to switch. But in the event they do go under, I want to have some alternatives in mind.
Jeremiah E. Bess Network Ninja, Penguin Geek, Father of four On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 11:15, Bill Oliver <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I've been using Mandrake/Mandiva since its inception. I used to be a Red > Hat user (this was before Fedora), and Mandrake at the time was just a > modified RH with a friendlier installation GUI and better hardware support. > I started using it because Mandrake would install and run on my laptop and > RH had all sorts of hardware compatibility issues. And I've pretty much > stayed with them since. I was a member of the Mandriva "club" and now have > a Powerpack subscription. > > I agree that the *company* has had some ups and downs. But the bottom line > is that the *product* has always been good. I have to take issue with the > idea that because the company might be having a bad spot, one should bolt > from the distro. That makes it a self-fulfilling prophesy. There's no > particular reason to believe that if Mandriva is acquired by someone else > its quality will decrease. On the contrary, if it is acquired by someone > who is good, it might be of benefit to everybody involved. > > My basic philosophy is to concentrate on the quality of the distro, not > rumors about the company. It's easy to change distros, so there's no reason > to be in a hurry to do so. As long as Mandriva puts out a good product, I'll > stick with it. I'm also pretty technically savvy, and my attitude is that > since I tend to do a clean install every 6 months anyway, if Mandriva ever > puts out a product I don't like, I'll switch to another one at *that* time. > > But until then, I'll stick with a product that I like and that has shown > consistently good quality. > > If I *were* to switch, I'd probably move to specialty distros -- a security > distro for my firewall, a multimedia distro for my laptop, server distros > for my servers. I've taken on a minimalist attitude towards these things; > installing only what is absolutely necessary. I haven't been a fan of > Ubuntu so much mostly because it has this religious feel to it among its > fans; it seems that folk are more interested in the cachet than the > substance. > > billo > > > On Sun, 30 May 2010, Jeremiah Bess wrote: > > Yeah, I agree with you. When I heard they were selling themselves, I >> started looking for viable options to switch. I've been using Mandriva since >> Mandrake 9. I know there have been several off-shoots from Mandriva, like >> PCLinuxOS, but I'm not sure what I will do if they close down. I will NOT be >> using Ubuntu for two reasons. 1, I really don't like it. It's made for the >> newcomer to Linux, and has a babied down feel. 2, It's the Windows of Linux, >> meaning everyone seems to be running it. I like to be a little different >> than the crowd. I'm technically savvy, so want something at my level, but >> nothing like BSD or Slackware (unless someone wants to try to convert me >> to one of those, my experience is limited and gives me nightmares). I still >> hold out that someone will buy Mandriva, and the conglomeration of >> distributions it absolved will live on somehow. >> >> BTW, there are several charts showing the breakdown of distros in a nice >> timeline fashion. One of them is here: >> http://en.citizendium.org/images/a/a1/Linux_distro_timeline.png >> >> Jeremiah E. Bess >> Network Ninja, Penguin Geek, Father of four >> >> >> On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 07:02, Roy <[email protected]> wrote: >> Agreed. The acquisition of Connectiva seemed to re-vitalise the >> company but that was a long time ago in terms of computing. This >> company has always been in trouble and just emerged from bankruptcy >> protection a couple of years ago. It was once the most popular >> distribution and it has faded badly over the years. >> >> The product is good, but they do not know how to make money and >> promote their product. That does not bode well for them. Unlike >> Canonical which is also a commercial company they are not growing >> and >> Canonical is looking at other ways to raise money such as cloud >> computing, commercial partnerships, server support and the Ubuntu One >> Music Store. Canonical readily admits that the Linux desktop market >> may NEVER make money and this is Mandriva's sole market. I know they >> sell servers but it is a niche market for them at best. >> >> Mandriva has long been jealous that Ubuntu has a wealthy sugar daddy >> in Mark Shuttleworth who is willing to lose money to keep it going. >> However, Canonical is not content with this and is looking at many >> ways to raise capital. I do not see that happening with Mandriva. >> They >> are sitting pat and that would be okay IF they were in a good >> position >> to begin with. >> >> Ubuntu is a community based distribution and there are enough >> spinoffs >> that it would survive even if Shuttleworth pulled the financial >> backing. Not all of its developers are paid. Mandriva on the other >> hand is not community based, has few derivatives and its developers >> are mostly paid. No money then no product. >> >> Nothing attracts investors like success and nothing scares them away >> like failure. If you had the money would you buy Mandriva? I think >> that many people would not because they do not have a good business >> plan and never have. So enjoy Mandriva while you can. I write this >> hoping to be proven wrong. I think that they are in serious trouble. >> >> Roy >> >> On 29 May 2010 22:07, Jeremiah Bess <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Mandriva is for sale, but it doesn't mean they are closing down. They >> have >> > bought out several companies in the past, and are the product of those >> > companies combining. >> > >> > Jeremiah E. Bess >> > Network Ninja, Penguin Geek, Father of four >> > >> > >> > On Sat, May 29, 2010 at 17:56, Roy <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> How long is that going to last? Mandriva is up for sale! If they don't >> >> find buyers then it could be closure. They have always been a >> >> distribution in search of a business plan. I hope they don't close, >> >> BTW. Mandrake was my first distribution and I was a member of the >> >> Mandrake Club (paid service) for a couple of years before I discovered >> >> Debian and was delivered from RPM hell (which really existed back >> >> then). :) >> >> >> >> Roy >> >> >> >> On 29 May 2010 10:14, Jeremiah Bess <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > I got a solution to all this bickering: Run Mandriva. >> >> > >> >> > Jeremiah E. Bess >> >> > Network Ninja, Penguin Geek, Father of four >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > On Sat, May 29, 2010 at 06:43, Roy <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> I don't think that I was disrespectful. I was describing the >> >> >> behaviour and not an individual. I call them as I see them. It is >> >> >> ridiculous IMO to base one's own behaviour on the experiences of one >> >> >> person's past experience. You can find one squeaky wheel for just >> >> >> about anything. If you listen to them then you may be missing out on >> >> >> much as a result. However, I do apologise if you interpreted it as a >> >> >> personal attack. That was not my intent. >> >> >> >> >> >> Not everything Ubuntu is rosy. I also call that as I see it. Karmic >> >> >> was a bad release as was Jaunty, IMO. Many people were frustrated >> with >> >> >> continuing sound and wireless problems, but these releases also >> added >> >> >> the frustration of graphics card problems. I was apprehensive about >> >> >> Lucid so I tested it with more rigour than previous releases and >> found >> >> >> it hard to find fault. I don't care about button placement or the >> >> >> music store. I do care about performance and things working >> properly. >> >> >> Most sound issues and many wireless issues are behind us. I thank >> >> >> kernel developers for much of that. Canonical should be >> congratulated >> >> >> for implementing Plymouth and doing away with HAL with little in the >> >> >> way of problems. Plymouth introduced many potential problems as any >> >> >> Nvidia and Fedora user can attest to. The fact that HAL's removal >> went >> >> >> under the radar of most people confirms that this was successful. >> >> >> Plymouth gave some problems for me early on with no compositing but >> >> >> this was achieved with beta 2. >> >> >> >> >> >> There are several good reasons to install 10.04. Performance is much >> >> >> better. The new kernel gives better hardware detection and more >> >> >> drivers. Sound problems are far fewer. There are enhancements such >> as >> >> >> the music store, MeMenu and many newer applications plus you get >> three >> >> >> year support due to it being LTS. What is there not to like? Button >> >> >> placement is easily fixed BTW. >> >> >> >> >> >> I look forward to 10.10 even more in the hopes that Mono will be >> gone >> >> >> from the default installation. So far F-Spot is to be replaced with >> >> >> Shotwell which leaves only Tomboy and Gbrainy as the only two Mono >> >> >> apps left and Tomboy can be replaced by Gnote. That should save lots >> >> >> of CD space for other goodies! >> >> >> >> >> >> Each person needs to try out 10.04 for him or herself and make up >> >> >> their own mind. I don't like scare tactics used by some to spread >> FUD >> >> >> and people giving into it which is why I responded strongly. >> >> >> >> >> >> Roy >> >> >> >> >> >> On 28 May 2010 22:29, Kari Matthews <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> > Yeah, pretty much. I run two businesses and homeschool two kids >> and >> >> >> > chase >> >> >> > a toddler around while supporting my husband's farming business. >> >> >> > Schedule's >> >> >> > pretty full & I don't sleep much. I belong to groups like this >> to >> >> >> > save >> >> >> > me >> >> >> > time because it's my most precious commodity. I'm pretty smart >> and >> >> >> > can >> >> >> > figure out almost anything, but time limitations make >> troubleshooting >> >> >> > an >> >> >> > as-needed activity. Screwing around w/ Linux for curiosity's >> sake? >> >> >> > That >> >> >> > was so ten years ago for me. >> >> >> > Note that I used the word *hassle* -- I believe Karmic can be >> >> >> > installed, >> >> >> > but >> >> >> > jumping needless hurdles? Nah. Not right now. >> >> >> > I'm sure you feel differently, and I'm sure you're more respectful >> of >> >> >> > others >> >> >> > than you came across to be in this post. >> >> >> > ~kari >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > On Fri, May 28, 2010 at 8:20 PM, Roy <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Do you roll over for everything this easily? So one person >> reports >> >> >> >> and >> >> >> >> bad experience and you will not upgrade? That is ludicrous. I >> have >> >> >> >> used Lucid since Alpha 1 and replaced Karmic with Lucid on both >> my >> >> >> >> systems when Beta 2 came out. It is one of the best releases from >> >> >> >> Ubuntu yet. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Roy >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 28 May 2010 09:08, Kari Matthews <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> > I'm glad to know this. Thanks for saving me the hassle of the >> >> >> >> > upgrade. >> >> >> >> > ~kari >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > On Thu, May 27, 2010 at 8:28 AM, Vyshakh <[email protected]> >> >> >> >> > wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I'm back to KARMIC. >> >> >> >> >> LUCID disappointed me a lot. >> >> >> >> >> Please check the attached screen shots. Do anyone face problem >> >> >> >> >> like >> >> >> >> >> these in Nautilus???? >> >> >> >> >> These patterns and colors are irritating.... >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> One more thing... >> >> >> >> >> Even though I've installed lucid several times, I could not >> see >> >> >> >> >> the >> >> >> >> >> new boot screen completely. it was never shown fully. >> Sometimes >> >> >> >> >> the >> >> >> >> >> grub boot loader failed to install also. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >> Linux >> >> >> >> >> Users >> >> >> >> >> Group. >> >> >> >> >> To post a message, send email to >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> For more options, visit our group at >> >> >> >> >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > -- >> >> >> >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the >> Linux >> >> >> >> > Users >> >> >> >> > Group. >> >> >> >> > To post a message, send email to >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> > To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> >> >> > [email protected] >> >> >> >> > For more options, visit our group at >> >> >> >> > http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux >> >> >> >> Users >> >> >> >> Group. >> >> >> >> To post a message, send email to >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> For more options, visit our group at >> >> >> >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> > >> >> >> > -- >> >> >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux >> >> >> > Users >> >> >> > Group. >> >> >> > To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> >> >> > To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> >> > [email protected] >> >> >> > For more options, visit our group at >> >> >> > http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux >> Users >> >> >> Group. >> >> >> To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> >> >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> For more options, visit our group at >> >> >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux >> Users >> >> > Group. >> >> > To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> >> > To unsubscribe, send email to >> >> > [email protected] >> >> > For more options, visit our group at >> >> > http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> >> -- >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users >> >> Group. >> >> To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> [email protected] >> >> For more options, visit our group at >> >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> > >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users >> > Group. >> > To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> > To unsubscribe, send email to >> [email protected] >> > For more options, visit our group at >> > http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users >> Group. >> To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> [email protected] >> For more options, visit our group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users >> Group. >> To post a message, send email to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, send email to >> [email protected] >> For more options, visit our group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup >> >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users > Group. > To post a message, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit our group at > http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users Group. 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