Re: Is there such a distro?
On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 12:10 PM, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > By generic I don't just mean desktop centered with no paradigm shifting > technologies. I mean a system that aims to have as few original contributions > as possible and have a complete out-of-the-box set of programs (GUI and CLI) > that one would expect out of a Linux based system. I think you're really looking for the most old-fashioned distro :-) For example, you probably want init scripts in /etc/rc* ... which as many distros as possible are leaving behind ... Debian is the best-managed "old-fashioned" system, but they have package guidelines that mean the installed packages often do not match the upstream author's original intentions; but you didn't explicitly say you wanted to be upstream-compliant. You might enjoy Gobo -- I'm really not sure about the out-of-the-box experience, but the ability to bring in anything upstream and run it with the original author's intended environment is pretty much unparalleled -- there has to be a single kernel, but you can use different libc for different programs if you want, easily. -jim
Re: Is there such a distro?
Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > Okay there have been a few misunderstandings about what I meant in my > original post on this thread. After some thinking I believe that I can clarify > myself properly > On Sat, 29 May 2010 13:02:30 you wrote: >> Are there any desktop centered distros whose primary aim is to have as few >> surprises as possible for people who are already accustomed to Linux? >> > By accustomed to Linux I mean that this user is more comfortable with Linux > than any other system but not necessarily a power user. > >> I just want a very generic distro. >> > By generic I don't just mean desktop centered with no paradigm shifting > technologies. I mean a system that aims to have as few original contributions > as possible and have a complete out-of-the-box set of programs (GUI and CLI) > that one would expect out of a Linux based system. OK, just throwing out a crazy idea here: install DSL or Puppy (or something similar) and put off upgrading for as long as you can stay sane with your system. I don't use either of these regularly -- I use Debian testing -- I'm just throwing out an idea. --Aidan signature.asc Description: PGP signature Part 3 Description: micalg/pgp-sha1
Re: Is there such a distro?
> Okay there have been a few misunderstandings about what I meant in my > original post on this thread. After some thinking I believe that I can > clarify > myself properly > On Sat, 29 May 2010 13:02:30 you wrote: >> Are there any desktop centered distros whose primary aim is to have as >> few >> surprises as possible for people who are already accustomed to Linux? >> > By accustomed to Linux I mean that this user is more comfortable with > Linux > than any other system but not necessarily a power user. > >> I just want a very generic distro. >> > By generic I don't just mean desktop centered with no paradigm shifting > technologies. I mean a system that aims to have as few original > contributions > as possible and have a complete out-of-the-box set of programs (GUI and > CLI) > that one would expect out of a Linux based system. > I too am still not sure what you are after. I have done a fair bit of distro hopping and playing with VM's. If you want to get exactly what you want I would suggest Gentoo or ArchLinux. All of the others are customised by their creators as they think is the best to suit their target user groups. If you do not like them try another. Rob
Re: Is there such a distro?
On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 12:10 PM, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > Okay there have been a few misunderstandings about what I meant in my > original post on this thread. After some thinking I believe that I can clarify > myself properly > On Sat, 29 May 2010 13:02:30 you wrote: >> Are there any desktop centered distros whose primary aim is to have as few >> surprises as possible for people who are already accustomed to Linux? >> > By accustomed to Linux I mean that this user is more comfortable with Linux > than any other system but not necessarily a power user. > >> I just want a very generic distro. >> > By generic I don't just mean desktop centered with no paradigm shifting > technologies. I mean a system that aims to have as few original contributions > as possible what do you mean "as few original contributions as possible" - do you mean you want a distro without any special tools that are designed just for that distro, by the distro maker? If so, ubuntu won't do you as they innovate quite a bit, as does fedora, as does suse. That comes of having a bunch of paid developers[1] sitting there developing, innovating and differentiating their distros. And at times their developments get taken up by other distros. eg REDHAT package manager is used by a lot of distros besides Redhat, upstart was developed by Canonical but is now also used by Fedora and others. If you want a very generic system with no distro centered addons then you perhaps don't want a distro at all, because they all try to differentiate themselves in some way with some new 'feature'. If I still misunderstood what you are after then please explain again. > and have a complete out-of-the-box set of programs (GUI and CLI) > that one would expect out of a Linux based system. > > P.S: I know that you can set a root password on Ubuntu but I seam to remember > other things being dropped because they're of no use to granny. > You don't need a root password. Ubuntu proves that. > P.P.S: We're lucky here but there is still need for DVD based systems for > those without broadband. I was running Fedora without internet any connection > at all from mid 2006 to the start of 2008. > [1] OK so fedora's paid developers really work for redhat.
Re: Is there such a distro?
Okay there have been a few misunderstandings about what I meant in my original post on this thread. After some thinking I believe that I can clarify myself properly On Sat, 29 May 2010 13:02:30 you wrote: > Are there any desktop centered distros whose primary aim is to have as few > surprises as possible for people who are already accustomed to Linux? > By accustomed to Linux I mean that this user is more comfortable with Linux than any other system but not necessarily a power user. > I just want a very generic distro. > By generic I don't just mean desktop centered with no paradigm shifting technologies. I mean a system that aims to have as few original contributions as possible and have a complete out-of-the-box set of programs (GUI and CLI) that one would expect out of a Linux based system. P.S: I know that you can set a root password on Ubuntu but I seam to remember other things being dropped because they're of no use to granny. P.P.S: We're lucky here but there is still need for DVD based systems for those without broadband. I was running Fedora without internet any connection at all from mid 2006 to the start of 2008.
Re: OT: Laptop power supply
While the discussion is still fresh... The power supply mentioned in our local example (HP Pavilion) has now died after being loaned out (after checking power ratings and voltages).. Slightly more modern laptop though so YMMV So beware... Pete On 28/05/10 19:51, Maurice Butler wrote: If it is a standard two wire brik one of the same voltage and at least the same amps will be fine. If the wire between the brick and the laptop is the only bit damage a person handy with a soldering iron would be able to sort it for you. After market relacements on trademe are about $90 Maurice -Original Message- From: Peter Glassenbury (CSSE) [mailto:peter.glassenb...@canterbury.ac.nz] Sent: Friday, 28 May 2010 3:46 p.m. To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz Subject: Re: OT: Laptop power supply On 28/05/10 14:31, Roy Britten wrote: The power supply for SWMBO's Compaq Presario laptop has a failure in the low-voltage cord (the one that runs from the "brick" to the laptop). Molten Media& Computer Broker apparently can't supply a replacement. If anyone on list could offer a replacement (for purchase or loan) SWMBO would be overjoyed. Replies best off-list, methinks. You may now return to your on-topic lives. Not sure if we may have one or not... but a reply to on-list as we had an experience that almost went sour... Laptop power unit died. Borrowed another power unit from same brand with same voltage specs..(not same model) I think it worked for the recharge... but when it was returned it failed to charge the original owners laptop. Kept giving errors. It "came right" after a day. The Hardware experts here said that mixing power blocks between modern laptops is dangerous(for your laptop) in that they have extra circuitry to help the charge the battery. They vary between brands and even within a brand. You should get a replacement for the same MODEL .. not just the same BRAND. Pete (Just passing on warning as was described to me... excuse E& OE) -- --- Peter Glassenbury Computer Science department p...@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz University of Canterbury +64 3 3642987 ext 7762 New Zealand
