Pointless article, factually incorrect, not helpful
|
| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| caitlyn Mar 30, 2009 6:36 PM EDT |
While I, myself, have written about the overabundance of half-baked Linux distributions a couple of years back: http://www.oreillynet.com/linux/blog/2007/01/so_many_distros... This situation only gets worse at some levels. We have dozens of Ubuntu spinoffs, for example, that offer very little that's unique. Changing the window manager or desktop environment and offering a slightly different package list does not make a separate distro in any meaningful way. What I didn't do is call on distro makers to unify or standardize based on my personal preferences. I also didn't make up my own facts about the past. Perhaps vasanth only knew about five "popular" distros in 2000 but I knew of many more. Caldera OpenLinux, Turbolinux, and Storm Linux were all popular at that time. I could list many more that were less popular. The idea that the five he lists can be compared to the 296 active distros on DistroWatch, which includes some awfully obscure names, is ridiculous. Second, the best Control Panel I've seen yet, simple enough for almost anyone to understand yet having enough flexibility for more advanced users, is the one in Wolvix. I don't see anything wrong with distros having their own GUI tools to distinguish themselves in any case. Let the community and the market decide which is best. One size fits all installers won't work on all hardware either. Many of the 296 distros are niche distros for specialized uses and/or specialized hardware. How would you shoehorn those into a standard installer? Why must a menu system look like the Windows menu system? Why must distros agree on what apps should be popular and which ones get relegated to extra? DId anyone else notice that the author can't even count to five. He said there were five areas that needed to be standardized and promptly listed a total of three. Thanks but no thanks. One of the best things about Linux is choice. Don't lock me into your Windows-like choices. |
| beirwin Mar 30, 2009 7:12 PM EDT |
Yes, I also noticed that there were only 3 points in the article. Maybe the author ran out of more things to say, but forgot to change the headline. I didn't like the proposal to make Linux distributions more homogeneous. One of Linux's great strengths is its diversity. |
| tuxchick Mar 30, 2009 7:14 PM EDT |
Velveeta Linux! Bland, gooey, non-nourishing, and no distinguishing features whatsoever! Sounds like a weiner to me! |
| bigg Mar 30, 2009 7:22 PM EDT |
Talking about "operating systems" is like talking about "vehicles". In the same way that it would not make sense to talk about eliminating dump trucks and standardizing on bicycles, it doesn't make sense to refer to Ubuntu, Zenwalk, Scientific Linux, and Gentoo as if they are the same product. True, they are all called "Linux", but dump trucks and bicycles are both called "vehicles". Slackware is perfect for my needs. I'm under no illusion that more than a small handful of all Linux users will find Slackware appealing. Disclaimer: This is a response to the posts here. I don't waste time reading articles like this. |
| azerthoth Mar 30, 2009 8:03 PM EDT |
Still pertinent bigg. I have used more distros than I care to try and remember. Some good, some bad, come niche. A also know that I dont recommend my daily driver for someone new to linux, I'll point them to Mandriva or *buntu. But that is the strength not the weakness of Linux, it can be anything for anyone at any time, but it is not everything for everyone at once. Why I stick with Gentoo flavors anymore, its exactly what I make it, but I spent more than a few years playing around until I discovered what it was I was really looking for ... which was perfection wholly on my terms and by my hands. |
| gus3 Mar 30, 2009 11:16 PM EDT |
az, just out of curiosity: Have you tried Slackware? I've heard the same thing said about it (by caitlyn, I think), although I use it just because you never forget your first love. |
| azerthoth Mar 30, 2009 11:20 PM EDT |
Yup, although to be honest I should probably revisit it again, its been awhile. |
| tuxtom Mar 31, 2009 3:30 AM EDT |
Distros have become "Themes". |
| gus3 Mar 31, 2009 11:47 AM EDT |
How so, tuxtom? Got any examples? I'm curious to see someone call it a "theme." Actually, the preferred term for a customized Fedora is "spin." And on Ubuntu, it's "remix." |
| machiner Mar 31, 2009 2:47 PM EDT |
It's quite simple to see what tuxtom means. (S)He wrote his/her opinion, no examples are necessary. lol. |
Posting in this forum is limited to members of the group: [ForumMods, SITEADMINS, MEMBERS.]
Becoming a member of LXer is easy and free. Join Us!