OT: Windows is too expensive

parabolize · #1 March 19th, 2007, 11:01 PM

Yeah, if you have the bandwidth download a few livecds and see which ones you like. Out of the ones you like do some research on their installer and package manager.

Also keep in mind what the distribution has installed by default isn't set in stone. I'm still running Ubuntu when I am using very little of gnome. If I was to reinstall I would probably do a custom net install from the Debian unstable repositories but my environment is far from user friendly or commonly preferd.

Fyron · #2 March 19th, 2007, 11:14 PM

And keep in mind that Fedora/Red Hat has a really lousy package management system. Not even a decent Debian-like central repository. :-\

Baron Munchausen · #3 March 20th, 2007, 12:09 AM

Hmm, isn't Novell using SUSE Linux? What's the difference between Novell's branded version and SUSE 10.2 (which is the latest, I believe)? Being on dialup, I'm not going to download a bunch of .ISO images.

I'll be going to a good source like cheapbytes.com and ordering CDs.

parabolize · #4 March 20th, 2007, 01:41 AM

SLE is aimed for businesses (lots of server support), openSUSE is aimed for everybody else. They both use YAST Package Manager which uses RPM (RedHat Package Managment) which most people agree stinks (certainly Debian users). They also can use Debian's APT (Advanced Package Tool - built off of dpkg) but don't do so for the default install.

Baron Munchausen · #5 March 20th, 2007, 01:52 AM

So you have to buy some 'derivative' distro to get the APT versions?

parabolize · #6 March 20th, 2007, 01:58 AM

Huh? With Ubuntu/Debian (free distros) its installed and used by default. SUSE can install it but it isn't there by default: howto

Baron Munchausen · #7 March 20th, 2007, 11:53 AM

Well, a 'package' has to be prepared in advance. So, it seems likely you'd need to have a distribution prepared with the different package manager. It sounds like you're talking about something other than the storage format for the applications.