--- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com, Roy <linuxcanuck@...> wrote:
>
> Debian's repositories are large. What you would lose is PPAs and the extra
> repositories such as Medibuntu and Getdeb. Ubuntu has become the default for
> binary and DEB packages for third parties as well. Mint's compatability with
> Ubuntu is an asset and the main reason why I think that Mint will stick with
> Ubuntu. Where they will make their gains is in having different default
> applications from those repositories and perhaps in desktop choice. All
> GNOME based distributions are in for a time of transition as GNOME itself is
> moving from GNOME 2.x to GNOME Shell and Ubuntu is moving to Unity. Change
> is a fact of life and in the long run there is nothing we can do but accept
> it. I am curious why you feel that you have to move from Mint 9 which is
> based on 10.04 LTS. It has over 2 more years of support.
>
> The other big thing that you lose when you move to Debian is ease of
> configuration and hardware compatability. Debian plans on stripping the
> kernel of proprietary blobs which means that using hardware is going to be
> more difficult. They were put into the kernel to make it easier for users.
> Removing them will turn back the clock to the days when we had a hard time
> getting things to work. They are not doing it for practical reasons, but
> ideological reasons and it only makes sense if you buy into the "there is
> only one way" belief held by the extreme fringe in the FSF. Anyway, I was in
> Linux in the bad old days and don't want a flashback. It used to be cool to
> use, but now it marks you as a fossil.
>
> Debian has some great things going for it. It is solid and stable. It uses a
> rolling release. It has history behind it. It has three levels at which you
> can use it (I like sid). It has huge repositories. And it works on almost
> architecture. It is a great base to build on, but I would not consider using
> it. I have used great distributions and bad ones and I know what I want and
> Debian does not fit the bill for me. Fortunately there are many kinds of
> users so Debian has a future, but it is for hardcore users who like basic
> functionality and don't mind tinkering to get it to work. My biggest problem
> with Debian has always been its people. They are like no other Linux users.
>
> As for unetbootin, I have great luck with it. I run it on 64-bit Kubuntu. I
> have used it hundreds of times over the years. It has failed with some
> distros, but it mostly works and usb keys are the easiest and fastest
> installation medium. I have had CDs and DVDs fail, too. There are no
> guarantees either way.
>
> Roy
>
> Using Kubuntu 10.10, 64-bit
> Location: Canada
>
OK, good info there, Roy. I'm not sure that I feel that I will "have" to move from Isadora per se, maybe just a feeling that I will. Of course I don't tend to keep up with info very well, therefore I didn't realize that Mint 9 would be supported for two more years, maybe longer. I guess I assumed that the Mint crew were going to abandon Ubu for Deb. And I do like to change things periodically, even though Mint has been and still is very good to me. One of the many assets of G/L over the others-- you can change much more than Settings and Appearance. Sometimes the inner geek wants to come out and play, even though I'm really just a "desktop" user. Hell, if it weren't for Apt and GDebi I don't know what I'd do. Still can't get the hang of untarring, sad to say.
Someone (the other Linux fan in this sad area) told me about an app that converts other packages to .deb's. I believe it's "alien", though I'll be looking up all the apps he told me about. Have you used it?
Not sure what issue I had with unebootin. It may have been something as small as not being able to create a persistent stick but that means that I was probably just using the wrong version.
Anyway, thanks for your feedback, Roy, and have a good one!
Mark
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