Re: [school-discuss] Ubuntu - Linux for Human Beings

[cdmiller <cdmiller@xxxxxxxxx>]

Stephen Downes wrote:
> Yishay Mor wrote:
>
> > [Forwarded from an unsubscribed address--Doug]
> >
> > yet another CD-bootable disto, Debian based, but with a built-in 
> > installer:
> > http://www.ubuntulinux.org/
> I've heard good things about Ubuntu and have a distro at home ready
> to install. But...
>
> What do people here think of Ubuntu? How well does it compare with,
> say, Mandrake?
>
> -- Stephen

I use Mandrake at work, (servers / workstation),  and Ubuntu at home.  I 
think Ubuntu compares very favorably with Mandrake on the desktop.  The 
software in Ubuntu is generally more current, as it is based on Debian 
unstable / testing plus security updates.  The Ubuntu release cycle 
parallels Mandrakes at 6 months.  Ubuntu generally has more software 
available, although I notice 6000+ packages in Mandrakes 2005LE contrib 
directory.  Mandrakes urpmi is very nice and I have had very few 
problems with it, typically an occasional unsigned package.  I did need 
to patch and compile a Mandrake source package and file a bug report to 
get a working sfdisk installed, we'll see if it's fixed in 2005LE.  My 
Ubuntu install appears to have an annoying firefox bug, (freezes on 
search in document), which caused me to install firefox from a mozilla 
foundation download.  I use afterstep on each desktop, the latest Ubuntu 
went to Afterstep 2,  Mandrake 2005LE has this in contrib as well.  It 
will be interesting to see what Mandriva comes out with, they may go to 
apt for rpm.  Does apt for rpm do signature checking?

- cameron