Subject: Re: [linux-audio-user] Setting up linux computer
From: John Check (j4strngs_AT_bitless.net)
Date: Tue Aug 24 2004 - 07:01:14 EEST
On Monday 23 August 2004 09:10 pm, tim hall wrote:
> Last Tuesday 24 August 2004 00:38, John Check was like:
> > On Monday 23 August 2004 09:22 am, tim hall wrote:
> > > Last Sunday 22 August 2004 18:59, Austin was like:
> > > > Debian has a great package manager, but crappy installer.
> > >
> > > Never having used any other distro recently, I can't say I'd noticed
> > > that there was a great deal wrong with Debian's installer. AGNULA is a
> > > good distro for musical first timers these days.
> >
> > AGNULA... I thought having gparted for partitioning in the installer
> > didn't help. Otherwise it wasn't too painful.
>
> I don't really have anything to compare it with. I assume that people have
> got soft and assume[*] it's not very good because the installer uses a
> text-based / ncurses interface or because the last Debian install they did
> was Debian Potato. Dunno, it worked fine for me ;-)
>
That's always been my feeling. Curses qualifies as a GUI in my book, but it
gets slammed. I've walked people with no clue through potato installs and it
didn't take any longer than say 7 series SuSE installs with a full on YaST GUI
(package download time exclusive).
> I would now seriously recommend Agnula's DeMuDi distro for musical / Linux
> newbies, I fully admit to being a Debian chauvinist, so I have to 'fess up
> to the fact that all these distros are using Linux Audio software and
> therefore they Rock in much the same way. My experience is that the Debian
> Sarge installer, which A/DeMuDi uses, does it with less fuss and in under
> an hour.
>
Was about 45 minutes for me IIRC.
> Configuring it can be a pig, but much of it, like X and ALSA now
BTW I have a GeForce and it came up without any trouble. Overall I was
impressed.
> autoconfigures along with hardware detection, something else people didn't
> used to associate with Debian. So you actually end up with a recognisably
> useable system without too much pain, assuming there are no major hardware
> issues. It's certainly no longer the case that distros like Mandrake are
> some kind of 'soft option' for people who aren't ready for Debian. In fact
> I do think Debian could be a reasonable soft option for people who don't
> have the time or patience for Gentoo tho' ;-]
>
Yup. The only reason I picked on the partitioning is it was a parallel
installation. My drives are already partitioned and I didn't trust the
installers idea of "the right thing" enough to let it rip full auto.
> It is probably more a case of style, ethos and personal ergonomics. Debian
> adheres strictly to GPL rules, being quite a purist GNU system and is
> slower to release packages, partly because it covers a greater range of
> hardwares. Installing and upgrading packages is something that Debian
> excels at, I've not come across anything easier or with greater choice of
> packages. Plus, by the time the packages do appear in the repository,
> you'll have had time to read all the emergency bug reports and gotchas on
> this list and be ready for them.
FWIW, the poorly named "unstable" flavor is probably the most up to date
distro out there. One thing about Debian, when they say "stable" they aren't
kidding around.
>
> Just to make it absolutely clear, no disrespect to any of the other
> multimedia distros - anyone working to promote these tools is an absolute
> flippin' star in my estimation, whose hard work currently provides an
> amazing selection to choose from. Big up to you all!
>
> cheers
>
> tim hall
>
> [*] Yeah, I assumed you would think that ;-)
In a filthy cracked cup
With no milk
Or sugar
Or tea! <- thats me ;)
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