[Glug-nith-discuss] Debian trends and future distributions.

[Debarshi Ray]

Something I wanted to share with you from the GLUG Bombay mailing list.

Bye,
Debarshi

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rony <address@hidden>
To: "GNU/Linux Users Group, Mumbai, India" <address@hidden>
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:42:39 +0530
Subject: [ILUG-BOM] Debian trends and future distros.
Hello Everyone,

Here are some news tips and updates for Debian and its alied distros.

During April 07, Ubuntu will come out with a multi-media centric distro
called UbuntuStudio http://ubuntustudio.org/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuStudio

There is also another media centric Ubuntu called Ubuntu Multimedia
Center http://ubuntummc.com/

During that time the new Ubuntu versions 7.04 will be released too.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue28

Debian 4 which is still under 'Testing' and will be finally called Etch
http://www.us.debian.org/releases/testing/  can be downloaded for trial
using a small netinstall iso http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ from
http://www.us.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ The netinstall iso is
the base system only. But saves download of heavy dvds for testing.
There are CD isos too but I don't know which iso contains what packages.

I downloaded the netinstall iso which was 130 MB and used 'installgui'
at boot prompt to use and study its GUI installer. Its really great and
very good for non-experts to try out Debian. It works smoothly just like
Fedora's Anaconda. Its kernel is 2.6.17. During installation, the
Desktop option was selected during package selection and it download 540
MB of Gnome desktop. My 400 MB triband account is screaming and
hysterical at the heavy downloads this month. :P Gnome in Etch RC1 is
2.15. In Ubuntu 6.10 it is 2.16. After install, the updates prompter in
Etch states that kernel 2.6.18 image is available. So thats a plus point
for Debian Etch.

Gnome in Etch is a bit buggy. Its printer tool allows you to select and
choose printers but at the final 'Apply' button, the entire process
vanishes into thin air. You are back to square 1. The best way to setup
printers in _any_ linux distro is to ensure that CUPS is running and use
a web browser and type localhost:631 in the address bar. 631 is the CUPS
port for printing. If you have enabled network administration ( see docs
on the CUPS website) you can access your printer from across different
machines by typing Your_Printer_PC_IP_Address:631 If you are a command
line fan or X is not loaded then use the lynx text browser to do the
same in command line. 'lynx localhost:631' You can change printer
settings too, like page size, resolution etc.

Another bug with gnome is that its automatic NetworkManager applet
initially detects the connection established but after a reboot or two,
it does not even detect the network device. All this while network is
actually working and giving internet access.

But Gnome in etch packs in some more packages and utilities compared to
Ubuntu 6.10. It has a separate CD burning utility ( cannot recall its
name) just like K3B in KDE. The default in-built burning utility still
exists.

The best option then would be to use both Gnome and KDE in Debian Etch
and for that request someone who has its DVD to make a copy for you. ;)

Regards,

Rony.


--
After the game the king and the pawn go into the same box.
               -- Italian proverb