Slackware isn't a derivative of Debian. Debian uses .dpkg which about the same as RPM. Slackware uses .tgz which are pretty weak. I think the goal with slack packages was just for the initial install and then you do the rest by compiling from source (? I heard this somewhere...). Debian or Mandrake's package systems make it easier to install stuff and maintain the system afterwards.
Slackware is a pretty nice distro and I often use it for servers just because it's simple and doesn't do much for me. On the other hand unless you are really wanting to work at it, I don't think it makes a really nice desktop distro. It doesn't have fancy hardware detection nor does it install all the toys the other distros do.
Debian is also fairly comlex to get up and running with but I would argu it is simpler than Slack and you will love being able to type "apt-get install package_name" and just get the package. It's really slick. If you want all the hardware detection and useful setup from day1 you can install Knoppix which is based on debian but comes with all the goodies.
Jeff
Cameron Nikitiuk wrote:
I am sure planning on being at the Installfest. I will have to make sure I
book off time. I just picked up my Linux Format mag with the cover mounted
Mandrake 9.0. I have been talking to my fiance and am still seeing if she
wants to come. I think she is afraid of too many geeks in one room (LOL!!!)
I am not sure which distro I will try out, but I am thinking of trying
slackware 8.1. I have heard some good things about it and I have the disk
from another Linux format mag. I was thinking of Storm Linux (2000) by
Stormix, but Stormix has been out of business and no documentation and
support might make that a bit to challenging at this point. But if anyone
has some info on it they could share...let me know. If I am correct,
Slackware is a debian build isn't it? Anything I should know about Deb
builds? I know the programs and stuff are different (deb's vs. rpm's), but
that is about all I know at this point. I will do some research when I get
a chance.
If my fiance and I both come we will both have 200mHz machine with at least
96 MB of RAM. I may have some extra sticks so I can likely upgrade that.
Her HDD is about 3-3.5 GB and the drive I will be using is 2.5. I plan to
implement them on my LAN using my Legacy Windows 2000 machine as the main
system (20 GB HDD, 256 RAM, etc.) Eventually want to build a big server
which big HDD. Any ideas or suggestions for these 2 boxes to pre=prepare
them for the install fest?
I will make the offer again as well. I have quite a few Linux program disk
(cover mounts) so if anyone needs anything, let me know and I can see if I
have it.
Cameron
