On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 14:01:42 +1300
Douglas Royds <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hoping to clarify my own understanding...
> 
> Michael JasonSmith wrote:
> > The distributions are free to choose what ever tools they want to go
> > with the kernel. Some ship many tools, some ship only a few. Some run on
> > many types of machine, some run on one. Some ship mainly server tools,
> > some ship mainly GUI tools. It is a bit like eating a buffet, but with
> > more code and less food :) The distribution is what most people think of
> > as “the operating system”.
> 
> The key distinguishing features between distributions are:
> 
> * Default selection of tools and applications
> * Platform availability
> * Package management system
> * Default configuration of various tools and applications
> * Configuration tools that are provided (e.g. Yast, Drake)
> * Installation tool
> * Binary or source-code distribution
> * Availability of a live CD
> * Release schedule
> * Availability of on-line and commercial support

add 

*up to date-ness of packages and kernel.

*availability and ease of security updates

*ease of transition to a new release (some have been notoriously hard to do an 
update as opposed to a back-up data - reinstall - restore data approach.


> 
> I wanted to add something here about where different bits and pieces are put 
> in 
> the filesystem, 

becoming more standardised, but there still seem to be distros that do weird 
things like /opt/kde


>but don't know enough about it. This is sort of like the default 
> config, but has more to do with the-way-it's-done-here for packaging purposes.
> 
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-- 
Nick Rout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

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