Hi,
yes, sabayon is off the mainstream, because
mainstream linux distros do not come with mpg3, avi readers/players in
built by default.
Quite a bit can be witheld on mainstream distros. I was stunned to
discover that Centos-4.4, which is a derivative of redhat, does not do
ntfs file systems.
mainstream linux distros don't come with nvidia hardware support ready
enabled. Getting that video support installed correctly can be a hassle.
============================
Insert sabayon 64 bit dvd and install.
Bingo - nvidia works, hardware accellerated.
avi files just play
my top gear videos play just fine from the usb hard disk.
package installation on sabayon is easy too
emerge tuxkart
emerge supertux
and it just works. - Phew, now kids (of all ages) are happy
Ok - emerge gambas did not work - the package is withheld. Ok, I will have
to learn about that one.
OK - the video setup is not perfect - it refuses to do 1600x1200, and is
stuck on 1280x1024. Ok, I will have to fix that one..
Yep - this is what mainstream is all about - things just work. The things
I can do without effort (play video etc) on win/mac machines I can do on
my sabayon machine.
The mainstream products endeavour to minimise admin time required.
===================================
Mainstream products do not require the user to know all the intricacies
within the computer. How many consumer products can you think of that
reqire you to spend many man hours learning about the innards? I can think
of just 1 - computers. To me, this is a deficiency in the computer OS.
People should not have to know lots to use a computer safely.
Yes, I know, computers are complicated... That is an old and well used
saying. In fact, saying that computers are complicated is geek speak for,
"I don't know how to provide an OS that is robust/reliable/simple".
Consider the evolution of the car.
first car arrived around 1900 (ok, don't know the date - this is a
guess) Owner was required to know heaps about maintaining it and how to
fix it.. Not totally reliable.
1960's - owners still had to know how to fix them. People did their own
valve grinds. Reliability better, cars went faster...
2000 - cars more reliable. Owners typically know nothing about the
internals. I know of one car that was owned by a school teacher that went
for five years on the same change of oil. People just get in the car and
drive. No preflight checks. No nothing. Just fill with petrol and drive...
Simple. What will it takes to make computers like this???
========================================
Now there is a flame war in the making..
Derek.
On Mon, 19 Mar 2007, Nick Rout wrote:
>
> On Mon, March 19, 2007 10:45 am, Christopher Sawtell wrote:
> > On Mon, 19 Mar 2007, Don Gould wrote:
> >> Can I place a standing order for the CIA?
> > Don. Take care, Sabayon is way _way_ off the Linux mainstream.
> > imho it's highly debateable whether it's suitable for your CIA.
> >
> > --
> > CS
> >
> >
>
> What do you mean "way way off the Linux mainstream"??
>
> It all seemed pretty mainstream to me when I tried it out.
>
>
>
--
Derek Smithies Ph.D.
IndraNet Technologies Ltd.
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ph +64 3 365 6485
Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/
