I've been running Linux as a hobbyist for more than five years now. I don't have a technical background. I've always used Debian because I like Apt-get, and because I like the non-commercial philosophy. I really enjoy learning about new software and how Linux works. It's a great hobby.
The reason that I run Ubuntu (actually Xubuntu) now is that it has a quick release cycle and it sets everything up for me. I can still modify the system to work just how I like it, but with Ubuntu I solve problems when I want to, usually not because I have to because something doesn't work. And when I do hit a problem, documentation is really easy to find on the net. - mark http://www.flickr.com/photos/m487396/ -----Inline Attachment Follows----- Regarding Martin Visser's comments in the final "Sound Problem" posting. I don't want to incite a Holdens versus Faclcons type debate here, but how would one briefly characterize "mainstream Linux" these days? I've been using generic Unix systems (including Bell Unix, Whitesmith's Idris, AIX, Solaris and Linux) since the mid-1980s. Slackware Linux is rather in the old, tool-box type mould, I guess, and although it can be a bit fiddly to set up and can produce problems like the one I just had, I can't honestly say I find it all that strange or alien. I've had a couple of bouts with Red Hat (the last one was the somewhat quirky RH8) and found that unsatisfactory because (apart from problems with the implementation) I found I was out of sync with many of its defaults. All this may be just me. I haven't had a decent look at distros like Ubuntu, and this is why I ask my question. What, in a nutshell, is their appeal? One one level it's all Unix, of course, but, given that, what are the appealing differences? Cheers, Malcolm Johnston -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html Enjoy a better web experience. Upgrade to the new Internet Explorer 8 optimised for Yahoo!7. Get it now. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
