Comment Libranet is worth paying for (Score 1) 224
I just ordered a copy. My one gripe with Woody is that it's still using XFree86 4.1, along with KDE 2 and the older QT. I need the latest XFree for xv display in video players and kino. I realize I'd be able to install it myself -- that's what I did with SuSE 7.3. Upgrading KDE, though, seemed too much trouble. I think these guys are doing a great job making Debian more accessible to the non-expert, or someone who just wants some more convenience. Having the code compiled for 486 rather than 386 is also nice.
Free software isn't about nobody making a living from it. I'm happy to support Libranet -- there's a lot of people that could benefit from Debian that aren't ready to take it on cold. I wish Libranet would donate some percentage or fixed amount of their sales to the Debian project, like LordSutch.com does. After all, most of the work is done by Debian, and it would be a good gesture.
I have a few questions for experienced Libranet users, or for the Libranet people on the thread.
First, I have mixed feelings about Libranet's custom installer, Libranet Adminmenu. Part of the attraction for me of going to Debain is that I don't want a layer between me and the GNU/Linux control files. I appreciate adminhelp at times -- I'm enough of a newbie to benefit from it. So the question is, does the Adminmenu generate a host of new files, like SuSE's YaST does, or does it just modify the existing admin files (/etc)? I'd like to see what the machine is doing -- isn't that part of the point of ditching Windows?
Second, a major attraction with Debin is apt-get. Does Libranet have its own apt repository for upgrades? More importantly, can you use apt-get to add applications from Debian archives -- applications that Libranet either did or didn't include? How are dependencies handled in cases of conflict?
Finally, is Libranet feeding its improvements back to the Debian project?
In my view, Libranet can perform an important and hopefully sustainable service supporting a cutting-edge but stable version of Debian. Just the ticket as far as I'm concerned.
David
Free software isn't about nobody making a living from it. I'm happy to support Libranet -- there's a lot of people that could benefit from Debian that aren't ready to take it on cold. I wish Libranet would donate some percentage or fixed amount of their sales to the Debian project, like LordSutch.com does. After all, most of the work is done by Debian, and it would be a good gesture.
I have a few questions for experienced Libranet users, or for the Libranet people on the thread.
First, I have mixed feelings about Libranet's custom installer, Libranet Adminmenu. Part of the attraction for me of going to Debain is that I don't want a layer between me and the GNU/Linux control files. I appreciate adminhelp at times -- I'm enough of a newbie to benefit from it. So the question is, does the Adminmenu generate a host of new files, like SuSE's YaST does, or does it just modify the existing admin files (/etc)? I'd like to see what the machine is doing -- isn't that part of the point of ditching Windows?
Second, a major attraction with Debin is apt-get. Does Libranet have its own apt repository for upgrades? More importantly, can you use apt-get to add applications from Debian archives -- applications that Libranet either did or didn't include? How are dependencies handled in cases of conflict?
Finally, is Libranet feeding its improvements back to the Debian project?
In my view, Libranet can perform an important and hopefully sustainable service supporting a cutting-edge but stable version of Debian. Just the ticket as far as I'm concerned.
David
