[nzlug] favourite distro

[Nevyn]

On Jan 8, 2008 12:45 AM, Simon Bridge <simonbridge at ihug.co.nz> wrote:
>

...

> I try to avoid distros that are very windows-like, as this can lead to
> newcomers expecting things to work like windows and getting frustrated
> when they don't - despite advantages. By comparison, when the UI is
> clearly different it leads to the expectation that things will work
> differently, and so to an appreciation of the advantages.
>
> Including proprietary codecs out of the box similarly discourages
> thinking about free codecs.
>
> So all that ain't actually points *in favour* of PCLinuxOS.
>
> I've seen people install fglrx (badly) for cards with sufficient 3D
> support in the radeon driver because of not thinking.
>
> Ubuntu's including proprietary drivers is, therefore, pause for thought.
>
> They use the word "restricted" to imply it's not a good thing. But they
> say it is "needed" which implies that it is a "must have". However, it
> is an extra hurdle that goes some way to increasing awareness about the
> drivers and they have only included the common impediments to an
> arbitrary install. Get's you video and online.
>
> So it will be interesting to see how this compromise works out.

And again, the difference between the computer philosopher and the
user who "just wants to get things done" (TM). Ubuntu's approach seems
to be a middle ground. Sure you can install this stuff but there are
issues. It's better than the approach of adding a repository and then
suddenly everything just seemed to work because there are dialogs
informing the user that what they're grabbing isn't exactly free.