[LUG] Distros

[Richard Brown <rich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

We recently had a thread trying to establish what distro a computer 
shop should use. I think the shop was called Farpoint.

Anyway, what I thought I would do is feedback on the use of Lindows 4.5.

I have to say that I have never had a distribution install so 
effortlessly and then run without a hickup. Everything just worked. It 
detected the network card and went on-line without any configuration 
necessary. When I put a dvd into the dvd drive it opened a web browser 
and took me to the Lindows web site. The site then informed me that 
should I wish to play a dvd I would have to download the dvd player. It 
informed me of all the costs involved. It really was effortless.

As you all know I then took a 'power user' approach and ran apt-get and 
synaptic. I have installed mplayer and have played a dvd. There were a 
few hiccups involved but not really the sort of hiccup I would have 
expected.

I have not used Linux for nearly a year and have recently invested time 
and energy into getting a debian, Red Hat 9 and Fedora 3 install to 
work. Using all these distros has taken a lot of time and effort and I 
have not got to the position I have wanted to get to.

I will shortly be buying Libranet and trying this distro out. 
Apparently it is a little more friendly to 'power users' and allows me 
freedom in the apt-get department.

Given the findings of above I would say that Linux is ready for the 
desktop. Lindows was easy to use and can be bought by resellers and 
sold on.

I will report on Libranet findings as and when.

Rich

P.S. Sorry about the use of the words power user - I know I'm not I 
just wasn't sure how to describe what I was doing!


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