[luau] Which Distribution To Go With

[Tom_Gordon/RISE/HIDOE at notes.k12.hi.us]

I don't insist a CD/DVD install.  I expect it.

I can't recommend a networked install without first knowing more about the 
end user's limitations.  Not only is deb's catchpenny  installation 
time-consuming, on an average connection, or worse, dial-up, a net install 
is completely unfeasible.  Especially for anyone with time-constraints or 
a short attention span.  A lot of Debian users get a kick out of debasing 
n00bs this way.  They supply such a plethora of information and variable 
means to one end that the user is either intimidated out of the pursuit of 
Linux or, should the user seek help, not get it from #Debian.  Mix that 
with the average US-condescending European attitude and it's a real 
pisser.

This inferior US deb-user [1] support drastically effects the end result. 
Take the BBB for instance.  They referred regional communities (including 
Hawaii) to outsource to a debian-using developer in Salt Lake and they had 
more vulnerabilities than a stick could ever be shook at.  After further 
consult I found they knew nothing about Debian and where to get support 
for it commercially in America after having experiences similar to those 
above.  But this is a digression into the business realm, hence, they were 
long due for migration to RHE.  There is no solution to this symptom 
before this is a cause.  The cause was it was the wrong OS for the 
particular company.  They would have done fine with Red Hat or Windows 
(pfft!).

If your actually considering a net-install though, Red Hat's net install 
is much easier on end users because it's simpler, visual and more 
thought-out for users who haven't read all the forums and release notes 
and documentation.  RH's netboot is identical to installing from CDs in 
every way except it doesn't even require a CD (a single floppy is 
available).  I have not tried a netboot image with Fedora.

At least I am not afraid to say more than "distro-x is something you can 
count on".

Tom


[1] http://www.beatnix.org



This part says the most, or the least, about your breadth of 
experience.   Sorry, but if you insist on a cd install, the mini iso,

http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/