They're also a great choice for those who are new to Linux and isn't sure they want to fully switch over yet, or if you want to do diagnostics or fix your computer - say you just edited a config file or something and can't boot.

they are also great for dedicated linux firewall boxes...

it's nice not having to worry about a hard disk on the corporate firewall...

http://www.devil-linux.org/

http://www.sentryfirewall.com/

http://www.redwall-firewall.com/

etc... etc... etc...

I'm talking about my own experience... when I started to use Linux, March/03, I started also to know about my future, because I loved it as soon as I did my first boot...
One day I've decided I need a different distro... And, what I want into a distro???
As a design I really don't like at all Slackware because it comes without customize anything...
I decided to build a Linux with all themes, icons and apps customized, all the apps working with same icons and themes, beautiful themes, beautiful wallpapers, a great splash theme... and more... A friend called it as Visual Linux Desktop... but, when I finished my work, I really start to think it is a good project and more people will like it, so I decided to release that distro and I called it: GoblinX...
After the release some people sent me messages asking to install it and I didn't include any installer... And I started to receive many emails asking for some apps, some scripts, and a lot of emails tell me how great and beautiful is my personal project...
So, today my project has already a community, 350 visitors per day, many downloads, and many stuff to solve, to make it better...
I can't say about other projects, I even don't know if exists any other with this idea to standarzing all themes and icons, idea to make very different the desktop... but I can say that anyone has the right to create a new project everyday because there are so many areas to cover...

There are some distros that seem pointless but I think that it's more a matter of opinion. Whatever suits you. I like the way it is now because there is numerous desktop friendly distros and I can just select the one with the look and feel I want and besides if you choose a distro you don't like in the end you can switch to another. Also some may seem the same but have different political/business agendas like Ubuntu will always be free where Mandriva/Mandrake has a club they want users to join etc...

I can only assume the same choice is there for power users who like command line like distro's and rarely use Gnome/Kde. Oh and I'm new to Linux and I loved getting to read up on the different distros and trying out different ones before settling with Ubuntu which just works for me. Also I think the lesser used and known ones will eventually go away and this is the period where we the users get to choose our loyalties to make Linux what we want it to be by choosing and supporting the distro's we like the most. Well as a Linux Newbie that's my opinion and you can attack if you'd like.

Look at this : http://programmershouse.blogspot.com...gpl-linux.html . What do you think ?

No but helping more the gnu/linux project.

Yes I do . Do you know a better source ?

I never said everyone, but most of the people .

Maybe then Debian would be an even better distro ? Who knows ?

It is not the same, because it is different private companies.
In the same company, some products are given up because they are not efficient enough, so they focuse on the best ones.

To make it simpler for all.

Slack is not made for newbies, it is old and not user-friendly.

Linux must win LOL .

The problem is almost everyone were obliged to use MS and then they had to learn it.
People are not easily willing to swap from Microsoft to Linux because it is complicated.
So getting people using Linux is hard ! I have tried it a lot, but I didnt succeed much... :-(

Yes but Linux is made to be installed and to run.
Using Linux from CD or a floppy, it is not using it as an os, but as a tool...other programms can do that to.
To have the full power of an OS, you need to install it .

And what is deb ? tgz ?

Many standard are missing like :
-the files system
-the installation system
-the browser
-the desktop environment
-the window manager
-the gui
-the licence (they dont use all GPL)
-the API language
etc.

But thats how things are working. All is competition.

It is sadly already happening.

Maybe MS will one day better than Linux ?

You are a real joker.

Linux is too much geeks oriented. But do you think about newbies ?

Not for me because I am a geek. I know a lot of people who cannot even understand how to use a computer. They just know "word", "internet explorer" , "outlook"and click here and there...

I am planning to do an universal distro which will help newbies.

Any idea which makes linux better is a good idea . It means almost all ideas are good ideas .

When those bugs are corrected, then it is perfect .

I dont want to get rid of them. I just want developpers to focuse on the gnu/linux .

You cannot do all with live cds, sometimes you cannot even write to hard-disk...
Nothing beats an installed Linux.

Linux should have just one distribution. Like Windows XP.
There is only one version of Windows XP.
Home, Professional, Media Center Edition, Tablet PC Edition, Professional x64Edition, variously available as Upgrades, Full Install, OEM, Volume Licensed, Limited Edition. Computer manufacturers sometimes include non-standard features and added programs when you purchase a PC.
Having only one version like this is what allows Microsoft to focus all their manpower in only one area to virtually eliminate software bugs and vulnerabilities to make your computing experience trouble and virus free.
If only Linux could be soooooooo good.

2damncommon,

Good point. And of course, all those computer vendors that plop down their own set of utilities and spyware for AOL on the machines before they send them out.

Very funny indeed .

there isn't one... there's no way you can get any accurate statistics about distro usage...

Quote:

Maybe then Debian would be an even better distro ? Who knows ?

maybe, but at what expense?? think of all the Knoppix users that would be left in the dark... he's better-off sticking to knoppix, i mean any good and relevant ideas will find their way into experimental/unstable anyways... you don't need to be a part of the debian team in order to have your work included in debian...

Quote:

It is not the same, because it is different private companies. In the same company, some products are given up because they are not efficient enough, so they focuse on the best ones.

the point was that there's great value in one's work even if one isn't "popular" or "mainstream"...

Quote:

Slack is not made for newbies, it is old and not user-friendly.

it's old?? so what?? you're using linux right now... how old is linux??? besides, you have admitted you don't know slackware, so your opinion has very little value...

as for the user-friendly part: personally, i find it VERY user-friendly, friendlier than all the other distros i've tried IMHO... this is because your definition of "user-friendly" isn't the same as mine... IT'S A SUBJECTIVE THING...

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Linux must win LOL .

no, it doesn't, because there is no contest... it's mostly you people with windows mentalities that think everything is a contest...

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The problem is almost everyone were obliged to use MS and then they had to learn it. People are not easily willing to swap from Microsoft to Linux because it is complicated.

well, that's their problem... all we can do is try and help them as much as we can if they want to switch... and if they don't want to switch that's okay also... you don't HAVE to use linux if you don't want to...

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So getting people using Linux is hard ! I have tried it a lot, but I didnt succeed much... :-(

nothing that's worth anything in this life is easy... besides, there might be non-linux reasons why you aren't very successful at converting people... ahem...

Quote:

Yes but Linux is made to be installed and to run. Using Linux from CD or a floppy, it is not using it as an os, but as a tool...other programms can do that to. To have the full power of an OS, you need to install it .

okay whatever, you obviously have no idea what you are talking about and it's pointless to discuss this...

Quote:

And what is deb ? tgz ?

THE LINUX STANDARD BINARY PACKAGE IS RPM... what don't you understand about that??

Quote:

Many standard are missing like : -the files system -the installation system -the browser -the desktop environment -the window manager -the gui -the licence (they dont use all GPL) -the API language etc.

i have no idea what you speak of... standard browser?? ummm... okay... whatever...

Quote:

But thats how things are working. All is competition.

i disagree... and no, i won't elaborate, i'm tired...

Quote:

Linux is too much geeks oriented. But do you think about newbies ?

i think it's good that newbies aren't a priority for ALL distros...

Quote:

I am planning to do an universal distro which will help newbies.

OMFG another distro??? there's enough distros already man!!! WHY ARE YOU WASTING YOUR TIME?? JUST CONTRIBUTE TO MANDRIVA OR LINDOWS INSTEAD!!! LOL!!! dude you are SO contradicting yourself... you make a thread saying there's too many distros and now you say you want to add your own to the list...

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I dont want to get rid of them. I just want developpers to focuse on the gnu/linux .

well, then you can kiss 90% of the software you are using GOOD BYE... LOL...

Quote:

You cannot do all with live cds, sometimes you cannot even write to hard-disk...

sounds like maybe you had some technical issues with your live cd... as for the "you can't do all" part: i wasn't aware that any distro was supposed to be able to "do it all"... in fact, i would assume that's impossible...

Quote:

Nothing beats an installed Linux.

man you make some of the strangest comments i've ever seen here at LQ...

"To make it simpler for all."
It is already pretty simple unless you're simple-minded. You choose the distro that meets your specific needs and desires.

"Slack is not made for newbies, it is old and not user-friendly."
If by old you mean it has been around the longest, that is correct. If by old you mean it isn't current then you obviously don't know what you're talking about.
I know a lot of newbies who use Slack and do quite well, and others who can't use it. It depends on who you are and what your skill level is as well as how well you learn new things. You're right that Slack isn't geared toward either newbies or stupid people.

"People are not easily willing to swap from Microsoft to Linux because it is complicated.
So getting people using Linux is hard ! I have tried it a lot, but I didnt succeed much..."

Linux isn't for everyone.

"Linux is too much geeks oriented. But do you think about newbies ?"
Linux has always been "by geeks for geeks". There's nothing wrong with that. As far as newbies go, some are willing to learn and do well, others expect something 'just like windows" and go back to windows. Nothing wrong with that.

"I am planning to do an universal distro which will help newbies."
Why? You should be helping work on one of those "top 10" you seem so keen on. Not only do not really seem to know what your talking about, you're also a hypocrite to boot.

"I dont want to get rid of them. I just want developpers to focuse on the gnu/linux"
Good for you. Others feel that their work on the various distros does contribute to GNU/Linux as a whole in spite of your assertions to the contrary.

"You cannot do all with live cds, sometimes you cannot even write to hard-disk...
Nothing beats an installed Linux."
Once again you demonstrate just how clueless you really are. LiveCD distros have many purposes and can be quite useful. One can indeed do everything THEY NEED TO DO with a LiveCD, Depending on what they're needs are.

It seems the bulk of your opinions are based on a lack of knowledge combined with the assumption that everyone's needs and skills are the same sprinkled with a liberal dose of a false sense of superiority. To be blunt, you just don't know what you're talking about.

If their is one thing I've learned in my years its not to provoke a slacker.

Slackware users are very defensive about their distro of choice and rightfully so. It just makes sense to them much like Gentoo makes sense to me and Fedora makes sense to Joe Schmoe.

I equate linux to wine or beer. All wines and beers do the same thing in the end but it is your personal prefence as to what kind you want to drink. So to answer your questions, HELL NO! I say, keep the distros coming. Imagine if you could only drink Miller Light all your life. That would be horrible(sorry Miller Light drinkers but the beer is terrible).

programmershous, you are the same guy that just now posted that you wanted to make ANOTHER distro. Why would you post two oppisite threads.
Weird.

ctkroeker If you read all the messages, you would know that I am starting a "universal distro" , a distro for newbies.
If it becomes a success , linux will be better promoted and developpers will join and help gnu/linux.
If you can help, you are welcome, because I am feeling it is gonna be hard.

Yeah and if you look at that other thread you'll see that the questions he asks proves he doesn't actually know what he's talking about.

no i think it's better to help the top 10 distros... there's already too many distros and every day another newbie and his mouse put out a new distro... as far as your universal distro is concerned, you can "keep it and kiss it"...