And you complained that Vista has 5 versions

[Tortanick]

I found a nice, and highly incompleate family tree of Linux versions.

Homepage (http://www.kde-files.org/content/show.php?content=44218)

Image (http://www.kde-files.org/CONTENT/content-files/44218-linuxdistrotimeline-7.2.png)

[Terry Hanushek]

Tortanick

As a non-Linux person, I found your chart very interesting (after I found how to enlarge it ;) :eek: ;) ) but was amazed to find 61 varieties of the software. That in itself is daunting to an outsider - let's see, do I go with Yellow Dog or Red Hat or White Box or .... It would be helpful for both the product and potential users if this chart were symmetrical and returned to a single (or small number of) line on the right side of the chart.

Thanks for providing the reference. Now we will be able to understand the relationship of the various distros that are discussed here.

Terry

[Tortanick]

If 61 is confusing you'll be shocked to discover that Debian alone has more children than that whole list put togeather ;)

And while it would be helpful to new users if they started to converge again, it would be a huge limitation to experianced users who love the abuntant choices.


In awnser to you're spesific question, Red Hat and White box are enterprise servers, Yellow dog is specalises on PowerPC processors. For a Linux beginner PCLinuxOS would be my recomendation, either as a training ground, or for basic users. Ubuntu, Mepis, and Freespire/Linspire have proven popular for that too, but I never really liked Ubuntu or Mepis, and I can't say I tried the spires

[X86fun]

I use Linux 95% of my time on the computer
I'm very comfortable with Ubuntu this means their is something wrong with it that I don't know about.
I will NEVER use Vista I just started duel booting
then I thought why am I duel booting then I seen you guys on paltalk and I was like ahhhhh this is why
but I use Virtual Box but their is no sound on paltalk
in Virtual Box and what fun is that . Debian is the bome and I hope I find out no dirt with Ubuntu.

[Terry Hanushek]

Tortanick

If 61 is confusing you'll be shocked to discover that Debian alone has more children than that whole list put togeather ;)

And while it would be helpful to new users if they started to converge again, it would be a huge limitation to experianced users who love the abuntant choices.
It seems to me that a smaller number of separate versions would be helpful to all users not just newbies. If a single version (or a small number of versions) could be developed which included all of the drivers, utilities, apps and features from the various corners of Linuxdom, everyone would benefit.

In awnser to you're spesific question, Red Hat and White box are enterprise servers, Yellow dog is specalises on PowerPC processors. For a Linux beginner PCLinuxOS would be my recomendation, either as a training ground, or for basic users. Ubuntu, Mepis, and Freespire/Linspire have proven popular for that too, but I never really liked Ubuntu or Mepis, and I can't say I tried the spires
I did not have a specific question on versions. I offered a rhetorical question with all of the 'colored' versions to illustrate disarray of 61 (or more) versions. If Vista users can exist on only five versions, why can't Linux users be satisfied with a smaller number of improved products. :D

Terry

[Tortanick]

Tortanick


It seems to me that a smaller number of separate versions would be helpful to all users not just newbies. If a single version (or a small number of versions) could be developed which included all of the drivers, utilities, apps and features from the various corners of Linuxdom, everyone would benefit.


While such a version could include a greater number of apps and utilities*, it will not have much more drivers than a current distro, and probably won't encourage the development of apps and utilities that much. Most of the work on drivers, apps, and utilities is indipendant of the distributions.

Such a Unified Distro will also have massive social problems, today if someone wishes to take a distro in a bold new direction and the other developers don't agree they create a child distribution. If the culture did not permit this then they will just stay behind trying to tug the distribution in another direction. With lots of developers trying to do this, and the massive number of distributions proves that that happens, often, It could paralyse a distribution in social problems.

*Like they don't have enough allready ;)


I did not have a specific question on versions. I offered a rhetorical question with all of the 'colored' versions to illustrate disarray of 61 (or more) versions. If Vista users can exist on only five versions, why can't Linux users be satisfied with a smaller number of improved products. :D



Because a high proportion of Linux users are computer connoisseurs, they won't run just anything, they look for a distribution that fits them.

P.S. I knew that was rhetorical, I just felt like showing off and answered it anyway.

[X86fun]

ho yea total completeson

[qldit]

Good Morning Gentlemen, yes there are hundreds of Linux Distributions spawned from a basic few, but I really don't feel this is a bad thing.
In essence it allows various universities, learning places and interested entrepreneurs to select a basic system idea that suits them and they build on that.

In many cases new ideas spring up that contribute to the other systems globally.
Typically the idea of using ramdrive, live system CD's and a lot of wigits have happened along these paths.

Many of these Linux "children" fall by the wayside, because of the impetus of progressive ideas and concentration on main or core systems and falling support for the lesser ones.

The generated expertise from persons involved in creating these "children" allows them to migrate to higher proffessional areas.
But the overall benefit is positive and progressive.

Other ideas such as what has happened with Puppy Linux is typical of the progression, the core system remains as the major focus, but there are many other Puppies that have generated including specific media, teenager, graphics, office and mini versions.
But the overall interesting aspect is that because of the rapid increase in progressive ideas, many of these off-shoots do not have the substantial, time-available, expert kinds of people to keep them up to a current status.
Of course when a system is in a specific kind of application there is no real importance to keep it up to date, but that does affect new acceptance and growth for that distro.

I do feel that a chart showing the version release frequency and current dates would be more representative of what is really happening.

Alternate ideas such as in industry having dumb terminals with just the required programs for that site is becoming more common and cost efficient/effective.

Embedded and vendor machine use of Linux is also rapidly increasing, using just the neccessary tailored system software.

Although there is a movement to standardise basic Linux systems, I really don't know that it would be all that beneficial.
I feel evolution will determine a natural course as things progress.

I liken it to having a base group of major systems following an enormous idea generating "children" group moving in front. I feel this is very healthy, exciting and productive. Don't forget we are talking absolute global support here.
This is a massive parrallel thought process with unlimited potential.

Cheers, qldit.