Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on March 15, 2006 11:40 AM
I'll bypass the flamethrowers, trolltalkers, fanboys, and teenage psychologists. Addressing the semi-serious:
If Kanotix doesn't target newbies, the article does. It starts with "ease of use," and ends with "newbie compatibility." If we agree that Kanotix is not suitable for a "newbie," then we agree that the article is wrong. That's all I meant by less buzz(words), more fizz (capability).
"GRML for newbies" was never an argument; try "GRML for sysadmins supporting newbies" or "GRML as foundation layer for future newbie distros." I was not aware that Linux newbies read Newsforge. If I wanted newbies to encounter GMRL, I would write for Parade Magazine. It's precisely because GRML is so good at hiding from end users that I like it.
If a GRML sysadmin can type "apt-get install $DESKTOP" then his users have all the ease of use of $DESKTOP -- including Klik for instance. Send them directly to $DESKTOP at boot. GRML/Debian becomes background like BSD Unix on Mac. Under Knoppix/Kanotix, by contrast, CD-related stuff is hard to hide from users in the same way.
About pain. Typing grml2hd and apt-get was, I confess, easier than debugging Knoppix/Kanotix install scripts that broke on me. Yes, I Googled for tips; yes, I read the FAQs; I did much more than that, I parsed through the scripts myself. My conclusion was that Knoppix and Kanotix are basically wrong for anything but a CD.
They are tops among live CDs. Yes, they are successful live CDs. We are all thankful. If you like live CDs and the KDE desk environment, use Kanotix. You will not be disappointed.
It's just that discussion of hard drives in this very curt review seriously misleads. The article puts Kanotix ahead of Knoppix in this regard, but it's a difference of small degree, almost grasping at straws. They don't belong on a hard drive at all until serious HD-related improvements are made. That is my professional opinion after careful (and yes painful) evaluations.
Not to say that GRML scripts are perfect. I've had debates with GRML about them (and nVidia). But I don't think scripts are so much the problem as basic design factors. It's hard to compensate for those in any kind of script.
People who view evaluation work as endless fun are welcome to labor in the office next to mine. Here's the deal: users state requirements, the boss assigns a budget and schedule, you meet requirements within budget and on schedule leaving users happy. Yes indeed, it's endless fun. I'll be glad to cash your paycheck and you can take a smile home in its place.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
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Posted by: Anonymous Coward on March 15, 2006 11:40 AMIf Kanotix doesn't target newbies, the article does. It starts with "ease of use," and ends with "newbie compatibility." If we agree that Kanotix is not suitable for a "newbie," then we agree that the article is wrong. That's all I meant by less buzz(words), more fizz (capability).
"GRML for newbies" was never an argument; try "GRML for sysadmins supporting newbies" or "GRML as foundation layer for future newbie distros." I was not aware that Linux newbies read Newsforge. If I wanted newbies to encounter GMRL, I would write for Parade Magazine. It's precisely because GRML is so good at hiding from end users that I like it.
If a GRML sysadmin can type "apt-get install $DESKTOP" then his users have all the ease of use of $DESKTOP -- including Klik for instance. Send them directly to $DESKTOP at boot. GRML/Debian becomes background like BSD Unix on Mac. Under Knoppix/Kanotix, by contrast, CD-related stuff is hard to hide from users in the same way.
About pain. Typing grml2hd and apt-get was, I confess, easier than debugging Knoppix/Kanotix install scripts that broke on me. Yes, I Googled for tips; yes, I read the FAQs; I did much more than that, I parsed through the scripts myself. My conclusion was that Knoppix and Kanotix are basically wrong for anything but a CD.
They are tops among live CDs. Yes, they are successful live CDs. We are all thankful. If you like live CDs and the KDE desk environment, use Kanotix. You will not be disappointed.
It's just that discussion of hard drives in this very curt review seriously misleads. The article puts Kanotix ahead of Knoppix in this regard, but it's a difference of small degree, almost grasping at straws. They don't belong on a hard drive at all until serious HD-related improvements are made. That is my professional opinion after careful (and yes painful) evaluations.
Not to say that GRML scripts are perfect. I've had debates with GRML about them (and nVidia). But I don't think scripts are so much the problem as basic design factors. It's hard to compensate for those in any kind of script.
People who view evaluation work as endless fun are welcome to labor in the office next to mine. Here's the deal: users state requirements, the boss assigns a budget and schedule, you meet requirements within budget and on schedule leaving users happy. Yes indeed, it's endless fun. I'll be glad to cash your paycheck and you can take a smile home in its place.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
Mark
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