Some they giveth some they taketh away

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8376891

 

Thank you very much- I downloaded it and will try it out!

 

I will check it out!

Thank you

 

Or just do this in a terminal:

Code:

sudo update-rc.d-insserv [servicename] [disable/enable] [runlevels]

e.g.

Code:

sudo update-rc.d-insserv cron disable 2345

One of the nice things about Linux is that there are shortcuts like that for everything.

 

Just one additional remark about an issue that really annoys me: As mentioned above FF 3.6 can be installed via these additional repos. And it's understandable that most users want to upgrade to this new version since it offers several advantages over 3.5. But surprise, surprise: openjdk doesn't work anymore with that new version! I can't blame Ubuntu or openSUSE or any other distro for that since the openjdk developers must solve that problem (which already existed for the alpha and beta versions of FF 3.6 - how sad!). But luckily there's the alternative Sun Java - and, indeed, openSUSE offers the newest version 1.6.0_18 which works with FF 3.6. But what about Ubuntu? The version they offer is 6.15_1 from Aug 07, 2009 which contains several security leaks fixed in 1.6.0_17 by Sun in November. It's maintained in multiverse, and nobody seems to care. And this insecure version is even installed by default in Mint! So much about security ...

So to complete what I said in my previous post: It's not only inconsistent that Ubuntu introduces beta software in their releases - it's even more than strange that at the same time they expose millions of ignorant users (the java plugin is no niche app, after all!) to security risks although new versions have been available for months. They should really concentrate on what's relevant for most users instead of introducing beta software.

This lack of finding the right priorities was one reason why I moved to openSUSE. I hope they won't follow Ubuntu on their way.

 

Hear, hear. At least as far as repository package management is involved.

 

Ubuntu has removed Java from thier packages as they concentrate on implementing FOSS guidelines. Since Java is not open source its off their list and there are no updates but guess what, Java is quite easy to install, just donwload and follow instructions here at
http://www.64bitjungle.com/ubuntu/i...pdate-x-on-hardy-as-the-default-java-runtime/

At least in Ubuntu, installing, finding software is easy unlike in SuSE where 700mb is needed just to install VLC

Debian and Ubuntu have the best package management around period, no ifs and or buts.

 

Eh?

- Arch/Frugalware: "pacman -Rscn" removes a package, everything depending on it, and anything it depends on that other packages don't need. Try this on a Debian system... Go on. I promise you'll get tons of orphaned packages lying about, including ones that apt-get autoremove and deborphan won't notice.

- BSD: run pkg_add and it will grab a package and its dependencies. Need to remove stuff? Use pkg_rmleaves or such, and you get a nice curses GUI a la deborphan (only much more effective). All the BSDs have stuff like this; IMHO OpenBSD's pkg_mgr is the best, but all of them work very well.

(And a bonus in both of the above cases... The packages come with headers needed for compiling stuff against them, so if you have to compile something you don't need to install tons of separate -dev packages.)

Yeah, apt/dpkg is good, but it leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.

- Windows. No, seriously. You download the installer, run it, and it appears on your desktop and works. No dependency hell, because in all likelihood it's statically linked (why do it any other way when hard drives are 25 cents a gigabyte?). Need to remove it? Just run the uninstaller. Uninstaller shoddy? Just delete the directory it installed to and wipe out the registry rubbish with CCleaner. Yay, gone.

 

Hmm. Let me guess, some troll on my ignore list probably started arguing about how Ubuntu has the best package management tools of any distro. If that's the case, I just want to clarify that I meant how the Ubuntu dev team manages the packages on the repositories, not how Ubuntu allows users to manage packages locally.

The Windows uninstalling argument is tenuous at best IMHO. Zap the program directory and scan with CCleaner? CCleaner isn't really the most thorough regcleaner around (it's just one of the safest), and many programs will at least create a profile folder in the user directory, among a ton of other things. I'd at least use something like Revo.

 

That's the usual grounds but it's not convincing: If that were true why haven't they removed adobe-flashplugin, either? Aside from this, most Ubuntu users don't know the diffrence between the "official" repos and multiverse. And Sun Java is still in multiverse.

Yes, I know, In fact, I did that myself following the instructions on http://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/java . (openjdk used to work flawlessly on my 64bit Karmic but all of a sudden it stalled Firefox every time a site requiring java was loaded. I filed a bug report on launchpad - but no answer. I asked for help in ubuntuforums but nobody had a solution. So I switched to Sun Java which worked like a charm even with FF 3.6 from the ppa). But hey - shouldn't this be unnecessary at all? We're under Linux - its repos should make manually installing software from 3rd party websites superfluous!

The bitter fact is that many users will install the outdated, insecure version from multiverse as 90% of them are unaware of the security leaks. (And - as already mentioned - the situation is even worse on Mint where this package is installed by default - that's actually a disaster from a security standpoint )

That may be true but that's not the point here. My point is that I have the impression that some distros are more interested in introducing new gimmicks (in order to attract more Windows users?) while neglecting the real needs of many users.

Don't get me wrong: I've been a convinced Linux user for years and I won't go back to Windows. I'm just afraid that some distros might risk their reputation.

 

i usually use command service service_name start/stop/restart

but in mint 8 there is tool called BootUp-manager

i like mint as my second fav distro i now trying kde and learning right now but what i found about open suse is its very resource hungry and make laptop battery life very much less as compare to fedora 12 and mint 8 although it nice looking in kde

when ever i want to use linux on some else laptop i use mint live cd while on mine most of time fedora 12

every distro got its + and -

 

Yep BUM is installed in MINT by default and thats why I recommended its install in Ubuntu.

 

Thanks for that mack_guy911, found it in Package Manager. Never knew it existed!!

 

Dial-Up Users Forgotten by IT Giants, Smug Bourgeoisie & Ubuntu

I just wondered how much of a contributing factor that may have been.

I have seen the claim made that it was a major one.

I can think of quite a few, including:

1.) Those of us who are still without such high-speed access. Just in the U.S. alone, I've seen the figure of dial-up users placed at 10% as recently as a year or so ago.*

Fortunately for us mere peasants, despite being forgotten by most, there exist vendors such as OSdisc.com , who make it easy, affordable and fast to obtain any GNU/Linux distro (as well as Solaris and BSD) on CD, DVD or even USB Flash drive.

2.) The more than few Windows users not familiar or comfortable with the process of downloading an ISO and burning it to CD or DVD.

3.) Those who have no urgency or burning desire to try Linux but upon learning of the opportunity to order an official, ready-made CD at no cost whatsoever or being presented with one from a friend, figure "why not? Might as well give it a spin"

(BTW, just an anecdotal note, I'm in the U.S. and received my Ubuntu CD within two weeks)

.................
Fortunately there are still dial-up friendly distros that include GUI tools out- of- the box for easy modem and connection configuration.

Such distros include:
-Simply MEPIS (http://mepis.org (K PPP)

-antiX MEPIS) (GNOME PPP)

- Mint 7 Xfce (Chestnut Dialer)

-Puppy Linux (http://puppylinux.org )

(though, as noted above, because of the unique way that Puppy runs as root, caution is advised for use on any computer that will be connected to the Internet or other network)
__________________

ADDENDUM

*A number of people have actually returned to dial-up, for which there are even still some free options, due to the difficult economic situation.

Something interesting I noticed in my own experience with the free ISP I use would seem to support this. When I first started using it around six or more years ago, it would usually be nearly impossible to connect during peak usage times. Then, at some point, this changed and there was an extended period during which it would usually be quite easy to connect at just about any time.

Then, just around the time that the economic downturn hit hard, I found it became more difficult to connect; I would encounter frequent busy signals or other problems.

Now, for the last six months or longer, it has been back to the way it was before; few problems connecting most of the time.

I suspect that a combination of improvement in the economic situation and a number promotional offers from the broadband providers in my area, Verizon and Cablevision, may account for this recent apparent migration of many users from my free ISP to broadband.

 

Here's a blog post I just came across that echoes some of the complaints about Ubuntu ITT:

http://robinzrants.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/intruducing-newbies-to-linux

Excerpts:

 

Mepis may be good. But I'm always getting nervous when I read that a distro has only one (as mentioned in that blog) or two developers. What guarantees during holiday seasons or days of illness that important security patches will be applied? I prefer a distro with a staff and infrastructure that will still exist in the foreseeable future.

 

In 2004 only 12% of UK homes had broadband (out of a total of 52% having internet access), being able to get Ubuntu on a free ISO was a big thing.

 

And how bout security updates which is quite critical. Bigger distros like Ubuntu and SuSE have a dedicated team of developers working for the security patches. Moment a hack or vulnerability is released, I see Ubuntu updates come up within a day or less sometimes, same goes for Fedora and SuSE.

 

Staff, Security Updates for Dif. Distros

Any comments on how Mint (including Mint 7 xfce) and PCLinuxOS compare with regard to staff and security updates?

 

Re: Staff, Security Updates for Dif. Distros

PCLOS is damn good but MINT wins in this department as its Ubuntu core and therefore updates are far and frequent.

 

Re: Staff, Security Updates for Dif. Distros

Isn't PCLOS just a one man effort, or at best, a very small team?

 

Re: Staff, Security Updates for Dif. Distros

I remember Tex was the man assisted by some volunteers.