<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> No this is not to rant against Fedora Core and praise Kubuntu. I like both for different reasons and dislike both for different reasons. Overall I like both far more than I dislike either. The dislikes are really, really small in comparison to other OSs. Both have a lot to offer anybody that takes the time to learn a little and use them. I tried Fedora Core and Kubuntu simply because the place where I got the new computer preferred Kubuntu (but would not install) and the place where I purchased the old computer used to use Fedora Core only and now installs either Fedora Core or Kubuntu, the customer's decision. What I really, really, really like about Fedora Core: <ol> <li>Everything is there - I first downloaded a Live CD (both Kubuntu Gutsy and Fedora Core 8). Tried both. Fedora Core also has an entire distribution on a DVD. Didn't even try to download the multi-GB DVD so ordered from OSDisks (install and source DVDs). With Kubuntu, no DVD is available that I could find, just the Live CD. So while waiting for the Fedora DVD I installed Kubuntu from the Live CD and spent about 2 weeks working with it and getting it to the point hat I had downloaded nearly everything I thought I needed. With Fedora, that 2 to 3 week period was collapsed to a few days installing from the DVD. Also, I am pretty sure from past experience with FC 5, that very little will be needed to be downloaded to supplement what I now have. That saves me hours and days and a lot of frustration when I get a message that such and such file is missing. What file? Where is it? What package is it in? That last question can be a killer. Without a detailed list of files in all packages, finding a specific file can be arduous and time consuming. I am pretty sure that I have circumvented that with the Fedora Core method and that I like a LOT. </li> <li>I can have BOTH Gnome and KDE and have them both from the initial install (once I learned how to do that on the second install - if the installation instructions would just state how to do that :-) ). I prefer KDE for most of my work. However, I find that I also like some of the features of Gnome. Being able to use both by simply logging out and logging back in with the other environment is easy and quick. A method of switching without even logging out would be of tremendous value to me and I bet to a lot of people. Not too sure if (K)Ubuntu can be made to do the same thing. Every time I try Gnome and KDE, KDE just feels like a more mature, more polished product. The little things make the big difference - like being able to use the middle and right mouse buttons to increase window size vertically or horizontally separately. Also, when moving a window to the side, under KDE it kind of stops and clicks into the side of the desktop. I don't have to finagle with getting it there. Little things like that make a big difference in usability and are really noticed at first, but fade into the background until you have to use Gnome (or even worse Windows!!). Now I really don't hate Gnome, just that I prefer KDE most of the time, both are really great desktop environments. </li> <li>Other than the way that SELinux seems to have messed up things until I set it to "permissive mode", almost everything in Fedora Core 8 worked after the install (at least the second install :-) ). There weren't any of those little gotcha's that such and such isn't installed for that to work, install such and such a package - see point 1 above. OK, I had some problems, but nothing that hasn't worked out with a little intelligence. </li> <li>It's a Linux distro - that counts for LOT. </li> </ol> What I don't like about Fedora Core: (this is really in comparison to Kubuntu): <ol> <li>I spent a lot of money to get a really good h/w video, the NVidia GeForce 8600 with lots of MB of onboard cache. Under Kubuntu I used apt to download and install the NVidia proprietary 3D drivers. I was informed of this right from the get-go after installation and even assisted with a taskbar icon for the proprietary driver and informed of it's proprietary nature. Does the fact that it is proprietary bother me - not at all - I spent a lot of money on their h/w so why not use it fully with s/w they provide for me to do that. It is free as in beer (well after having bought the h/w it is :-) ) ? Under Fedora Core, I don't know if there is a way to do that. Ok, principles are great, but being pragmatic works very, very well also. Is this a tie-breaker between the two - certainly not. Just one of those little niggles like the above difference between KDE and Gnome. </li> <li>The SELinux default install caused me a LOT of grief. Is there a way to fix the problem? I have no idea. I know essentially nothing about SELinux and no interest in devoting a lot of time in learning enough to answer the question. At this point I am only interested in learning whether I have to keep it essentially turned off in permissive mode or can change something to get it into enabled mode and not have lock my computer down to the point that I cannot use it. Do other distro's use SELinux or is Fedora Core the only one and how essential is SELinux to the operation of my computer and it's health and well being?? Don't know enough to answer.</li> </ol> Other than that I really cannot think of anything else yet after 3 days of installing and 1 partial day of use. Terry </body> </html>