FC2 doubtful quality?

[Dexter Ang]

HaJo Schatz wrote:
> Hi List,
> 
> Long story, short question: Should I fall back to FC1 instead of using
> FC2? I am somewhat very concerned about the release quality of FC2.
> Here's what happened:

It is all your choice. No one is forcing you to use FC2. If FC1, or even 
RH9 works well for you, then you should continue using it unless there 
is compelling reason for you to use FC2.

> 
> [snip]
> 
> - Service PCMCIA doesn't load the yento-sockets module. This is known @
> bugzilla, one has to patch the pcmcia script by hand. Through this bug,
> the PCMCIA subsystem is non-functional!

This seems to be system specific. My IBM Thinkpad T30's PCMCIA works 
without any problems.

> 
> - My console-beep (emitted through the sound card) disappeared ever
> since FC2. I don't seem to be able to find a pointer on how to trace
> this...

You must load the pcspkr module. It's been discussed and is in the archives.

> 
> This is the result after a few hours of FC2 experience and I really
> start wondering about what level of testing this release experienced
> before being released into the public -- even IMHO obvious things like
> the PCMCIA subsystem doesn't work! Seems to me that FC1 was by far the
> more reliable system. 

Realibility will depend on the number of people testing "test" releases. 
If you want a quality release, you should help out by testing and 
reporting bugs. If you can't afford to use your machine for testing, 
your best hope is to report bugs and wait for fixes. There really is so 
many hardware to test on, that the chances of certain configurations not 
working is very high.

> 
> My question now is whether I should give up on FC2 (I'm really tempted)
> and go back to FC1 or hang in there. 
> - Will I experience more of these surprises with FC2?
> - How fast will issues be attented to through updates? The PCMCIA issue
> is known, so is the ide_info issue (since FC2 test3), but still no fix
> today.
> - Is this what we have to expect from a "community distro" in the long
> run? As with RH9 the last consumer-distro is discontinued, my logical
> conclusion would then be to leave RH behind and move on to another
> packager, say Suse?
> 
> A bit disappointed,
> HaJo

Again, no one's forcing you to use FC2. Obviously you have the time to 
format and install an entirely new system without assessing the possible 
issues first, so why not try SuSE? It's 9.1 Personal edition is 
available in ISO now. Or why not stick with RH9? Is there some very good 
reason (other than having fun) to use FC2? Giving up on FC2 is really 
your decision. Either help out, by living through bugs and reporting 
them, or just switch to something that works. Granted, one less person 
testing on their hardware is never good. Me, I use FC2 for work and for 
fun. I am hoping that through my and others' efforts, FC3 will be a 
superb release.

dex