Fedora Core 2 - review.

[Peter W Beninate]

Robin Laing wrote:
> <http://www.linuxlookup.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=59> 
> 
> 
>  > This leads me to my biggest problem with Fedora. On one hand, it is
>  > a great introduction to Linux. It installs easily, works well and is
>  > attractive. On the other hand, it plays right into the hands of
>  > Linux's biggest critics, which is the mistaken notion that it is
>  > unfinished and most things don't work. You are given a browser with
>  > no plugins, so if you jump online excitedly with your new system,
>  > there are a lot of things that won't work. You load your favorite
>  > mp3s, then find out you cannot play them. God forbid you have a dvd
>  > drive. You notice the red exclamation point telling you there are
>  > updates available, but up2date freezes leaving you unable to get
>  > them.  I know there are fairly simple solutions to these complaints,
>  > but the fact remains that not everyone who tries Fedora will know
>  > how to do it. They will just feel disappointed by a system that lets
>  > them down, deciding that this Linux thing is not ready for prime
>  > time. A program that would set up unofficial repositories with a few
>  > clicks would take care of this, along with some prominent
>  > documentation telling you how to get the things you need. I could
>  > not find any real documentation at the Fedora site, except for
>  > RedHat 9. This may be due to my lack of time to search for it, but
>  > if it exists, it should be clear where it is at.
> 
> 
> As Fedora does not include multimedia tools that people are used to in 
> Windows, it could be a problem.  Licensing issues aside, new users 
> coming from the Windows world will be quickly frustrated due to this.
> 
> A simple method to upgrade to a full multimedia package needs to be 
> looked at.  Even in business, multimedia is now required to view various 
> advertising or product information packages.  This must not be via 
> searches and multiple WWW sites but a single site with possibly a single 
> click.  A WWW link on the desktop to an offshore (outside US if 
> required) to a setup/install script for multimedia access.
> 
> It should be as easy as "yum install multimedia".
> 
> I know that we all have our own favorite packages for Multimedia but 
> Linux is known for having more than one package that can do the same job.
> 
> Linux is moving more and more into the main stream.  Start thinking of 
> the lowest common denominator and try making FC work for these people.
> 


I think the problem is the direction of Linux. Admit it: Linux is best 
as a stripped down OS running on servers. But right now, everyone is 
trying to make it "easy to use" and "just like Window$" At some point, 
there needs to be a split.

The server market and the home user market to completely different. In 
my server room, I want stable, single-purpose machines. A web server 
should serve web pages; a MySQL server should serve data. But at home, I 
want a box where I can do everything. Listen to music, surf the web, 
play a game. Sounds like I need 2 different OSes.

I like what Red Hat is doing with RHEL and Fedora, but they don't do 
much for the average home user. I hear that Mandrake has filled this gap 
quite well, but I haven't looked into it myself.

All that to say you need the right OS for the job. And if it ends up 
being window$ or MacOS, so be it.... NAH! :)