(Ubuntu feisty vs PCLinuxOS 2007)
Hello guys…
I am one of Linux enthusiast like you people, and have used almost all major Linux distros in past.Currently I triple boot Windows XP/Ubuntu Feisty /PCLinuxOS 2007.I am very impressed with PCLOS 2k7, even more than i was with Ubuntu. So i though why not write something which may help other people….
So here it goes as if why PCLOS 2k7 is better than Ubuntu :
All things written below are completely my own views, based on my experiences with Linux and Windows, during past years and are no way related to PCLinuxOS OS or Ubuntu developers, or any other person or company mentioned below.
- First reason, PCLOS is based on KDE,while Ubuntu is based on GNOME.
And the hard truth is that KDE is definitely better than GNOME. ( I know die hard GNOME users must be frowning). Well, I have points to prove :
(i). KDE gives so much power and options to user to configure their system and desktop, while GNOME in their goal of striving hard for simplicity (unnecessarily and sometimes more than required) cripples normal user (sometime even Linux geeks) in terms of above said parameters. KDE Control center gives far more options than GNOME.Even Mr. Linus Trovald supports thisfact in public and encourages users to use KDE ( google it to read Linus’s comments.)
(ii). KDE developers are far more active than GNOME people.
This is evident by the fact that KDE is going to release its 4th version (which is a major release, a complete overhaul,i mean everything has been reviewed), while GNOME has no plans of releasing even 3rd version.
iii). Lots of day to day used apps, like media player, torrent client, file manager, are far superior in KDE. To name a few, Amarok vs. Rhythymbox, Ktorrent vs (hey GNOME doesn’t even has a torrent client), Konqueror vs Nautilus, Gaim/Pidgin vs Kopete…. Almost everywhere KDE apps surpass over GNOME apps.
(iv). Now explanations to some of facts for which KDE is criticized by GNOME users mostly :
a. KDE is more like Windows.
Well first of all its not true. Because Windows itself copies all things from Mac, but you can’t do anything about that, because Mac people are almost always first to bring innovation in GUI. And if Mac people were first to develop the GUI [Graphic User Interface] (rather they also bought it from Xerox company in 80’s). So everything traces back to roots and looks similar. And GNOME doesn’t look like Windows because GNOME in first place doesn’t give many options in GUI. You know, GNOME’s philosophy is simplicity.
So better allegation would be that KDE is more like Mac. But believe me fellas, KDE people bring the best of all, along with their own innovations.
b. KDE is slower than GNOME.
Again same explanation, if you need power to configure, you need to have tools to do that. And it needs, both memory and processing. And i use both GNOME and KDE, i don’t see or feel much difference.
2. PCLOS has far more stability thanUbuntu. Reasons for that :
(i). PCLOS repository has softwares which have been tested by PCLOS developers completely, while Ubuntu has so many repositories available today, (though it is good in a
sense that Ubuntu has max. no of softwares available), that there are very high chances that some program or library dependency from unofficial repository may cause trouble to your system. (OK, this is not for geeks….. BUT this is hell lot of problem for newbies, and mid-experienced users….)
(ii). PCLOS is .rpm based which is better and more efficient packaging model for Linux binaries, than .deb, used by Ubuntu.
[Lot of people may not agree with this.So i want to clear that this is what i have learned from my personal experience, and research on Internet. So your thoughts are equally respected on this.]
3. PCLOS comes pre-installed with most of commonly used multimedia formats(except real player, quick time,and mpg), while Ubuntu doesn’t.
This point gives PCLOS a great push ahead of Ubuntu. Its too convenient in conditions like:
(i). Newbies who when using Linux for first time, just get shot when they see that their brand new Linux OS is not playing their favorite songs(mp3).
(ii). Now you will say, person above may simply double click the song, and Ubuntu will automatically install required binaries. True. But, just Imagine someone in developing nation, where Internet penetration is not good or not even available. How do you provide required binaries, as there are always dependencies involved in any Linux binary installation ? Will those people ever replace their perfectly running PIRATED Windows XP in such scenario ? Well, the answer is, NEVER…..
[I could never understand why doesn'tUbuntu pre-installs required multimedia formats. Legal Issues ? Well,i think , they are already getting into legal issues by providing it in repositories. so why not on CD ? May be some complex legal stuff..... if anyone kind enough to explain to me...]
5. PCLOS control center is a big and easy tool to configure system with just few clicks, while there is not anything analogous in Ubuntu.
This thing made me a fan of PCLOS. I thought while using Ubuntu that i will never be able to use 3d desktop on perman
6. Some things which i personally experienced with my own system:
(i). PCLOS automatically detected that i needed a software to correct my screen resolution, while Ubuntu didn’t.
(ii). PCLOS automatically configured my laptop touchpad correcly, while in Ubuntu, i had to edit x org file to get it working good. For newbies out there, its a nightmare to even find that file without any help from forums or people.
(iii). PCLOS detected my wireless card while Ubuntu didn’t.
(iv). On PCLOS, i could run 3d desktops (beryl and compiz) right after install while in Ubuntu i had to install these things from repositories.
(v). On PCLOS i can run even 2 or 3 videos with 3d desktop enabled, while in Ubuntu, whenever i even clicked a video file to play, it would simply exit without anything playing. ( I have a little old laptop with no separate graphic card)
This thing made me a fan of PCLOS. I thought while using Ubuntu that i will never be able to use 3d desktop on permanent basis but with PCLOS i am a complete 3d convert.
[For newbies : 3d desktop on Linux are freaking awesome. Windows vista with its too much hyped "Live Thumbnails in Taskbar" and "Aero Flip Through Windows" should be ashamed. I mean guys, it nothing in front of Linux 3d desktops. And Microsoft spends 5 BILLION DOLLARS on research (did u read that !).
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June 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I like PCLOS as I do like Ubuntu or any other distro.
I don’t agree with many things mentioned above.
1.
(i). and 5. I don’t like to tweak a lot so KDE is not something I would prefer.
ii. If something is good you don’t need to change it that often.
iii. I agree that many KDE apps are the better ones. On my Xubuntu I use the best ones among KDE and Gnome apps.
2.
This may be the case for you but it wasn’t for me. Xubuntu is perfectly stable (for me).
3. You are right. But, you can’t play multimedia files in Windows either. You have to find and download codecs, and software to play the files. But this is so easy to do it in K/X/Ubuntu, or any other distro.
Now for all the other points you mentioned.
Any distibution (or Desktop Environement) has its good and bad sides.
And for all the people that use or think to use any Linux distro - it’s all up to you. It depends only on your needs which one you will choose. At the core they are all the same.
I don’t like KDE that much and I don’t even like Gnome. But there’s XFCE and Xubuntu, which perfectly suits my needs.
This is The Freeedom of Choice. And I like it.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Dude snap out of it and smell the coffee
PC linux is a small community and ubuntu community will eat them up! Pclinux uses RPM based packages BUT i can’t take any ordinary RPM package like fedora or mandriva. It’s their own special RPM packages.
Try the new ubuntu 8.04 and it works alot better.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Your argument is more or less equivalent to claiming that sofas are better than chairs because YOUR butt is large.
The best linux distribution is the one that suits YOU. How hard is it to understand that?
June 30th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I’m not a fan of Ubuntu (proper) because of installation gotcha’s that pop up in new releases that weren’t in previous releases. It does however gall me when a writer says “Ubuntu runs Gnome.” Apparently you don’t surf the web much because there is an Ubuntu distro called “Kubuntu” that does run KDE.
I think you might have been better off comparing PCLinuxOS to Kubuntu, and not Ubuntu. Next time you want to write a subjective and informative article, try being subjective and informative and stop making stupid comparisons between grapes and watermelons.
Hmmm, I think Genius Hackers would know better.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Columns like this are pointless. Each person chooses the distro that suits his or her needs. Choice is good. We need both PCLOS and Ubuntu and just about every other distro. What works for one person may not work for another. I have used both PCLOS and Ubuntu and recommend both distros depending on their needs.
I take issue with RPM being better than Deb. Having used both I can tell you that debs are much more durable and systems that use debs have far fewer dependency problems. The term dependency Hell was coined with RPM in mind. In fact some people call it RPM Hell instead. My personal experience is that if anyone installs lots of applications that it is not a question of IF, but WHEN dependency problems will develop with RPM based distros, especially if one expands the repositories.
On this issue alone PCLOS is unsuitable for many users who want more than the basic applications provided in OCLOS’s own repositories. Howver, it is a fine distro and would be even better if it abandoned RPM, IMO.
Instead of trying to tear down Ubuntu, you would do better to stay positive. It seems that PCLOS users in particular have become annoying by persisting in trying to dis Ubuntu and I do not see the same thing happening from the Ubuntu side towards PCLOS. That is telling. It shows that PCLOS users have Ubuntu envy while the opposite cannot be said.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Hate to tell you,.RPM is not superior to .DEB’s. RPMs are successful in PCLinuxOS because the developers took the time to maintain quality assurance on the package set. But trust me I seen plenty of RPMs with busted dependency trees. You could load a package and when you see the list of missing dependencies it would make your head swoon and is a major PITA for the noob.
Rarely have I had a DEB file break.
Its not speed that is the metric in a packaging system, but completeness. I have had RPM’s break often enough to know that it fails on that score.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
This article reads more like a Kde vs gnome comparison more than distro vs distro. I do agree with your postion however. I personally think Pclinux is worlds ahead of the buntus in spite of having a smaller community(as was pointed out in an earlier comment). Ive tried ubuntu and always found it seriously lacking. Ive tried several ubuntu derivitive distros that on the surface seemed pretty good but the bugginess of the underlying base always showed through. Although I cant really say if the bugs and annoyances come from ubuntu or its base debian as Ive had some of the same issues with other distros that were also based on debian.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I am sorry to tell you, but your first point is invalid. Kubuntu is ubuntu with KDE. You can either aptitude get kubuntu desktop or get the kubuntu install disc.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
pclos may be the best kde distro around,but who really cares?…envy of an ubuntu fanbois ….com on people to me vista sux even more than ubuntu,and i paid for that,ubuntu fail to work on my lappy even after hours of fiddling around the ubuntu forums.Pclos configure all my hardware snap on….but i feel like a second class user ,cuz i don`t pay for a PASS acount,on buntu i don`t need to pay anything,but it it a pia jut to recognize my hardware…..oh well …
July 1st, 2008 at 2:26 am
sad. opinions not facts.
PCLoss is taken from Mandriva which was taken from RedHat which is why they use rpm.
Move up to Mandriva 2008.1 and forget PCLoss 2007.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 am
Disco_Jesus Says:
June 30th, 2008 (2 days ago) at 7:04 pm
“I am sorry to tell you, but your first point is invalid. Kubuntu is ubuntu with KDE. You can either aptitude get kubuntu desktop or get the kubuntu install disc.”
Unfortunately you will still have the underlying ubuntu system and only the Kde control center which is fine for configuring Kde itself but falls way short of the hardware configuration capabilities of the Pclinux control center.
ridgeland Says:
Yesterday at 2:26 am
sad. opinions not facts.
PCLoss is taken from Mandriva which was taken from RedHat which is why they use rpm.
Move up to Mandriva 2008.1 and forget PCLoss 2007
Mandriva is a fine operating system but is nowhere as stable as Pclinux. Pclinux is forked from Mandriva and the focus has always been on stability and ease of use. If you want a more cutting edge system with all the inherent issues Mandriva is most likely the system for you as it also has a great control center to configure your hardware. If you want a system that is for the most part completely stable with the software in the repos thoroughly tested for stability plus rolling updates so you dont have to reinstall your system every six months just to stay up to date Then Pclinux is most likely the system for you.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 am
I can’t say I’m driven to leave my Gnome Ubuntu. Nor can I blame you for trying PCLinux, as I heard good stuff. http://www.gnome-look.org or whatever has all the themes/looks I needed to make a great look. I guess I’m a Gnome and Ununtu fanboy, cuz it just plain works.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Good to see another happy Linux user and likewise its good to see your happy with your distro of choice.
Whilst I appreciate your opinions, what suits one person another does not like. I personally dislike KDE in its current state. Maybe V4 when it gets to decent state may change my mind.
But Gnome to me is just right, simplicity is fine for me.
Synaptic just works, and I dislike rpm’s but thats me.
The best thing is that we all use the same but we use different. the truly best thing about linux is the diversity
At the end of the day Ubuntu just works for me nicely and am very happy with it.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
There is too much buzz here about Linux…Ubuntu….I dont give a damn about them….I just have an Xp….Give me reasons to try out Ubuntu…Linux…whatsoever.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
To Anurag:
Linux is for people who care enough. You have to answer
the question: is linux for you?
P.D. Linux is not for everyone. A requisite to
become a successful linux user is a working brain.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Anurag,
There can’t be too much buzz as Linux is seldom seen in mainline media. Any buzz there is is spread by happy users. So if you are hearing too much buzz then there must be many happy Linux users, which leaves you outside looking in, which is a sad place to be.
Linux is not Ubuntu and Ubuntu is not Linux. It is but one of many flavors. Not everyone likes chocolate. Some prefer vanilla or even chunky monkey. In Linux there is a flavor for everybody, even you, if you would care to try.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Thx…..m gonna try Ubuntu soon.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Eumakant has brought some valid points through this article. As many of the commentors said the best distro is the one which suits our own need. In developing countries internet penetration is not that good. So making a linux distro playing all the media files is not very easy with most distros including ubuntu. In PCLinuxOS it is done out of the box. So for persons in developing nations (or anybody with dial up connection/no connection) PCLinuxOS is better than Ubuntu. For those having broadband connection it may not be.
Windows dont need internet for installing applications/codecs. All the applications and codecs are available from friends/system vendors in cds/dvds. So developing nation people mostly stay away from linux. I think distros like Vector Linux, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva(to some extent), Linux Mint, MyahOS (I have tested only this much) can bring these people into linux world.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Well, i think ubuntu and all it’s kin really suck. I have an HP Proliant ML 110 it’s a P4 3.2 Ghz with HT and 512 Mb but Ubuntu doesn’t even recognize my 60 Gb SCSI HDD, Ubuntu server does the job but I have to write the some f****in password, the hell I know. Tried in several IBM Thinkpad P4 Desktop with the same but never get things right. Many error.
Yes PCLOS cannot recognize my SCSI HDD and cannot played the 3d desktop, at least it far better than ubuntu. I own a Celeron 667 with 320 Mb GeForce MX4 64 and 20 Gb HDD PCLOS works better than Ubuntu. Pentium 3 384 Mb 10 Mb HDD huh? Well what u need iz minimum 2.4 Core2Duo with 4 Gb RAM 500 Gb HDD and GeForce9 series. Now u talking! Ubuntu and it’s kin says they will replace Windows in your computing world, yeah replace it with the same f***in problems. The hell with ubuntu the hell with the community, hope you fell great as a linux saint, angel, elders or other f***in names. For me I choose Mandriva, Turbolinux, Dreamlinux, and PCLOS. Someday you guys will fall from the high castle and realize that we are the same. Your arrogance will bring Ubuntu to doom. And for Windows users, don’t let the virus make a community in your PC. ;-p
July 24th, 2008 at 6:40 am
LOL. Hey Zaffe,
Get a life. Relax, read a GOOD linux book, stop cursin’ and a swearin’. Get over it. Linux exists in a parallel OS universe. Many flavours of distro all vying for space on your HDD. Find one that does the job by playing nice when you ask your questions. Also, it would help your cause to learn to string a sentence together - you know - in plain english.
Geez - calm down it’s only an OPERATING SYSTEM for god/allah/jehova/krishna sake. Why don’t you push your obvious passion for OS’es to a greater cause?
Peace man V
July 31st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
i recommended ubuntu for some friends, and got stuck up with them as they called up asking for this, that …. (codecs, wifi, where’s the control panel, etc)
i’ve been a wiser guy since then. for friends i just recommend pclos.
so i find just no need for the KDE vs Gnome, rpm vs deb, stuff…