Moshe Goldfarb wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:11:06 +0100, Tony(UK) wrote:
>
>> Moshe Goldfarb wrote:
>>
>> ...Except I think that Pardus 2009 beats it hands down in many ways.
>
> I'm curious why?
> I read the pardus site, but never used it.
> Pardus looks interesting though.
>
> Why do you feel it's superior to PCLOS?
As you may know I review Linux distributions, so my test machine always has
a copy of the latest Linux releases. My criteria is that a newcomer to Linux
can easily install and use a system without using a command line, play his
or her media files without any trouble, and feel comfortable with the look
and feel of the system. Another important area is the support and forums.
My test machine is an exact copy of my main computer and I have used Pardus
exclusively as my main machine since 2008.
At this moment in time, I feel it is the best Linux distribution for people
fitting my brief, and despite comments like 'But it's for Turkish people',
and 'It's built on PCLOS' (it's not), and the one that made me laugh 'It's
ideal for newbies, but not for Linux enthusiasts', these are my thoughts on
why Pardus 2008 (KDE3 or 2009 (KDE4) take a lot of beating.
1. The installation programme (YALI)is possibly the best of all Linux
installers, painless, informative and thorough.
2. Kaptain (on first boot after installation) takes newcomers to the system
through setting up the desktop, network, icons, wallpaper etc.
3. PISI handles software available, and although it hasn't 24000 pieces of
software, has a very good selection of software the normal user actually can
use.
4. On my test machine ALL hardware and peripherals are configured (this
isn't the case with PCLOS), and ATI and Nvidia graphics cards are easily
installed and configured in the System Settings application (under Display).
5. The Pardus team and forum, considering English is not their native
language) is a very friendly place for newcomers, and the developers are
extremely receptive to suggestion and actually try to help and resolve
users' difficulties.
6. Their implementation of KDE4 in Pardus 2009 is the best I have
experienced up to now - both 2008 and 2009 seem faster in operation than
other distros.
7. The distribution is unlike any other, developed independently with no
silly release schedules or deadlines, and contains unique home-grown
software and the focus is completely on user experience.
8. It looks superb!
Drawbacks? No software is perfect, and a few niggles have been reported, but
compared to over 300 Linux distributions I have tested over the years, it is
closer than most, if not all, others to date, and looks, feels and runs like
the professional system it is designed to be. The International version
supports 11 languages (including US but sadly not En-GB to date) and at
present it is install-only, no live CD, although this is planned along with
a 64-bit version.
Negatives? No Pan Newsreader, and setting up Firefox's spellchecker defaults
to Turkish in my copy. YMMV, and I am sure there will be many critics,
mainly from the people who are not prepared to give it a try without bias.
Finally, I like the idea of someone actually producing a system without
being a derivative or copy of another, and these people are really trying to
produce the best they can make. I think they have succeeded.
(You may have read other similar reviews around the 'net, but the above has
not been a simple copy and paste of these - more like the other way around)!
Thanks asking - I hope it hasn't been for nothing :-)
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