[xiphos-users] Which distro should I switch to

Tue May 25 22:25:55 EDT 2021

Sorry, nevermind. I was reading too quickly and skimmed over that part. I will change my question: why not 21.04 just out of curiosity?
Thanks,
Byron

________________________________________
From: xiphos-users <xiphos-users-bounces at crosswire.org> on behalf of Byron Smith <byroniac at outlook.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 21:17
To: Xiphos users
Subject: Re: [xiphos-users] Which distro should I switch to

Out of curiosity, Ubuntu Studio 20.04.2 or 21.04?
Byron

________________________________________
From: xiphos-users <xiphos-users-bounces at crosswire.org> on behalf of John Dudeck <john.dudeck at sim.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 19:52
To: Xiphos users
Subject: Re: [xiphos-users] Which distro should I switch to

This comment isn't directly about Xiphos, but more related to Linux desktop distros.

Recently I installed each of these distros, one at a time, on a Dell laptop, just to get a feel for which one I would want to use. I give my "verdict" with each one.

Deepin

Overall good impression mostly because of the clear and simple presentation, but has a teeny-bopper feel, and would prefer that it didn't hide the technical aspects so much. I don't like the Chinese aspects, and am slightly suspicious. Don't like that it doesn't print correctly. Will not use.

CRUX

After boot from USB it went to a root shell. You have to manually install, piece by piece, including compiling the kernel. Is a minimalist system, intended for experienced users who just want a basic system to work from. I'm not looking for something like this. Reminds me of Gentoo. Won't be using it.

KDE Neon 5.20.4

First impression is that KDE is familiar. It assumes you understand technical info and doesn't hide it. I don't like the KDE start menu, but haven't tried to customize it. Tried installing Xiphos. Installed fine. I could use this as a working laptop, but am not sold yet.

Q4OS

First impression is this looks like an even more serious and sober (they say "classic") version of KDE Neon. Install process essentially identical to KDE Neon. After installing, SSD was not bootable, "Invalid partition table!" Laptop is trying to do legacy boot. Does not seem to want to do UEFI if it can't see the OS from the BIOS. Appears to be very close to KDE Neon, but doesn't install a working boot. Will skip for now.

MX Linux 19.3 AHS ("Advanced Hardware Support")

This is the snappiest and most complete distro so far. Descendent of Mepis Linux. I think overall I like this distro better than KDE Neon and Devuan Xfce. There is a version with KDE, haven't tried it.

Devuan Beowulf 3.0.0

I like MX Linux better out of the box because of the significant MEPIS UI touches and defaults. Beneath the cover they are pretty much the same.

PCLinuxOS KDE5 Magnum (=full)

Touchpad sensitivity is very poor, erratic and unusable. It scrolls normally, but does not move the pointer most of the time. Holding finger just so may get pointer to move until you lift finger, then must find the right spot again for it to move. Tap-to-click also not enabled. There are extensive settings, but nothing helps. Used external mouse. WiFi sees my router but will not connect. There are just too many rough edges. No touchpad, no wifi, and no printing make it a non-starter.

heads

This is a bootable USB stick live system, similar to Tails, uses TOR for anonymous internet, etc. Did not recognize the wifi adapter on the laptop. Wired ethernet works ok. Trackpad does not come up with Tap-to-click. Uses Openbox window mgr and Tor Browser (based on an older version of Firefox). Is extremely lightweight. Will keep the USB stick around, but probably don't have a use for this.

UbuntuStudio 20.04

I have found my distro!  It has everything I want and more pre-installed, is familiar Ubuntu layout, UI is curated and polished, not gratuitous, there is substance behind every element. No obstacles. Anything that doesn't work by default seems to have a config option somewhere, or take a simple package install. Synaptic and the app installer do not have the Sword Project and Xiphos, but there is Diatheke. (Probably need to add the proper repositories). Plenty of media tools to learn! MX Linux is a close second, but this is better laid out.

I have been using Ubuntu Studio now for several weeks, and I am still pleasantly surprised by its depth, smoothness, performance, and ease of use. I don't use the laptop for my main work -- I work at my desk on a Win 10 desktop machine with dual displays. But I highly recommend Ubuntu Studio, and will continue to use it on the laptop.

John Dudeck              Tel: +1-704-588-9891  Cell: +1-803-504-8065
john.dudeck at sim.org                        Charlotte, North Carolina
--
"Interesting how the storms pass and we find
 the rain good for the soil." -- Martin Jordan

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