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MikeB4

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#239722 1-Aug-2018 09:13
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It maybe just me but 2018 is looking like an annus horibilis for Linux Distributions. Why is this? There seems to be regression in so many of the offerings so far this year especially Fedora 28, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Debian, Mint 19, Manjaro and for special mention Open Suse 15. All of those seem to have gone backwards and the one time darlings of Distributions Ubuntu and Mint are just too buggy for words. I simply cannot see how Ubuntu 18.04 was a suitable LTS candidate. Mint 19 and Fedora 28 frankly should still be in Beta as they are not fit for consumption. Sometimes missing a release date is better than releasing a train wreck.

 

One flavour of Buntu that stands out from the Buntu crowd is Kubuntu, this is relatively stable compared to its cousins but that is not really saying much. On my Linux boxes I have reverted to using Mint 18.3 Cinnamom the best of the bunch in my opinion, simply put it just works.

 

With all the gripes about Windows 10 and MacOS 2018 should have been the year that the various Distributions pulled out the stops and released the best that they could do and really show that there are viable alternatives to the Redmond and Cupertino offerings. At least Google are shining the Linux light with ChromeOS. Now others mileage may well be completely different to mine, I have written this based on my experiences with the 2018 releases to date. There is of course another round later this year lets hope the menu is more palatable.


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michaelmurfy
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  #2066085 1-Aug-2018 09:19
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I use Solus Linux Gnome (https://solus-project.com/) on my Desktop along with Debian on my servers. Solus is very stable and fast and is by-far my favorite distribution.

 

Budgie is good but I have always used Gnome. Been playing No Man's Sky thanks to Wine + Lutris and have most of the apps (both Windows and Linux) installed and running no problems.

 

I do however agree with Ubuntu 18.04 - what a trainwreck for a desktop distribution.





Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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MikeB4

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  #2066091 1-Aug-2018 09:37
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On my Server I am using Redhat. I gave Solus a try last year but it was a nightmare to to install or should I say not install. I gave up. Maybe I should revisit it.


afe66
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  #2066092 1-Aug-2018 09:38
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I have never rushed to install the latest iteration of Linux, as I fall in the "if it aim broke don't fix it" school of operating systems. (I do update security patches)

If my machine is working fine and there are no new features that I NEED, I'll just wait.



tchart
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  #2066100 1-Aug-2018 09:44
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1999 The year of Linux!

 

2000 The year of Linux!

 

2001 The year of Linux!

 

2002 The year of Linux!

 

...

 

2017 The year of Linux!

 

2018 The year of Linux!

 

 

 

Yeah. Nah.


koolme2
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  #2066104 1-Aug-2018 09:47
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I agree, if your linux is ok let it be no need to update it except security patches iff needed

MikeB4

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  #2066105 1-Aug-2018 09:51
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tchart:

 

1999 The year of Linux!

 

2000 The year of Linux!

 

2001 The year of Linux!

 

2002 The year of Linux!

 

...

 

2017 The year of Linux!

 

2018 The year of Linux!

 

 

 

Yeah. Nah.

 

 

Remember Android and ChromeOS are Linux based as is most PVR's, media boxes , Web servers....... Its been the year(s) of Linux for a long time


MikeB4

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  #2066127 1-Aug-2018 10:13
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koolme2: I agree, if your linux is ok let it be no need to update it except security patches iff needed

 

On my "work" machines absolutely but I also have a couple of test machines that are trashed on a regularly.


 
 
 

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SpartanVXL
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  #2066145 1-Aug-2018 10:29
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We'll see how win10 keeps going.

 

 

I think I'll switch only if M$ ever pulls the DaaS sub for Windows stunt. That'd be the iron pipe that breaks the camels back and would make quite a few of my gamer friends at the very least try out SteamOS.

michaelmurfy
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  #2066156 1-Aug-2018 10:46
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SpartanVXL: We'll see how win10 keeps going. I think I'll switch only if M$ ever pulls the DaaS sub for Windows stunt. That'd be the iron pipe that breaks the camels back and would make quite a few of my gamer friends at the very least try out SteamOS.

 

Solus has very good Steam support with full Linux integration. I'd actually recommend it over SteamOS.





Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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robfish
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  #2066179 1-Aug-2018 11:06
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I have left my server (MythTV, File server, Web server, EMBY server) on Ubuntu (MythBuntu) 16.04

 

but my desktop has not had any problems since upgrading from Mint 18.3 to 19.

 

I also have no problems with Zoneminder and Homeassistant on Debian 9 at home and Debian 10 on a play machine at work.





Rob

SpartanVXL
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  #2066203 1-Aug-2018 11:21
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michaelmurfy:

SpartanVXL: We'll see how win10 keeps going. I think I'll switch only if M$ ever pulls the DaaS sub for Windows stunt. That'd be the iron pipe that breaks the camels back and would make quite a few of my gamer friends at the very least try out SteamOS.

 

Solus has very good Steam support with full Linux integration. I'd actually recommend it over SteamOS.

 

 

I didn't know about Solus's steam work, thanks I think i'll give this a try as well.

openmedia
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  #2066244 1-Aug-2018 12:23
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What's the issues with Fedora 28 as it is working really well for me on my new laptop.

 

Just trying out Ubuntu 18.04.1 for MythTV which appears to have a couple of niggles, but nothing serious.





Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.


irongarment
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  #2066287 1-Aug-2018 13:05
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Linux still working great on my laptop. I expect it to do so this year as well.

MikeB4

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  #2066289 1-Aug-2018 13:08
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@openmedia 

 

I don’t want to sound harsh but Fedora 28 KDE just seemed to lack quality control. It simply isn’t good enough to throw some code together and send it to sea. The networking was poor as were the fonts and general design. In 2018 connecting something like a phone should be a no brainer. Graphics drivers are just so bad that it was like death from a thousand cuts.

 

The Gnome spin is better but only just. It is buggy and full of lack of attention to detail and consistency throughout the experience. Some Apps seem more inclined to crash than to work as they should which is very disappointing and on occasion the OS in general would throw in the towel.

 

I have been using Linux for more years than I am prepared to calculate and have used Redhat since the 90s, it is disappointing that in 2018 I have to wrestle an OS to get it to do the basics. If Mint can get it right and Kubuntu can get a KDE spin to work then Fedora with its history should be able to walk it but they seem to be talking a track to obscurity if they cannot lift their game.


Varkk
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  #2066292 1-Aug-2018 13:29
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Was that a clean install of the KDE spin? My home desktop is a Fedora KDE 28 machine but it was upgraded from older versions. I have not seen any of the issues you mention. It could be the fact I am still on Xorg and not Wayland so my video drivers are fine. Also have an older Nvidia card so don't need the latest driver features.


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