Hello Everyone,
Here are some news tips and updates for Debian and its alied distros.
During April 07, Ubuntu will come out with a multi-media centric distro called UbuntuStudio http://ubuntustudio.org/ https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuStudio
There is also another media centric Ubuntu called Ubuntu Multimedia Center http://ubuntummc.com/
During that time the new Ubuntu versions 7.04 will be released too. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue28
Debian 4 which is still under 'Testing' and will be finally called Etch http://www.us.debian.org/releases/testing/ can be downloaded for trial using a small netinstall iso http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ from http://www.us.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ The netinstall iso is the base system only. But saves download of heavy dvds for testing. There are CD isos too but I don't know which iso contains what packages.
I downloaded the netinstall iso which was 130 MB and used 'installgui' at boot prompt to use and study its GUI installer. Its really great and very good for non-experts to try out Debian. It works smoothly just like Fedora's Anaconda. Its kernel is 2.6.17. During installation, the Desktop option was selected during package selection and it download 540 MB of Gnome desktop. My 400 MB triband account is screaming and hysterical at the heavy downloads this month. :P Gnome in Etch RC1 is 2.15. In Ubuntu 6.10 it is 2.16. After install, the updates prompter in Etch states that kernel 2.6.18 image is available. So thats a plus point for Debian Etch.
Gnome in Etch is a bit buggy. Its printer tool allows you to select and choose printers but at the final 'Apply' button, the entire process vanishes into thin air. You are back to square 1. The best way to setup printers in _any_ linux distro is to ensure that CUPS is running and use a web browser and type localhost:631 in the address bar. 631 is the CUPS port for printing. If you have enabled network administration ( see docs on the CUPS website) you can access your printer from across different machines by typing Your_Printer_PC_IP_Address:631 If you are a command line fan or X is not loaded then use the lynx text browser to do the same in command line. 'lynx localhost:631' You can change printer settings too, like page size, resolution etc.
Another bug with gnome is that its automatic NetworkManager applet initially detects the connection established but after a reboot or two, it does not even detect the network device. All this while network is actually working and giving internet access.
But Gnome in etch packs in some more packages and utilities compared to Ubuntu 6.10. It has a separate CD burning utility ( cannot recall its name) just like K3B in KDE. The default in-built burning utility still exists.
The best option then would be to use both Gnome and KDE in Debian Etch and for that request someone who has its DVD to make a copy for you. ;)
Regards,
Rony.
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