Robin Laing wrote:
I think the issues with F7 are related to the major changes in the
kernel that are affecting different software applications in different
ways on different pieces of software. (hardware?)
Fortunately I did not have trouble with anything with my hardware on
either the desktop or laptop. The other server Fedora 7 Installations
have not failed anything yet either. I had trouble with a couple of XP
installations on the same hardware though regarding goofy and surprising
failures for mostly hardware related issues.
I did have old computers in the past (A Packard Bell desktop) which
eventually could not be upgraded and another old Toshiba Laptop that
needed to stay behind due to hardware limitations. I guess new hardware
could also work better with older versions compared to the newer versions.
Also, finding some issues with Bugzilla can be a pain for those that
don't want to take the time to learn. Of course if you have an issue
that is slightly related to either the ATI or Nvidia video drivers, you
will have to back out of the closed source driver just to submit a bug
report.
Bug reports, especially regarding X problems seem to be ignored in a lot
of circumstances. Some of the reports are followed-up even if I forget
all about the bug. Others are solved but the bug is not marked as a
duplicate and the fix is not passed on. The hard disk conformance
problem is a good recent example.
There has to be a more cohesive bug reporting tool than current bugzilla.
I am frustrated with F7 and it has greatly delayed the upgrading of my
other machines from FC4 which is working like a dream.
It sounds like the long term spinoff distros which track Red Hat
enterprise versions would fit you better for reliability and at least
security upgrades for the system. I would not know enough to compile
security updates and build source rpms from later distros.
Yes, I submit bug reports if I can find out any details to submit. I am
also running into what seems to be a new issue every other day.
Are you sure the Rawhide repo is not activated? - :-)
Seriously, how is it possible to run into a problem every other day, are
you running MS Linux?
I would like to see F8 delayed or maybe F9 delayed until even the minor
issues are resolved. At least this would give a pretty clean base to
work with F9 from.
I'm for progressional updates with no version in particular. Fedora is
snapshot based but at the same time capped like 2/3 of our oil wells in
the US. I guess that is why I prefer venturing into Development when the
new test phases commence. It might also be why most of my computer
hardware and peripherals work throughout the release cycles.
Personally I think stopping release cycles would do more harm than good.
I do think support for earlier distro versions would allow more
stability, but programs and system hardware would probably stay dormant.
If they work as Goldilocks would have wanted it, fine! I just think it
would mainly overburden the program maintainers and designers if in
house programs.
At present, I cannot show off F7 as a replacement for Windows in any
way. Heck, it is even making me have some thoughts about Windows.
I have to admit that convincing people to use Linux vs. Windows is a
hard thing to accomplish. People are unpredictable by me, but here are
the basic concepts which hold people off from trying Linux.
- They don't use it at work. I will get confused.
- I can't play my games on Linux
Things that get users to make the switch:
- My computer won't boot windows, my grand daughter messed it up.
This happened to me today. The computer was setup to dual boot into
Fedora or Windows. So she booted into Fedora and was ready to go.
Previously this person would boot XP. Since the person is about 100
miles away and I help with computer issues, she took the plunge. Fedora
will probably be priority boot OS for that person for now on. I already
got her accustomed to seamonkey and to a limited extent Openoffice.org
for XP. Conversion should not be too difficult now.
Install Fedora as the default OS and install only a minimal MS limited
system that came with the computer. The person will most likely just
want the default Linux to load and only go to the MS bought with
computer distro to run stuff which is not yet possible with Fedora.
Regarding MS products, I do not think it would be a good escape path.
Jim
--
Remember that there is an outside world to see and enjoy.
-- Hans Liepmann
