Wednesday, 09 January 2008

VS

For awhile Ubuntu has been the “go-to-guy” for a Linux distribution (distro) looking to port Windows users to the Linux desktop environment, and for good reason. Ubuntu is an excellent Linux distro with many alluring qualities to draw a Windows user looking for a change. Today I want to bring another player to the spotlight; PCLinuxOS.

First let’s start with a little background on both Linux distro’s:

is a community developed, linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.” The word Ubuntu (pronounced “oo-BOON-too”) is an African word meaning ‘Humanity to others’, or ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.Ubuntu promises the following:
  • Ubuntu will always be free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates.
  • Ubuntu comes with full commercial support from Canonical (the European-based company that sponsors Ubuntu) and hundreds of companies around the world.
  • Ubuntu includes the very best translations and accessibility infrastructure that the free software community has to offer.
  • Ubuntu CDs contain only free software applications; we encourage you to use free and open source software, improve it and pass it on.
Click here to read the Ubuntu FAQs. Click here to see what products Ubuntu offers. Finally, click here to get Ubuntu.
PCLinuxOS - is distributed as a LiveCD, which can also be installed to a local hard drive. When used as a LiveCD, it can work with a USB Key (or thumbdrive), where the user’s configuration and personal data are saved. Once locally installed on a PC’s hard drive, the user of PCLinuxOS can add, remove or update all desired software titles (packages) by utilizing the Advanced Packaging Tool (or APT), a package management system (originally from the Debian distribution), together with Synaptic, a GUI frontend to APT.PCLinuxOS boasts:
  • Fast bootup.
  • Large library of software.
  • Compatibility with many printers and other hardware
  • Everything you need for day to day home desktop or small business computing is available in PCLinuxOS.
Click here to read the PCLinuxOS User Guide wiki (very helpful). Click here to read the PCLinuxOS Magazine. Click here for the MyPCLinuxOS blog. Finally, click here to get PSLinuxOS.
Now, let’s build on the resources already available on the web for a Ubuntu/PCLinuxOS comparison, and avoid any redundant data (we all know there’s already enough of that on the web).Here are the best articles I could find on the subject of Ubuntu vs. PCLinuxOS:

As you can see I do not offer any personal opinions on this subject due to my lack of experience with both OS’s. Although I have installed Ubuntu several times, and actually ran it as a home OS for a few months, I’m declining to comment on the superiority of either of these Linux distro’s due to my utter inexperience with PCLinuxOS. I will say this; Ubuntu is a very attractive option to the Windows environment, but still takes some Linux knowledge to really utilize the OS. However, the average user just looking surf the web, do email, and use the OS as a multimedia center…Ubuntu is all inclusive and very user friendly.

If any eJabs readers have tried one or the other, or both…please give us your much valued comments and opinions!

Lastly, the authors of PCLinuxOS magazine offer an article (a little bias I’m sure, but good nonetheless) on Vista vs PCLinuxOS in the April 2007 issue. Click here to read the magazine in .pdf format (scroll down to the bottom as it’s the last article in the magazine).

Sumber : unix.web.id