Desktop Linux Distribution. { Showdown } Jeff Osier-Mixon

Transcription

1 Desktop Linux Distribution { Showdown } Jeff Osier-Mixon

2 David Bailey

3 David Ball

4 Leffe60

5 *_* on Flickr

6 Arne List

7 Desktop Distribution Showcase Year of the Linux Desktop A Look at Popular Desktop Distros Ultra distro showdown challenge: Comparing Three Popular Distros Conclusion

8 2000 Was the "Year of the GNU/Linux Desktop" for Me -- Terry Hancock, May 30, : The Year of the Linux Desktop? -- rogere, Mar 22, : Year of the Linux Desktop? -- Maureen O Gara, Jan 1, 2000 Is 2008 the Year of the Linux Desktop? -- Joe Brockmeier, Nov 15, 2007 Linux breaks desktop barrier in 2004: Torvalds -- ComputerWorld, Jan 15, 2004 This is the Year of the Linux Desktop Breakout -- Jim Zemlin, Aug 28, 2008

9 Whither YOLD? Linux is: friendly works on tons of hardware easy to install comes with a ton of apps FREE Is the challenge gone?

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11 The Truth Desktop Linux is awesome, but it isn t compellingly better for most users than popular proprietary operating systems Enterprise app lock-in wins App (esp. office) interoperability wins Marketing machines & product wins win Free scares people It doesn t matter WE love it

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13 Semi-Embedded & Tiny Distros Puppy Linux Angstrom ArchOS Poky Ubuntu Mobile, Ubuntu Netbook Remix Also, mobile platforms: MeeGo, Android, OpenMoko (Maemo, Moblin,

14 A look at popular Linux desktop distributions

15 What is Desktop Linux? Nearly all come from: Debian Slackware Red Hat to a lesser extent: Gentoo DIY Info thanks to distrowatch.com and

16 Distribution Family Tree

17 Most Popular Desktop Distros History: Debian Sponsor: Canonical Package Mgr: Apt /.deb Current Vn: Est. Users: 12M+* History: Red Hat Sponsor: Red Hat Package Mgr: Yum /.rpm Current Vn: 13 Est. Users: many millions * *Chris Kenyon, Canonical VP, 4/10 * fedoraproject.org/wiki/statistics History: Slackware Sponsor: Novell Package Mgr: Yast, Zypp /.rpm Current Vn: 11.3 Est. Users: 3M+* * opensuse.org/opensuse:statistics

18 Just How Friendly Is Linux?

19 Philip Kromer

20 Showdown Rules Current publicly-available version: Ubuntu Fedora 13 OpenSUSE 11.3 Judged on clock time (where appropriate), ease of use, and aesthetics Values converted to an overall rating All judging done by me, except #7

21 Showdown Configuration Performed inside VirtualBox VM on host: dual-core Pentium D 3.5GHz 2GB RAM Ubuntu 8.10 (Linux ) VirtualBox VM: 1GB RAM, 8MB VRAM 20GB HDD ACPI off, audio off, networking on

22 Showdown Outline installation time to live startup time, power-on to usable desktop installing applications from repository or from download system configuration tools online help setting up new hardware (Epson scanner) setting up network services (Wi-Fi, Samba, NFS) one live activity at audience's request

23 Paramount Pictures Corporation

24 #0: Installation Install from downloaded.iso image into virtual machine Begins with initial boot Setup includes configuration steps, partitioning & formatting, etc. Install includes all steps up to restart Post-install includes anything done after subsequent boot & login

25 #0: Installation: Ubuntu setup: 4m install: 15m post-install: 2m

26 #0: Installation: Fedora setup: 3m install: 18m post-install: 3m

27 #0: Installation: opensuse setup: 3m install: 20m post-install: 1m

28 #0: Installation: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 9/10 setup: 4m install: 15m post-install: 2m Ease of use: 8/10 Aesthetics: 7/10 Notes: marketing, downloads Clock time: 8/10 setup: 3m install: 18m post-install: 3m Ease of use: 8/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Notes: solid & basic Clock time: 7/10 setup: 3m install: 20m post-install: 3m Ease of use: 8/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Notes: love the onescreen approach Score: 24/30 Score: 24/30 Score: 23/30

29 #1: Time to Live After installation & post-install Boot-to-Login starts with power-on & BIOS message, ends with login window Does not include time typing password Login-to-Desktop starts when password is entered, ends with desktop available & mouse responsive, no hourglass icon

30 #1: Time to Live: Ubuntu boot-to-login: 46s login-desktop: 15s

31 #1: Time to Live: Fedora boot-to-login: 49s login-desktop: 18s

32 #1: Time to Live: opensuse boot-to-login: 42s login-desktop: 21s

33 #1: Time to Live: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 Clock time: 8/10 Clock time: 9/10 49s boot-to-login boot-to-login: 46s 18s login-desktop login-desktop: 15s Ease of use: 9/10 Ease of use: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Notes: simple login, animated loading Notes: simple login, animated loading Score: 27/30 Score: 26/30 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 9/10 42s boot-to-login 21s login-desktop Ease of use: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Notes: simple login, animated loading Score: 27/30

34 #2: Installing Applications Application: TwitUX (twitter client) Location: official repository Process: locate using graphical tools, click install button Find time measured from clicking package manager to clicking install button Install time measured from install button to application readiness

35 #2: Installing Applications: Ubuntu find time: 30s install time: 50s

36 #2: Installing Applications: Fedora find time: 30s install time: 72s

37 #2: Installing Applications: opensuse find time: 120s install time: 55s

38 #2: Installing Applications: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 9/10 find time: 30s install time: 50s Ease of use: 9/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Notes: rock simple if I know what I m looking for Clock time: 8/10 find time: 30s install time: 72s Ease of use: 10/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Notes: also ran it at the end, nice touch Clock time: 6/10 find time: 120s install time: 55s Ease of use: 7/10 Aesthetics: 7/10 Notes: had to convince it not to update everything Score: 26/30 Score: 26/30 Score: 20/30

39 #3: System Configuration Tools Activity: install a network printer Printer: HP LJ1100 on machine pleiades Process: find printer admin tool, install printer, print test page Clock time: measured from first clicking admin tool to test page queued

40 #3: System Configuration: Ubuntu clock time: 4m

41 #3: System Configuration: Fedora Clock time: 3m

42 #3: System Configuration: opensuse clock time: 3m

43 #3: System Configuration Tools: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 4m=7/10 Ease of use: 8/10 Aesthetics: 7/10 Notes: long driver search, too many driver options Clock time: 3m=8/10 Ease of use: 6/10 Aesthetics: 6/10 Notes: asked for root password 4 times, confusing & had to use IP address Clock time: 3m=8/10 Ease of use: 7/10 Aesthetics: 6/10 Notes: asked for root password 3 times, confusing Score: 22/30 Score: 20/30 Score: 21/30

44 #4: Online Help Search three types of help: Included system help Official web-based documentation Community help Search online using the phrase distro help install network printer Rate by search time, helpfulness, aesthetics

45 #4: Online Help: Ubuntu system help: 40s official docs: 50s, ancient community: 99s

46 #4: Online Help: Fedora system help: 40s official docs: 50s community: 99s

47 #4: Online Help: opensuse system help: 40s official docs: 50s community: 99s

48 #4: Online Help: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 System Help: 24/30 System Help: 15/30 System Help: 15/30 Clock time: 6s=10/10 Helpfulness: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Official Docs: 19/30 Clock time: 12s=7/10 Helpfulness: 3/10 Aesthetics: 5/10 Official Docs: 27/30 Clock time: 12s=7/10 Helpfulness: 3/10 Aesthetics: 5/10 Official Docs: 27/30 Clock time: 21s = 9/10 Helpfulness: 4/10 Aesthetics: 6/10 Clock time: 23s=9/10 Helpfulness: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Clock time: 23s=9/10 Helpfulness: 9/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Community Help: 23/30 Community Help: 21/30 Community Help: 21/30 Clock time: 40s=8/10 Helpfulness: 7/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Score: 66/90> 22/30 Clock time: 120s=6/10 Helpfulness: 7/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Score: 63/90> 21/30 Clock time: 75s=7/10 Helpfulness: 6/10 Aesthetics: 8/10 Score: 63/90> 21/30

49 #5: Setting Up New Hardware Activity: install & use 4 year old scanner Epson Perfection 3170 via USB Install xsane if required Decline proprietary drivers Setup time: software, driver Scan time: launch software, preview, scan

50 #5: New Hardware: Ubuntu setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

51 #5: New Hardware: Fedora setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

52 #5: New Hardware: opensuse setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

53 #5: Setting Up New Hardware: Results Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 4/10 setup time: 6m scan time: N/A Ease of use: 2/10 Aesthetics: 1/10 Notes: xsane in repository, no driver offered Clock time: 5/10 setup time: 7m scan time: N/A Ease of use: 3/10 Aesthetics: 1/10 Notes: xsane easy install, no driver offered Clock time: 7/10 setup time: 2m scan time: N/A Ease of use: 5/10 Aesthetics: 3/10 Notes: xsane already installed, proprietary driver required Score: 9/30 Score: 9/30 Score: 15/30

54 #6: Setting Up Network Services Activate network services: Wired ethernet Wireless ethernet (NOTE: used live CD on Thinkpad T43 laptop) Samba file sharing Rated by setup time for each, ease of use, and aesthetics for setup process

55 #6: Network Services: Ubuntu wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 2m

56 #6: Network Services: Fedora wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 5m+

57 #6: Network Services: opensuse wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 2m

58 #6: Setting Up Network Services Ubuntu Fedora 13 opensuse 11.3 Clock time: 9/10 wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s samba: 2m Ease of use: 8/10 Aesthetics: 9/10 Notes: nice - prompt to install samba, can t without net Clock time: 6/10 wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s samba: N/A Ease of use: 6/10 Aesthetics: 5/10 Notes: Clock time: 9/10 wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s samba: 2m Ease of use: 9/10 Aesthetics: 10/10 Notes: wow, many network config options available Score: 26/30 Score: 17/30 Score: 28/30

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60 Yann Richard

61 #0: installation #1: time to live #2: installing applications #3: system configuration #4: online help #5: new hardware #6: network services TOTAL SCORE

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63 Thank You! Jeffrey Osier-Mixon 408 MR OSIER