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OK, I admit it, I am a failure. How many times do ex-Windoze folk utter this phrase (at least to themselves) before they go back to Windoze? I know in the past, I always did. Whatever I couldn't get right, I eventually gave up trying and in time, fell off the Linux bandwagon. This week, I am rejoicing in the glory of my dual boot machine. I run Debian, so I can hopefully someday actually help someone achieve a better running computer. Little tutorials and such. But I also now run Linux Mint, due to a myriad of obstacles in the latest Ubuntu issue (my other psyche refuses to sole distro boot). Most of these issues are my own doing, but still, they frustrate the Windoze tweaked minds. What I have discovered is a distribution that I don't differ from philosophically. You see, what I want is free as in Open Source or actually freeware, either works for me. But also, Working, and I mean world class kick butt, impresses advanced computer users, WORKING! The really strange thing here is, Mint, is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian. None of the secondary partners denies it's parentage. Still, lately, and probably in denial, I see a conundrum of values that don't always make sense to me. Debian, in all it's glory, is the true ideaology on high. If it doesn't meet the very strict freedom definition, it's not in the distro. Versus the otherworldly, Mint, anything goes, as long as it's free focus. So what have I learned? Simple, greater minds than me have already run the gambit of very likely everywhere we wish to go with a working desktop. There is an easier way to do it, and it's likely in the repositories, if we can just fgure out which way to go. The newest version of Mint has taught me this. Everything is so click, point and shoot, install easy it is almost freaky. It works better than Windoze works, in that behalf, and due to its roots, it bests it in every measure, for me. The really weird thing to me, is this is the exact same user friendliness that machiner was writing about when he discussed his experience getting his last business card set. See, those that have their Debian machines rightly configured, go through life with a click and install ease that is often lost to newbies. My Java post is a great example. I needed Java to work in Debian, or my Songbird (and how I do love it) wouldn't run my iPod correctly. So I set about making my Java work, using all my web references, and finally got it working and running well. Then I added this into the blog as a how-to, and machiner replies "why didn't you just DL it via the repository?" (I paraphrase). Well, duh, that's right, why didn't I? Because his is the better answer. I just never got there. You see, the right repository, and then using it, and getting a package that stays correctly up to date and works flawlessly is the way to go. This is exactly the values issues I see, is I can have a True Debian Experience, but my computer won't see the news on the Internet, at least not the video portion of it. I likely can't hear some of my DRM laced multimedia library, and all in all, I wonder to myself what the rest of the world gets to see and hear what I don't. And here's the rub to that; everyone I know is tweaking their machines to achieve the exact opposite. I want to see and hear the news. I want to run my multimedia files. I want my network card to work. I know I'm asking a lot, but I still want these things. And so does a very large percentage of the world. We are spoiled. Let me explain what stole my heart lately, it is a PC that is one of two in my life that truly works like I do. It's very impressive, thanks to Compiz Fusion and Linux Mint's standard setup. You see, all my multimedia worked, right out of the base install. As if that wasn't great enough (and it's not - at least not by OS standards), I merely set my WEP key, and I am wireless. Let's see, now I'm liking this, so how about Songbird, hmm, it's says I can install from the repository. I will try, right up and working, even the iPod sync. OK, I am feeling a heartstring pull. I've been on this new distribution for less than an hour, and I am having not one pulse of a headache. What's this, to really enjoy the experience, I should enable some of the features and annimations of Compiz Fusion? OK, I'm a dummy, I'm definitely falling for this new OS, so why not screw it all up. Half an hour later, to steal a quote from one of the best movies of all times "I am standing here beside myself". I am truly impressed by this machine, and it's wowing everyone that sees it. What kills me, is IF I had understood all of what machiner said in the past, my computer likely would be doing all this about 2 months ago, and I would never want anything but Debian. All Linux Mint does, is simplify the implementation that is already available from Debian. But for me, for now, my desktop of choice is Linux Mint, a grandchild of Debian. This kid is basically a newborne, very wet behind the ears, but it is truly elegance, in a mortal sort of way. We all hope our children will rise above our successes. Well, Debian, first you fathered Ubuntu, now, you have a grandchild, and your heritage shines on! I'll be studying up on my repositiories, and when I complete this, I'll finally try to close that first door, how to install Songbird in debian. If you haven't looked over Songbird, yet, you may just want to beat me to the keyboard, on this one (it's worth it)! ezsurfer
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