Damn Small Linux - Not!

braveerudite · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 7

1. They create DSL-N but they expect us to figure how to use it on our own. What are we psychics with special powers that can figure out what each geek term means on their menus? Why not use simple understanding word for what their options do?

2. No DSL-Wiki, WTF is 2006, everyone knows how useful a wiki can be.

3. You know why Ubuntu is so popular? Because is user freindly.

When I go to shut down DSL-N a windows pops up and asked me if I want to save my settings before shutting down. I select yes but then again , How do I save my settings? You expect me to go to the forums and ask for something simple like that?

I think I know why I didn't see an options on the menus for saving my DLS-N settings. Most likely is there but under some nerd/geek name like:

X-40carajetion <---------Nerd/Geek terms developers give to simple fuction like saving you DLS-N settings.

I have a sujestion, how about creating an option in the DSL-N menus named:

Save DSL-N settings <--------------None geek/nerd and understandable term. (For human beings)

You get my point?

When I first read about DSL-N I though it was a great idea, but I'm very disappointed by the poor support is given to it. I don't understand how developers even bother to try to create a great idea but provide no reading support for it. Is like they create a Distribution for themselves and want everyone to figure out everything thru forums. Forums should be an option to get help for difficult stuff and not something so stupid as wasting my time trying to figure out how to save my settings and boot them later.

A DSL-N Wiki will solve many problems to newcomers like me, but until then I am staying away from this one.

Waste of time. (I feel better now)

dougz · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 29

[quote]3. You know why Ubuntu is so popular? Because is user freindly. [/quote]
I think you're partially right. Shuttleworth's money (along with a very solid vision) resulted in a very friendly beginner's distro. The Ubuntu user community is also a great asset. But you're also comparing watermelons to cherries in comparing Ubuntu to DSL-N. Megabytes == userfriendly.

OTOH, I've been trying out various ways to get a good small distro for an older laptop. I've looked at DSL, Puppy, Feather, SLAX and a number of other small distros.

I use Ubuntu Dapper on my main box. I like it pretty well, although I was one of those whose system was broken by the by the mistaken X update. [b]It really is a bummer when you can't log in, first thing in the morning.[/b] Here's the story -- [url]http://www.ubuntu.com/FixForUpgradeIssue[/url]

Mistakes happen and they are going to figure out how it happened so they can avoid doing it again. Responsible.

So, if I like Ubuntu enough to forgive them for this, why and I looking for a light weight distro for a laptop?

It isn't easy to trim down Ubuntu. Part of the reason Ubuntu is friendly and intuitive is that they have thrown hundreds megabytes at the problem. There have been a number of abandoned projects to produce a lightweight Ubuntu. It really isn't easy.

I've been reading up on how to do it. Best way turns out to be to start with a command line-only (no GUI) Server install and separately install the X server, window manager, and apps of interest. (Xubuntu is lighter than Ubuntu, but is by no means light.)

I've tried this with XFCE and Fluxbox. You still have to install apps and tweak the menus. Doable, but lots of work. Downside -- you're pretty much on your own. Most folks are running Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu with less tweaks. And then you get to do it again in six months. (I prefer clean installs to Upgrade.)

In fact, the best way to appreciate a lightweight distro like DSL-N is take the Ubuntu Server and do what I did. I think that you might develop some appreciation for the craftsmanship required to make a small distro this usable.

If size isn't a consideration, you might be better off with Ubuntu (or Mepis, Fedora...). If you prefer small, try Puppy (but you will always be running as root).

DSL & DSL-N are relatively low budget and have relatively small user communities. It takes a bit more effort to understand these distros. For many of us, the effort is well worthwhile. With DSL-N, we have the "pleasure" of being early adopters. No wiki, yet. OTOH, the DSL/DSL-N user community is pretty helpful.

Also, the Fluxbox GUI makes it possible to carry around a secure Linux on USB pendrive or mini-CD, which is great for troubleshooting. Fluxbox is also the basis of a number of other system-administrator oriented distros. Check Distrowatch. Lots of distros owe a lot to DSL.

Many distros; pick what you like. Personally, I think DSL-N is very promising.

WDef · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 20

The topic starter wouldn't be the first to get annoyed at the lack of documentation re either dsl-n or dsl, or many other distros. There was another slightly p'd off post like this not long ago.

Regardless - you miss the main point about dsl-n (said elsewhere in this forum more than once by others) - it's not even an official release yet. That's what the release numbers < 1.0 mean. It's in the developmental stage - users are guinea pigs at present - and [i]that's as it should be[/i]. That's how things are often done in the open source world.

So it's hardly a newbie's distro just at the moment. To the contrary, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to Joe Public just yet unless he's been kicking around with regular dsl for some time and has a feeling for the "dsl way".

Also, I might point out how popular dsl has become, despite what I guess can be a challenging learning curve for beginners. Can I suggest: accept the challenge. That's how I started getting interested in linux, and it's rewarding.

cyanescent · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

well that's interesting.. one of the reasons I switched was because ubuntu became so slow it took 10 minutes to startup, and 30 seconds to load the menu in xfce.

on a 3Ghz machine.

then I realised its so damn difficult to stop programs from starting up at boot. Sometimes they would load regardless of the SysV scripts...

thanks for your post dougz I will try your suggestion

- Niel

ian_the_great · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 9 Location: england

well, i think you have to remember that this is still in development its only in the version 3 stages! besides, i like "exploring" dsl-n to find out what everything does! and, having a forum like this gives you an oppertunity to get long term support for free.

bostonvaulter · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 31

[quote="braveerudite"]When I go to shut down DSL-N a windows pops up and asked me if I want to save my settings before shutting down. I select yes but then again , How do I save my settings? You expect me to go to the forums and ask for something simple like that?

I think I know why I didn't see an options on the menus for saving my DLS-N settings.
[/quote]

I think he has a good point here. It isn't immediately obvious, on the quickstart help page that comes with dsl and dsl-n where exactly you go to save your setting for the first time. For reference you go to the control panel and click backup/restore setting. I was unable to find that anywhere in the documentation.

Also when the menu comes up about saving your settings before you exit, and you haven't chosen a device to save your settings, then it should prompt you on where you want to save your settings to.

just my 2 cents.

roberts · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 320 Location: OC CA USA

[quote="bostonvaulter"][quote="braveerudite"]When I go to shut down DSL-N a windows pops up and asked me if I want to save my settings before shutting down. I select yes but then again , How do I save my settings? You expect me to go to the forums and ask for something simple like that?

I think I know why I didn't see an options on the menus for saving my DLS-N settings.
[/quote]

I think he has a good point here. It isn't immediately obvious, on the quickstart help page that comes with dsl and dsl-n where exactly you go to save your setting for the first time. For reference you go to the control panel and click backup/restore setting. I was unable to find that anywhere in the documentation.

Also when the menu comes up about saving your settings before you exit, and you haven't chosen a device to save your settings, then it should prompt you on where you want to save your settings to.

just my 2 cents.[/quote]

The date of this post is after the posting of RC4. This has been addressed in RC4. Please try to stay current during the testing period. We have not yet had our first release.