Desktop Linux Distribution - Linux Foundation Events

Desktop Linux Distribution

{ Showdown }

Jeff Osier-Mixon twitter @jefro.net

David Bailey

David Ball

Leffe60

*_* on Flickr

Arne List

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

2000 Was the "Year of the GNU/Linux Desktop" for Me -- Terry Hancock, May 30, 2006

2006: The Year of the Linux Desktop? -- rogere, Mar 22, 2006

2001: 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

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

http://www.sff.net/people/lucy-snyder

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

Semi-Embedded & “Tiny” Distros • • • • • •

Puppy Linux Angstrom ArchOS Poky Ubuntu Mobile, Ubuntu Netbook Remix Also, mobile platforms: MeeGo, Android, OpenMoko (Maemo, Moblin,

Jrod2@wc

A look at popular Linux desktop distributions

What is Desktop Linux? Nearly all come from: • Debian • Slackware • Red Hat to a lesser extent:

• Gentoo • … DIY Info thanks to distrowatch.com and http://futurist.se/gldt/

Distribution Family Tree

http://futurist.se/gldt/

Most Popular Desktop Distros

History: Debian Sponsor: Canonical Package Mgr: Apt / .deb Current Vn: 10.04 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

Just How Friendly Is Linux?

Philip Kromer

Showdown Rules • Current publicly-available version: – Ubuntu 10.04 – 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

Showdown Configuration • Performed inside VirtualBox VM on host: – dual-core Pentium D 3.5GHz – 2GB RAM – Ubuntu 8.10 (Linux 2.6.27)

• VirtualBox VM: – 1GB RAM, 8MB VRAM – 20GB HDD – ACPI off, audio off, networking on

Showdown Outline 0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

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

© Paramount Pictures Corporation

#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

#0: Installation: Ubuntu

setup: 4m install: 15m post-install: 2m

#0: Installation: Fedora

setup: 3m install: 18m post-install: 3m

#0: Installation: openSUSE

setup: 3m install: 20m post-install: 1m

#0: Installation: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#1: Time to Live: Ubuntu

boot-to-login: 46s login-desktop: 15s

#1: Time to Live: Fedora

boot-to-login: 49s login-desktop: 18s

#1: Time to Live: openSUSE

boot-to-login: 42s login-desktop: 21s

#1: Time to Live: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#2: Installing Applications: Ubuntu

find time: 30s install time: 50s

#2: Installing Applications: Fedora

find time: 30s install time: 72s

#2: Installing Applications: openSUSE

find time: 120s install time: 55s

#2: Installing Applications: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#3: System Configuration: Ubuntu

clock time: 4m

#3: System Configuration: Fedora

Clock time: 3m

#3: System Configuration: openSUSE

clock time: 3m

#3: System Configuration Tools: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#4: Online Help: Ubuntu

system help: 40s official docs: 50s, ancient community: 99s

#4: Online Help: Fedora

system help: 40s official docs: 50s community: 99s

#4: Online Help: openSUSE

system help: 40s official docs: 50s community: 99s

#4: Online Help: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#5: New Hardware: Ubuntu

setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

#5: New Hardware: Fedora

setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

#5: New Hardware: openSUSE

setup time: 40s scan time: 0s

#5: Setting Up New Hardware: Results Ubuntu 10.04

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

#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

#6: Network Services: Ubuntu

wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 2m

#6: Network Services: Fedora

wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 5m+

#6: Network Services: openSUSE

wired: 0s wi-fi: 0s Samba: 2m

#6: Setting Up Network Services Ubuntu 10.04

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

Yann Richard

#0: installation

24

24

23

#1: time to live

27

26

27

#2: installing applications

26

26

20

#3: system configuration

22

20

21

#4: online help

22

21

21

#5: new hardware

9

9

15

#6: network services

26

17

28

156

144

155

TOTAL SCORE

anyjazz65@Flickr

Thank You!

Jeffrey Osier-Mixon 408 MR OSIER [email protected] http://www.jefro.net