Comments on: 5 Reasons to Choose Debian Linux Over Ubuntu Linux

By: Benjamin Hardy

Benjamin Hardy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:06:00 +0000

What is so buggy about Ubuntu? I’ve seen mostly improvements on my laptop (Compaq Presario with Celeron M), maybe you haven’t had a good experience, once? But how does that project to everyone else for all time to come? Please, to the author and commentors, please use better logic.

I think one of the most interferring new features added to Ubuntu (I forget which version) was PulseAudio, and really only because the Ubuntu developers did a poor job implementing it. However, since then it has improved and is now quite usable.

If you are concerned about stability I suggest to anyone wanting to try Ubuntu to first try out a LTS long term support release.

Debian is a fine distro too, but I really recommend it only to people who are familiar to Linux and want something to work on a server or old computer, or just as an ultra-stable desktop. However, to get the most new stuff out of Linux, you have to get the testing or unstable repositories… and then the experience will probably become more compariable to Ubuntu, however, I think Ubuntu is just much more user friendly.

The companies argument is just… weak. Are you self-employed? A rogue developer for hire that secretly despises the people who contract you for work? Are you not for making money? Or do you live in an alley and eat at a soup kitchen?

Also the Free software argument is also weak. FSF people are so hard line they can’t even stand Mozilla copyrighting it’s Firefox name and logo… let’s just throw that out and use the code that Mozilla and it’s contributors made and call it.. idk.. Iceweasel!! yay! *palm to face* I’m not some copyright everything and punish the infringers kind of guy, but I have some respect for the people (you know a company *wink* of people or maybe just one person) that create something and give some kind of terms of use.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:11:04 +0000

You pro-debian guys I understand your point of view. But could you please PROVE (screenshots, benchmarks, reviews, articles, interviews, whatever) that:
- debian is more stable than ubuntu
- debian is more secure than ubuntu

Because so far using ubuntu I’ve never had any problems with that. And I’m a business user/developer so I tweak my machine a lot.

Cheers

By: Barry

Barry — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:04:30 +0000

Who cares about mainstream, I want stability. Windows is like balancing on a beach ball. Sooner or later (mostly sooner) you are going to fall off. Debian is like standing on the ground, your only going to fall if your drunk.

By: Ampers Taylor

Ampers Taylor — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:32:29 +0000

Rather a few errors in your article I am afraid.

Taking just one as an example, Ubuntu is run by a non-profit-making foundation and does not belong to Canonical.

Canonical is a profit-making company, owned by the guy who also heads, not only the non-profit-making foundations, but a few others as well. Including helping Africans in Southern Africa where he hails from. He sold his company at the age of 24 for $580,000,000 dollars or so, a point that makes a lot of English people
hate him. But Canonical deals with support to Corporates. This is beneficial to Ubuntu as it enables Ubuntu to become wider known. For example the French Gendarmerie have around 70,000 PCs with Ubuntu on, and I believe the Spanish Government have standardised with Ubuntu in their Educational and Schools division. When these kids grow up and enter business, they will help persuade the companies to switch.

Debian is a great system and I am not knocking it. Ubuntu is also a great system and is rapidly earning its place in the corporate market although it has a long way to go.

This may be abhorrent to some of you, but this is the only way GNU/Linux is ever going to make the mainstream. Get used to it.

Ampers.

By: TheFirstTheBestTheMostStable

TheFirstTheBestTheMostStable — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:03:18 +0000

Slackware for stability and full control. It is what you make it.

By: njknjjkbk

njknjjkbk — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:43:48 +0000

here is my reply to your reasons:
1) True. Ubuntu’s stability is awful compared to debian. No comments on security.
2) No one really cares if the softwares are strictly free. As long as they work.
3) Yeah, but more than 60% are either amd64 or i386.
4) I don’t see a reason not to trust a company. Especially canonical. Canonical is a non-profit company. I do. however, like the reason that debian is run by community.
5) Hmm.. Really? The topic should instead be “More Customizable.” Not simpler.

By: dskfbkdb

dskfbkdb — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:04:03 +0000

Ubuntu does the job for me. Debian hates every computer that I have tried it on. Even in terms of packages, ubuntu is superior to debian. Debian is estimated to have 25000 packages, and ubuntu has more than 27000 packages. Whats more are the ppa repositories. The latest version of ubuntu, karmic koala makes it even more simpler to add repositories. Also, their community support is excellent. There shouldn’t be any stability issues, unless if you upgrade it right after a new version is released. To me, ubuntu is much better than debian. I however, agree with tim. Sidux is much better compared to any other linux distro I’ve tried so far. Easy to use. Excellent kde support. Bleeding edge. Beutiful looking. However, it’s not for noobs, so don’t even think about using it as your first linux OS. If it wasn’t for a certain dependency, I would’ve sticked to it

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:06:27 +0000

well, i didn’t know weather i should install debian or ubuntu, but this convinced me. i’ll install ubuntu.
1) i’m using it no a home computer so i don’t mind if my security isn’t 100 percent
2) i don’t mind using non-free software =)
3) i don’t have a special architecture
4) i don’t see a problem with companies. i work for one.
5) i don’t want to spend two days installing extra packages, just to make my computer play mp3 and stuff :/

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:59:26 +0000

@LinuXfish: Don't feed the troll.

By: LinuXfish

LinuXfish — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:08:12 +0000

i think ,, Debian, is totally stupid,, thing,, look at the broader side,,, nd u will seee Ubuntu,,,i have using it for 4 yrs ,, upgradin,,, but no problemm, its good ,,,Debian,, its shit