Re: Opinion Sought

[Michael Loßin <phallobst@xxxxxx>]

On 13-Jan-02 Russell L. Harris wrote:
> John,
> 
>          If you are a newcomer to Linux, Slackware is NOT the
> distribution 
> you should be running!  Debian is the most advanced and versatile 
> Debian/GNU distribution, while RedHat is the most popular.  Mandrake
> is 
> also in the running, but tends to be quirky, obviously not having the
> quality control of RedHat, much less that of Debian.

I suggest you should not listen to any advice about which
distribution is "better" (since all of them do basically the
same, and all of them have problems), but rather use what your
friends use, so you can ask them in case of trouble, and have
them show it to you directly on your machine.

This advice does not apply if
        a) you have no friends using Linux
or
        b) you have no friends at all :)

>          Printing in Linux currently is undergoing a long-needed 
> transformation from a cobbled-together assemblage of ill-fitting
> components 
> to a properly-designed system.  RedHat installs by default the LPRng
> ("LPR 
> next-generation") system, which is quite complex (being a rework of
> the 
> ancient LPR system), but stable and secure.  Mandrake installs by
> default 
> the CUPS ("common Linux printing system," which appears to be the
             ^      ^     ^        ^
CLPS?! :^)

> system to 
> which most Linux distributions will ultimately switch.  Debian
> defaults to 
> the old LPR system, but provides both LPRng and CUPS.

Simply put: there are alternatives, so try all of them and
decide which one fits you best.

>          My recommendation to you is that you switch to Debian and 
> CUPS.  CUPS has its own, integral magic filer; thus, with CUPS you
> will 
> have no need of apsfilter.

And you dare to say that on an apsfilter list?! :)

I'm pretty sure CUPS has more bells and whistles, but offering
a nice interface for the admin only helps one person, and naming
it "common" before it even enters the market is rather silly,
isn't it?

Okay, I stop ranting now... :^)


Michael