The Latest and Greatest

[insub2]

Hello,

I'm currently using Ubuntu and considering switching to Fedora.

I've been frustrated with Ubuntu's slow or nonexistent repository updates when new versions of a package gets released. Example: when Firefox 3.5 got released, I had to wait like a month and upgrade to the new version of Ubuntu. (There was a work around that didn't work that well.)

I heard Fedora is pretty good at keeping the software up to date. Is this the truth? Should I make the switch?

[Dan]

In short? No. <....>

Let me explain.

Fedora is bleeding edge stuff, but some packages will not be immediately updated. Many will simply wait for the next release. (six month release cycle)

Secondly, early in any fedora release there is the very real likelyhood that updates can (and many times do) break things. If you don't have time to wait for solid updates, you definitely don't have time to work your way through a typical fedora vunderbork.

Bluntly, fedora takes more patience and a certain thirst for adventure that is not indicated in your post. Therefore, I really don't recommend it to you.

[dragonbite]

As an Ubuntu user using Fedora, you'll find that while Fedora has more "bleeding edge" version of things, the upgrade cycle of having to upgrade your distro version and risk it not working right because of some change is still there. So changing to Fedora for running up-to-date version without having to upgrade the distro is false.

Also, you'll find you have the same chance of having Fedora not work well with your system as Ubuntu but when something breaks you probably will need to roll up your sleeves a little more than with Ubuntu.

Now with all due respect, I have found that Fedoar sometimes handles hardware better than Ubuntu. My Broadcom wireless card is a perfect example; it worked out-of-the-box with Fedora. It has never worked without fwcutting the broadcom driver.

Due to the FOSS-focus of Fedora things like codecs and proprietary pieces (drivers, etc.) will be a little more involved than Ubuntu's Hardware detector and *-restricted-extras.

Fedora 12 is working great on my system, yet at the same time I get the bug alert popping up every time I boot up, and can get things like Konquerer and more to crash.

Now, if you are looking to get more familiar with the Linux system, get your hands dirty in figuring things out, want to help promote or use FOSS stuff and/or willing to look at this as a challenge and not expect it to be stable or last longer than release-to-release then Fedora may be great for you.

Oh, and on the subject or releases, I think Ubuntu supports its non-LTS releases longer than Fedora. With Fedora you get it supported for like a year and a month (13 months) with not claim at stability.

I'm enjoying my Fedora 12 installation. It's reminding me how to look under the hood some, and I am more conscious of what proprietary stuff I'm installing as I try to keep more FOSS focused.

[insub2]

Thank you both for your thorough responses.

I'm downloading Fedora 12 to play with it in a virtual machine. But from the sound of it, I may just stick with Ubuntu.

[dragonbite]

Feel free to ask as many questions as you have. I think you'll find there's a lot to learn and that's half of the fun!

[marcrblevins]

If you want a longer cycle and Red Hat flavor CLI, give CentOS a try. CentOS revision updates from Fedora's 3 revision updates. I lost track which one.

Example:
CentOS 5 contains Fedora Core 4 thru Core 6
CentOS 6 contains Fedora 7 thru 9.
Future CentOS 7 may contain Fedora 10 thru 12.

Those numbers are not accurate. Will have to research for the correct version cycles.

[insub2]

Just to clarify, I don't so much mind updating every 6 months or so. I don't like having to wait three months for the next distro release so that I can get the latest versions of software from the repositories.

[scottro]

That does happen in Fedora as well. For example, at one point, at least, one couldn't get FF 3.5 in Fedora 10. It's not going to be a panacea.
I don't know Ubuntu well, and don't know how easy or difficult it may be to get updated versions of things. In Fedora, _someone_ usually makes it available. (For example, with the Firefox issue, there was a someone, or perhaps a group, that made 3.5 available for F10--but you couldn't get it from the usual repos.)

[ultra magnus]

Originally Posted by insub2

Just to clarify, I don't so much mind updating every 6 months or so. I don't like having to wait three months for the next distro release so that I can get the latest versions of software from the repositories.

If you're not afraid of the commandline, it seems like Archlinux might suit you. It does not come with a pretty installer, but the documentation is excellent.

[dragonbite]

Originally Posted by ultra magnus

If you're not afraid of the commandline, it seems like Archlinux might suit you. It does not come with a pretty installer, but the documentation is excellent.

I was just about to mention Arch, which is a rolling-release distro. There is Gentoo too (and maybe Sabayon as it is based on Gentoo) which are also rolling-releases but may take a little bit more hand-work.

[ninjashoes]

I'm in the same boat as you sorta. I am a linux noob who used to have Ubuntu on his machine and is now trying Fedora. So far I really like it but I can sorta see what these guys are talking about as far as bugs go.

I have had Fedora installed for about 4-5 days now. I have had a little trouble getting my nvidia drivers working but I just said screw it and decided to just use the non proprietory drivers. Its not like theres much to do besides get cool desktop effects so I might as well not worry about 3D.

Its hard for me to say at this point whether I like Fedora or Ubuntu better but I do know its alot of fun trying out different distros. Whats kind of cool is that I am a little more familiar with Fedora in a way because of its similarity to Centos which I have used for a webserver because of its stability. I decided to try Fedora because I read its Linus Torvalds favorite distro.