02-04-2016, 10:55 PM
@nomko, you seem to be fixated upon the obvious similarity of Ubuntu and the use of Xfce but haven't considered the nuance and premise of Linux Lite
In my opinion, all distributions must have three distinct things which set them apart from other Linux offerings.
1. A developer or development team actively working to better the system.
2. A premise (Cause or argument which is sufficiently different than others and sets them apart)
3. An active following large enough to warrant #'s 1 & 2 and a forum, where users can actively participate, offer advice and suggestions to further the development of the distribution's next release.
Now both number 1 and 3 have been addressed already in this thread and I hope you've not glossed over them but number 2 is the one in which I feel clearly separates Linux Lite from other Ubuntu Xfce distributions like Mint and Xubuntu.
The entire premise behind Linux Lite, is to give a Window's user the best chance at discovering the world of Linux and to present Linux in the most anxiety free way possible. The creator of Linux Lite, Jerry Bezencon has made his premise known in several interviews for online Linux publications since the inception of this distribution.
Specifics? To mention a few,
1. The choice of the Xfce DE shouldn't be easily dismissed. It's layout is simple, intuitive, functional and as configured in the iso, reminiscent of XP, Vista and Windows 7.
2. The structure of the system menu and more importantly, it's layout and labeling. Far too often a new user can be utterly confused and turned off by the names of Linux applications and many times, those applications are redundantly provided by the distribution (More than one application provided for the same task), Mint is famous for this. It's been mentioned before in this thread but needs repeating, the system menu (Whisker) in Linux Lite is labeled with common usage names and not obscure Linux application names.
3. Have you looked at the "Linux Lite Control Center"? Everything from system configuration, desktop configuration to software sources can be found here and it's intuitively designed to fit within the premise of Linux Lite.
4. Forget about terminal and apt-get, do you remember trying to understand Synaptic Package Manager during your first go around with Linux? Updating apt and adding sources? Then trying to locate the application you want (with a weird name) and hoping you don't make a mistake and soft-brick the system? I do!... Take a look at "Lite Software" app located in the System sub-menu of Whisker. There's a plethora of "intuitively labeled" and commonly used applications listed for the new user to simply click and install. No terminal, no synaptic package manager and no manual adding of PPA's. It also keeps an easily accessible, running tally upon what apps the user has added to their system and provides easy removal too.
5. Last but most importantly (imo) is the "Linux Lite Help Manual". A NEW USERS DREAM! Answers to everything can be found here. BEST of all, it's Precisely,Concisely and Specifically written for the Window's user in mind. I can't begin to say enough about this document and how extremely valuable it would've been for me, when I first started using Linux many years ago.
In the sometimes egocentric and even arrogant Linux universe, it's a wonderful to find a developer and distribution truly engaged in making Linux and open source... Easy, presentable and FUN to potential new users.
In my opinion, all distributions must have three distinct things which set them apart from other Linux offerings.
1. A developer or development team actively working to better the system.
2. A premise (Cause or argument which is sufficiently different than others and sets them apart)
3. An active following large enough to warrant #'s 1 & 2 and a forum, where users can actively participate, offer advice and suggestions to further the development of the distribution's next release.
Now both number 1 and 3 have been addressed already in this thread and I hope you've not glossed over them but number 2 is the one in which I feel clearly separates Linux Lite from other Ubuntu Xfce distributions like Mint and Xubuntu.
The entire premise behind Linux Lite, is to give a Window's user the best chance at discovering the world of Linux and to present Linux in the most anxiety free way possible. The creator of Linux Lite, Jerry Bezencon has made his premise known in several interviews for online Linux publications since the inception of this distribution.
Specifics? To mention a few,
1. The choice of the Xfce DE shouldn't be easily dismissed. It's layout is simple, intuitive, functional and as configured in the iso, reminiscent of XP, Vista and Windows 7.
2. The structure of the system menu and more importantly, it's layout and labeling. Far too often a new user can be utterly confused and turned off by the names of Linux applications and many times, those applications are redundantly provided by the distribution (More than one application provided for the same task), Mint is famous for this. It's been mentioned before in this thread but needs repeating, the system menu (Whisker) in Linux Lite is labeled with common usage names and not obscure Linux application names.
3. Have you looked at the "Linux Lite Control Center"? Everything from system configuration, desktop configuration to software sources can be found here and it's intuitively designed to fit within the premise of Linux Lite.
4. Forget about terminal and apt-get, do you remember trying to understand Synaptic Package Manager during your first go around with Linux? Updating apt and adding sources? Then trying to locate the application you want (with a weird name) and hoping you don't make a mistake and soft-brick the system? I do!... Take a look at "Lite Software" app located in the System sub-menu of Whisker. There's a plethora of "intuitively labeled" and commonly used applications listed for the new user to simply click and install. No terminal, no synaptic package manager and no manual adding of PPA's. It also keeps an easily accessible, running tally upon what apps the user has added to their system and provides easy removal too.
5. Last but most importantly (imo) is the "Linux Lite Help Manual". A NEW USERS DREAM! Answers to everything can be found here. BEST of all, it's Precisely,Concisely and Specifically written for the Window's user in mind. I can't begin to say enough about this document and how extremely valuable it would've been for me, when I first started using Linux many years ago.
In the sometimes egocentric and even arrogant Linux universe, it's a wonderful to find a developer and distribution truly engaged in making Linux and open source... Easy, presentable and FUN to potential new users.