[NMLUG] Why so many Linux distros?

[sbrowne at ix.netcom.com (Steve Browne)]

On Mon, 9 Oct 2006 11:14:31 -0600, you wrote:

>Out of curiosity, what missing applications do you feel are a stumbling block 
>for the set of users you're talking about?
>
>[1] Whatever "high-end" is mean here. Expensive? Niche-interest?

In my specific case I mean very expensive, niche-interest 3D computer
animation software, with which Blender can't yet compete..

The common problem I run into is that "closed-code" high-end software
doesn't (obviously) provide it's source-code, so that if you try to
install it you find it is compiled for (say) Redhat 4.0 and not
Mandriva 2007, and that it needs glibc-3.3-5 and not the glibc-3.4-2
your distro has (and ad infinitum). When commercial software
publishers say "Linux" they usually mean Redhat and nothing else.

>As an aside, I prefer "GNU/Linux", not only because it actually makes sense, 

I'm just pissed that someone has to promote a separate "GNU_Linux"
mailing list when both of them are starved for participation.

Steve
Stephen B. Browne
sbrowne@ix.netcom.com
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
                          - Walt Disney