Ubuntu / Desktop Debian

[mrben]

Just FYI the installer in Ubuntu is actually from the debian-installer project, and will, AFAIK, be in the main distro for the next release.

Also, it is quite possible to do a base install of Debian without a net connection, as I've done it a number of times. The option to grab packages from the net is just that, an option. It can be a good option, because you get all the up-to-date stuff, but you can just as easily install from disks.

I've been using Ubuntu on my work laptop, and have liked it a lot. Install was a matter of point and click, and then you get a nice system. There are some creases to iron out before the final release, but the overall impression so far is good.

X setup on Debian is, I agree, a little bit awkward. Personally I have always used xf86config to setup my video cards (ever since I started with Linux, using Slackware), and have never had any serious problems. I'm not sure what has been added to the debian-installer, and what is part of Ubuntu, but we'll soon see.

Let us know how you get on with it.