MX Linux Forum

...and just MHO.


There's a few reasons that MX Linux is becoming more popular, some I've mentioned in previous threads here. Today, I realised another reason that might have gone unnoticed... The majority of threads in this forum each day aren't asking how to fix something, they're package requests or otherwise unrelated to MX being broken.

I put this down to the general stability of the Debian base - Antix - and finally the MX development team. And if you think this is down to Linux in general, go browse some other Distro's forums... even the highly-rated ones.

I agree Chris, especially the one that claims to be the 4th most popular one, which rhymes with tint.

Could be on to something....

turtlebay777 wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:43 pm I agree Chris, especially the one that claims to be the 4th most popular one, which rhymes with tint.

TBF, I think a lot of that is down to Ubuntu... their first LTS releases always seem to need the point update to settle down - maybe 18.04.1 will sort a lot of the bugs out.

turtlebay777 wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:43 pm I agree Chris, especially the one that claims to be the 4th most popular one, which rhymes with tint.

Voldermint?

Stevo wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:43 pm


Voldermint?

The newer one after the volder.

(Have to be mindful of the T & Cs, not knocking other distros by name!)

(( otherwise we'd be a pair of knockers.))

ChrisUK wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:58 am ...and just MHO.

There's a few reasons that MX Linux is becoming more popular, some I've mentioned in previous threads here. Today, I realised another reason that might have gone unnoticed... The majority of threads in this forum each day aren't asking how to fix something, they're package requests or otherwise unrelated to MX being broken.

I put this down to the general stability of the Debian base - Antix - and finally the MX development team. And if you think this is down to Linux in general, go browse some other Distro's forums... even the highly-rated ones.

This is very true.

It's probably also true that MX (and Antix) are used by those of us who are already Linux users and have basic experience of it, know how to do basic things ourselves. We ask that certain programs that we have used in another system be adapted for use in MX. Like the recent adaption of Waterfox.

Definitely not distro-knocking here! I only discovered Point Linux early this year, after distro surfing since 2016. Maybe they just weren't very popular, but according to user ratings and reviews, they stayed at the #1 spot on DW for ages.

I definitely could not appreciate it more, despite being based on Oldstable by then, the painless computing experience was what I had dreamed of since first using Linux. Now, even when they didn't have a problem with registering new users on their forums, it was absolutely desolate, as if noone was in need of any help at all.

The only comparable experience of such stability for me personally–hardly a seasoned user–has been right here.

turtlebay777 wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:43 pm I agree Chris, especially the one that claims to be the 4th most popular one, which rhymes with tint.

as even that one is no-longer current, as the Numbers have shifted a bit,
but, at that point-in-time that version could have been No.3 - maybe.
- depends on whose list, that you are following, doesn't it ?

at least, the MX Duo are still climbing up.

I'm not comfortable viewing this as a ranking/popularity competition.

Different people like different distros for all sorts of reasons, and then you have the multibooters like me, who like and use a whole range of distros concurrently.

Mepis/MX has always been old reliable for me, since around 2006, but other distros also have their plus points.

turtlebay777 wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:39 pm It's probably also true that MX (and Antix) are used by those of us who are already Linux users and have basic experience of it, know how to do basic things ourselves. ...

Not true, don`t forget me and some other noobs here ;-)

But MX is working perfect for me, think I produce the most accidents.

asqwerth wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:29 am
Different people like different distros for all sorts of reasons

That's very true. Being new to Linux, I tried-out the top five distro's, (with the exception of Debian as it appeared too "old hat" for my liking), from Distrowatch. MX was a sitting at 13th or 14th place in the listings at the time, but I liked the screenshot, and most importantly, the independent reviews I found on the net made me feel I'd be missing out if I didn't give it a spin. I dunno, I equate it to the same principle as changing a car. You have a rough idea what it is you are looking for, and after test driving a few similar models, there is always the one that feels just right, and that was how MX felt for me compared to the others. I'm in for the long haul and I'm interested to see how MX and Linux in general, develope over the next few years..

The stability was attributed to ...Debian stable, antiX, and the developers...
Yes, certainly.

I think there is also a heritage from Mepis and Warren, he was noted for stability, like MX/antiX, the betas are more reliable than a lot of released versions. People rant his last beta as a daily driver for years, and a few might still!

The current MX 17.1 >100 days stable up-time, if you keep with the stock repos, it is like rock.

entropyfoe wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:47 pm ........ the betas are more reliable than a lot of released versions.......

seriously, i can't believe u say this........ibm error.

Warren's Mepis betas were that good. That was the main point. He was well known for that. So MX betas aim for that same standard.
I often see comments that seem to indicate such and such distro doesn't really become stable until it has had a few point releases.
I agree with entropyfoe's comments. Reliability is one of MX Linux's strongest selling points.
I might be just a little bit prejudiced because I have been using Mepis and its descendants since around 2004.

duane wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 2:21 pm Warren's Mepis betas were that good. That was the main point. He was well known for that. So MX betas aim for that same standard.
I often see comments that seem to indicate such and such distro doesn't really become stable until it has had a few point releases.
I agree with entropyfoe's comments. Reliability is one of MX Linux's strongest selling points.
I might be just a little bit prejudiced because I have been using Mepis and its descendants since around 2004.

Interesting point. Somebody can tell us what part of Mepis is still the base of MX?

cyrilus31 wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:10 pm

duane wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 2:21 pm Warren's Mepis betas were that good. That was the main point. He was well known for that. So MX betas aim for that same standard.
I often see comments that seem to indicate such and such distro doesn't really become stable until it has had a few point releases.
I agree with entropyfoe's comments. Reliability is one of MX Linux's strongest selling points.
I might be just a little bit prejudiced because I have been using Mepis and its descendants since around 2004.

Interesting point. Somebody can tell us what part of Mepis is still the base of MX?

whatever is left in antiX that anti kept for the live system, plus some of the mx-tools and the installer are direct descendants.

This is an interesting video of the very first Mepis in 2003:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwmhlK8ESQI&t=485s

Check out the installer and Mepis tools.

There's still a lot of the Mepis installer in the MX installer. The practice of including broadcom & other non-free drivers on the iso so users could actually connect to the internet running Live also started with Mepis.
But it all goes back to the Mepis philosophy: It Just Works. We keep that in mind during development. If testers find something broken or even slightly confusing we work to fix it before we release.

timkb4cq wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:27 pm There's still a lot of the Mepis installer in the MX installer. The practice of including broadcom & other non-free drivers on the iso so users could actually connect to the internet running Live also started with Mepis.
But it all goes back to the Mepis philosophy: It Just Works. We keep that in mind during development. If testers find something broken or even slightly confusing we work to fix it before we release.

When reading thru these sort of interesting conversations, isn't it annoying that there isn't a Facebook style 'like' button!

So this will have to do instead +1.

turtlebay777 wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:35 pm When reading thru these sort of interesting conversations, isn't it annoying that there isn't a Facebook style 'like' button!

So this will have to do instead +1.

There use to be a Rep button, but I screwed that pooch a long time ago.

uncle mark wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:04 pm but I screwed that pooch a long time ago.

Call out the RSPCA!

As a newer user I thank you for that. It makes life so much easier!

Was a fan of voldermint until 19 came on to the scene, slowed things down a lot, tried manjarrow, wouldnt install! and read up on MX, glad I did, loving it so far, rapiddde, stable, plenty of variety, don't change it too much its brilliant

turtlebay777 wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:35 pm
When reading thru these sort of interesting conversations, isn't it annoying that there isn't a Facebook style 'like' button!

So this will have to do instead +1.

Once upon a time there was a button for thanking the submitter of a reply/answering a question. Regrettably, it disappeared in a review/upgrade of the forum's software.