Red Hat 7.3 Coming Along

EyesWideOpen writes "I just read a review of a beta version of Red Hat 7.3 (code named Skipjack) over at Linux Journal. It's not the most complete review (being a little KDE heavy and GNOME shy, as well as focusing mainly on the install and desktop components) but it's a decent read. From the article: '...if you are a desktop user like me and you like the latest software, you will be hard pressed to find a more complete and usable piece of software...'. If you're feeling adventurous you can download the latest beta from a Red Hat mirror site."

RE: KDE heavy and GNOME shy

[BRock97]

And this is a problem because? Gnome 1.4 has been around for quite some time and has been hashed over in so many reviews, why bother to cover it again? Meanwhile, KDE is at a new version 3.0 and is on the tips of everyone's lips at the moment. I am all for equal representation of a desktop environment, but could you blame the reviewer for wanting to cover something new? Sheesh....

As for desktops, I have recently discovered Sorcery Linux [sorcerylinux.org]. This has been a blast, and the best part is I only get those programs I want. There. My own mini-review of a Linux distro. Check it out, you won't be sorry.

Re:Is gcc still "2.96" ?

[Nadir]

You hate it because you probably didn't understand its purpose. 2.96 is a much better compiler than 2.95 especially for C++ code.

Re:Just a stupid question

[loply]

apt-get update; apt-get upgrade; I cant for the life of me understand this "upgrade every XY months" business of other distros, especially buying a new CD! It seems utter *MADNESS* after you have used Debian/Anything apt based for a while.

Re:Just a stupid question

[ZaMoose]

Upgrading is all well and good and it works, in theory. However, newly-released versions of distros tend to bundle all relevant new software into easily -installable packages, meaning that you won't bork your system with a faulty upgrade attempt. For example, I've had a devil of a time getting KDE 3 to work on my 7.1 desktop at work. We're skipping 7.2 and waiting for 7.3 to upgrade everyone's desktops. 7.3 is supposed to have a newly-revised kickstart process which will make our upgrades of everyone's boxes peachy.

Also, it's highly convenient for the bandwidth-impaired. Similar to the axiom "never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon filled with tapes driving 65 down the highway".

The entire reason to upgrade is KDE.

[ltsmash]

The entire reason to upgrade is the new version of KDE (v3.0)

I don't get it

[MisterP]

I don't understand this. Aside from the install, these distro's seem quite similar. What makes Mandrake more Windows like and Red Hat more UNIX like? It doesn't make any sense.

"KDE Heavy?"

[Bowie J. Poag]

Amusingly, i'm not trying to start a flamewar here, but, i'm sure it will devolve into that anyway......

I think the reason why the review is "KDE-heavy" is because when it comes to GNOME, nothing major has really changed (functionally or asthetically) between the version that shipped with 7.2 and the version you see in 7.3..In other words, theres not really much to say that hasn't already been said.

The reason why KDE got so much coverage versus GNOME in this review is probably due to the fact that the changes between KDE 2.2.x and KDE 3.x are rather large. Theres no bias here on behalf of the reviewer. One desktop changed radically from 7.2 to 7.3, the other did not.

Moderate this post however you want. Just don't be a goddamn idiot and say "I like GNOME! KDE suxx!!! I'm going to mod this down!!" since this reply is neither pro-KDE or pro-GNOME.

LSB

[javilon]

On their last release, Suse made a point about being LSB compliant.

Apparently Red Hat is not, but I don't see any comment about it.
It seems to me that the linux people should follow their own standards.
Is Red Hat planning to be LSB compliant any time soon?

Re:Compiler is rock solid

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope! [gnu.org]

What is the relationship between GCC and Cygnus / Red Hat?

It is a common mis-conception that Red Hat controls GCC either directly or indirectly.

While Red Hat does donate hardware, network connections, code and developer time to GCC development, Red Hat does not control GCC.

Overall control of GCC is in the hands of the GCC Steering Committee which includes people from a variety of different organizations and backgrounds. The purpose of the steering committee is to make decisions in the best interest of GCC and to help ensure that no individual or company has control over the project.

To summarize, Red Hat contributes to the GCC project, but does not exert a controlling influence over GCC.

Re:3 disks of sheer joy.....

[CDWert]

Heres why.

"Exchange connector costs almost $70 - which means your Redhat 7.3 package will costs you something around ~$130.."

True, BUT bulk liscencing for redistribution is MUCH cheaper to the end customer, remember things like TriTeal CDE or something or another RH packaged, it was over 200 in the store and the whole RH with it was less than 75$ , same for stonghold, and other things RH bundles, Ximian sells 100 times more than they ever would on their own and RH gets a great prodcut

"Another thing - Ximian RPMS simply break things (although I heard from one of the developers there that this will be fixed very soon)"

True again, this is a reason Ximian and RH working in tandem could completley eliminate this problem while making both their products better.

"Also, don't forget - they ARE competitors - both sell competing services (up2date VS. Red-Carpet) to their clients at the same prices, so why would RedHat bundle their competitor stuff into their distribution? that doesn't makes any sence.."

RH has before packaged a competitiors product. I dont see this as much of a problem, They are a half a dozen ways to work around it to both RH and Ximians satisfaction I am sure.