Too Many Linux Distros Make For Open Source Mess

AlexGr writes "Remember the 1980s worries about how the "forking" of Unix could hurt that operating system's chances for adoption? That was nothing compared to the mess we've got today with Linux, where upwards of 300 distributions vie for the attention of computer users seeking an alternative to Windows."

Re:Hrm...

[der'morat'aman]

That, or they're resurrecting it as a service for those of us who didn't see it the first time...

.... really funny old BBSpot article :-)

[JMZorko]

http://bbspot.com/News/2000/4/linux_distros.html [bbspot.com]

Regards,

John

OMG it has to be STOPPED!

[jsse]

Otherwise, no. of Linux distros would soon exceed no. of Linux users!

Do something!

300 Linux distributions too many?

[thesymbolicfrog]

Surely not.

After all...

This. Is. SLASHDOT!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, there are to many brands (not to speak of models!) of cars. My prediction is that cars will TOTALY fail within a year or two and the horse+carridge will make a glorious return!

Re:.... really funny old BBSpot article :-)

[Bob54321]

From BBSpot article:

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer said, "Microsoft will have to play catch up with the number of versions that Linux has, but we think we can do it. With the break up of Microsoft imminent that will instantly double the number of Windows versions available."

It seems Microsoft did listen to this. The number of versions of Vista is almost at the 359 mark...

Re:Hrm...

[somersault]

Hmm.. we probably need to rename them as "Linux Ultimate", "Linux Server 2008", "Linux Home Edition", "Linux for fscktards" and so on, just to make things more understandable.

300?

[Anonymous Coward]

300 distros against the mighty empire of Microsoft. This is insanity! No, this is Linux!

Re:Hrm...

[Dragonslicer]

...the first two hundred times

Don't you mean three hundred times? I mean, come on, it's right in the summary.

Re:Hrm...

[jez9999]

(Disclaimer: I checked for the existence of JoeLinux at distrowatch, but the closest match I found was "JoLinux," which is absolutely not the fictitious distribution to which I was referring)

I just released JoeLinux - me and my 2 buddies use it, you insensitive clod!

Re:Feeding the troll... again...

[kestasjk]

I remember the Windows XP stampedes like it was yesterday:

I remember when XP came out, our network admin was so full of happiness at being able to upgrade from Windows 2000.
Fox News reported a Class 3 Software Related Stampede forming outside Walmart on the release day, but he just wouldn't listen; he had been counting down the days for months, and had worked extra hours to surprise his wife and kids with copies of their own. It was all he ever talked about.

He wore his favorite shirt and tie to work that day, his shoes shined, his hair combed, a spring in his step.
I'm still haunted by the look of sheer happiness on his face as he left the office during lunch hour to get his copy. The last words he said to me were "I'm off to get my copy! See you later!"

"See you later", he said. "See you later".. I still blame myself..

Re:Hrm...

[Linker3000]

Too many repeats of this argument make for mess about discussion on Open Source mess

Re:Hrm...

[teh_chrizzle]

There are also too many flavors of ice cream. I mean, with the hundreds of flavors around, how can businesses buying ice cream for their employees ever narrow it to just a few flavors that their employees will likely approve of? The choice is just too difficult.

i agree, in fact, i would say that there are too many restaurants in general. do we really need to distinguish between mexican and cuban food? do we really need different pizza chains? don't get me started on burger chains. why can't we all just be happy with mcdonald's and domino's and move on? if you want to get exotic, just go eat at taco bell. why do we need food from all of these different places like india? how am i supposed to choose what's right for myself and my family?

.

there really are too many choices. i don't have time to think for myself, let alone research and experiment to figure out what works for me. there should just be just one or two things to eat all the time. my vote is for chicken wings and beer.

i am afraid that if all of this "choice" might spread to other areas, like music or television. there really needs to be some sort of law passed.

Re:Feeding the troll... again...

[tobiasly]

Us Linux users are not mindless cattle to stampede the shops and get the latest and greatest distro there.

What does any of this have to do with the iPhone?

Isn't Anyone Concerned?

[WED Fan]

Isn't anyone concerned that the forking of our current Time-Space-Continuum Thingy into the Multiverse will lessen the likelyhood of our stream being selected as the Earth Prime? Someone, please, stop all this forking.

Starting right now, everyone, stop making decisions.

O.K., now, don't think about, just stop...o.k. now, wait, no, now...on second thought....NOW.

Re:Hrm...

[sacrilicious]

I just released JoeLinux - me and my 2 buddies use it, you insensitive clod!

As a major contributor to JeauxLinux, I'm concerned that your distro's name will confuse our users.

Re:Hrm...

[toad3k]

As a major contributor to JewLinux, you'll be hearing from our lawyers.