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Linux Software

Infoworld Awards Red Hat Linux 5.2 48

Posted by CmdrTaco from the proof-that-linux-rocks dept.
An anonymous read was the first one to say that InfoWorl gave Red Hat Linux the 1998 Operating System of the Year award. This is of course the third year in a row. Congratulations to the boys at Red Hat, but more importantly Congrats to every one of you studmonkeys who wrote code that sits in that thing. Pat yourself on the back.
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Infoworld Awards Red Hat Linux 5.2 More

Infoworld Awards Red Hat Linux 5.2

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  • Not only can you install it over ftp, you can upgrade to the newest version of all packages daily, using apt-get. It totally rocks. And with about 3000 packages in total, almost all interesting freely distributable pieces of software are prepackaged.
  • All distros have their strengths and weaknesses... the best thing to do is use the one you're comfortable with, and if you advocate that particular distro, be willing to help others that use it as well. Also, if you have a problem with a particular distro, instead of bashing, try writing to the creator(s) and asking them why they decided to such-and-such a thing (instead of saying "They SUCK!!!!")

  • There are two reasons that might be the explanation of why the media gives the awards to a specific company instead of to Linux in general:

    1 - They have to compare products in the marketplace. The distrubutions are the products, not the underlying kernel.
    (or)
    2 - They are ignorant.

    Neither of the above two are Redhat's fault. They are the beneficiaries of ignorance, but not the causers of it. Stop blaming them.
  • Here are some other awards related to OSS stuff that appeared in the same slew of awards. I thought people would be interested:

  • I bought RH5.2 Thursday, tried to install it
    10 times already, fails stupidly at configuring
    timezone without telling me why, and also fails
    silently at create boot disk and installing
    LILO.

    Their installation program is a joke.


    linux is the only *nix flavor I don't know
    and this RH experience has left me disappointed.


    so far all the linux people I know can't give me
    an answer
  • ... you don't apparently understand why market solutions work best.

    > 95% market share means it's the best product.

    Nope. 95% market share means only that for 95% of the purchasers, it's an acceptable balance between functionality and cost on the basis of their individual knowledge. It says nothing whatever about inherent technical quality, aesthetic appeal, efficiency, usability, or anything else.

    (And since when, by the way, do us libertarians, who profess a radical individualism, believe that the majority is necessarily right? Politically we reject the tyranny of the majority as firmly as we reject the Divine Right of Kings.)

    Now, if you (or any of us Linux -- or Be, or OS/2, or whatever -- advocates) think they're wrong, the answer is to educate them, and do whatever is necessary to raise the functionality and/or lower the cost (not just $, but hassle and time) of your favorite OS. And I think that's what we're doing -- isn't it? -- with improved installation, KDE/GNOME, etc.? (Who have you introduced to Linux today?)

    Craig
    See [airnet.net] -- I'm one, too....

  • ????????????????????

    RedHat's Web page lists ports to Intel, Alpha, and Sparc.

    Debian's Web page lists ports to Intel, Alpha, Sparc, UltraSparc, ARM, Motorola 68k, MIPS, PPC, the Hurd and Beowulf. And Debian isn't even a commercial entity (I know--but some people feel that being a commercial entity should result in better products so I felt I'd mention this ;) )

    Don't know about the other distros, but that doesn't sound like 'superiority'..

    And what's a Compaq Armada?


    Daniel


  • Anybody check out gnome 99.7 offical release? It kicks ass! I have been following it since the I first heard the rumors at the Red Hat Labs, and I could have only imagined how good it could get. It is well on it's way to eliminating the need for the command line for a new user working on a preconfigured box!

    If I was asked if Red Hat would win the infoworld OS of the year this year I couldn't tell you, but I can tell you they will win for 99!

    I don't understand why people bash Red Hat so bad.

    Deep Thoughts(TM)...

    Here is somthing to think about. What do you think Linus or RMS would say if you wtote them an email saying Alan Cox is a liability and should be locked out of the kernel project because he works for Red Hat. (Hint: They have ripped into people for far less.)


  • I like Slackware [slackware.com] better.

    Besides, how great can the Inforworld Award be if the same company keeps getting it?

  • correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Linus use a redhat distro? I don't remember where I heard it from (prolly somewhere on ./ or an interview), but he said he did.

  • I do know they gave the award to OS/2 for a
    number of years. (5 years?)
    And now Linux (well, RedHat, but Linux none-the-
    less) for 3 years.

    How long has this award been around, and who
    were the winners, and how many times did a
    MS OS make the list?

    Vip
  • Here is somthing to think about. What do you think Linus or RMS would say if you wtote them an email saying Alan Cox is a liability and should be locked out of the kernel project because he works for Red Hat.

    They'd have a good laugh, and block all further E-mail from you.

  • I would agree that the credit definitely goes to the makers of free software, but the importance of RedHat's distribution should not be downplayed. RedHat is not the only Linux, and it is true that people should be made to know this. However, RedHat is different from other distros because they have made a shrink-wrapped, supported, package. RedHat does not deserve the award for best OS for the technical side (software, etc.), but they do deserve the award for making a working business model for free software that can survive. Also, the new adopters of Linux that are using RedHat's distro in business do so because they now have someone to go to for support. Linux hackers in general I think have too great a tendency to attack any entity that wants to make Linux a bit friendlier for the beginning user. GNOME and RedHat's use of the RPM for distribution are important because they are giving a way for new users (like myself, for instance, who just compiled his own kernel outside of an RPM) to jump onto the Linux bandwagon. I have been using RedHat for a good half year now and was about to go to Debian (still am) because the RPM I at first thought was too restrictive, but I am finding that, though the dependencies are annoying, overall it is not too bad. RedHat should be watched to make sure they don't venture too far from the Linux mainstream (and create their own), but nevertheless they should not be attacked for garnering those Win95/98 OS newbies that are frightened by GNU/Linux's complexities.
  • Um, okay.... :)
  • I dont get it.
    Why not just Linux?
    What differs RedHat Linux from debian or slackware?
    It uses the same kernel, and the same (GNU) utilities.

    If they deperated the award for "best kernel" and "best utilities" then these would win,
    and it would be like every distibution won.

    This is nothing but free advertising to Redhat.
    ("I'm gonna get linux so I better get RedHat because it's the best!")
  • My RH5.2 crashes whenever I pick Workstation or Server installation. Doesn't matter since I always pick custom anyways.
  • As a RH user since 5 I have to agree. RH is not much better than the other distributions (the opposite is also true - I ain't a traitor). Most of the tools used in RH installation are available on other platforms, I know the installation of Turbo Linux parrots that of RedHat. Combine this with average build quality - broken Navigator etc. I do not think that RedHat is as sterling a product as its accolades would lead you to believe.

    Their much vaunted support only covers installation, assuming you do not have any exotic hardware and are capable of reading and understanding the installation of RH is a snap. The definition of an installation is unfair, leaving the newcomer to figure out his modem alone.

    Aside from the email tech support, the tech docs on the site are in some ways deficient - mainly with respect to their age.

    However while RH 5+ may not be the best distribution by far it does deserve consideration as the best. RH the company is almost a model citizen, especially with the RHLabs. I could more conceive of the company being given an award.

    On the other hand the award is for Linux, RedHat just benefits from being the most popular. Linux also benefits from the exposure RedHat gets, and so does Debian and the other distributions. All in all it is a win win situation.

  • I'm new to Linux and a friend I work with is a loyal user of Debian. I asked his advice after reading tons of stuff like this discussion thread and becoming sold on Debian. After much thought, he actually suggested starting with RedHat to get my feet wet because it can be easier for newbies. If Red Hat can ease the transition from Windows to Linux for non-hackers, then kukos to them and their distribution.

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