So I have downloaded Workbench Linux

[elija]

I have also booted it as a live CD and I kind of like what I see.

With these specialist and community led distros are there any drawbacks to using them, such as long term support updates etc?

What happens if the team or individual behind it lose interest, after all it would be a shame to really get to like a distro only to have it yanked out from under me.

I think I am going to install it on my laptop and see what it like running not as a live CD.

[edit]
Oh and what's the thing in their screen shots that looks like the Mac as the live cd didn't have that?
[/edit]

[techieMoe]

I have also booted it as a live CD and I kind of like what I see.

So do I.

With these specialist and community led distros are there any drawbacks to using them, such as long term support updates etc?

Well, since it's pretty much just a special version of Xubuntu with some configuration tweaks I don't see much danger there. I don't believe they actually changed anything in the underlying OS, but I could be wrong.

What happens if the team or individual behind it lose interest, after all it would be a shame to really get to like a distro only to have it yanked out from under me.

You could find out what all the individual components are that they threw in to make it so great and figure out a way to build a system like it on your own.

[edit]
Oh and what's the thing in their screen shots that looks like the Mac as the live cd didn't have that?
[/edit]

It does when you install it. I assume you mean the dock?

[elija]

So do I.



Well, since it's pretty much just a special version of Xubuntu with some configuration tweaks I don't see much danger there. I don't believe they actually changed anything in the underlying OS, but I could be wrong.

There is that..

You could find out what all the individual components are that they threw in to make it so great and figure out a way to build a system like it on your own.

Or I could leave that to people who are better at it and carry on doing the stuff I need (and want) to do. But I take your point; there is nothing there that couldn't be done by anyone prepared to take the time to do it.

It does when you install it. I assume you mean the dock?

Yep. That's the beastie.

It's going on my lappy as I type and if I decide I like it I may dual boot it with Mint on my main desktop machine.

[techieMoe]

Or I could leave that to people who are better at it and carry on doing the stuff I need (and want) to do. But I take your point; there is nothing there that couldn't be done by anyone prepared to take the time to do it.

I understand the sentiment. I guess what I was saying was in the unfortunate event that Workbench disappears from the radar as quickly as it popped onto it, you might be able to start with Xubuntu and bolt on, say, that dock application they use and get a similar look and feel.

[bigtomrodney]

I understand the sentiment. I guess what I was saying was in the unfortunate event that Workbench disappears from the radar as quickly as it popped onto it, you might be able to start with Xubuntu and bolt on, say, that dock application they use and get a similar look and feel.

Well you guys know what it's like. If the distro is focussed enough, active, useful and maintains releases and a good community it might end up being one of the official Ubuntu distros. Xubuntu, Mythbuntu and Ubuntu Studio are all recognised derivatives now and I think even live in the same repositories (for the most part anyway).

[Thrillhouse]

A long time ago I had this idea to create a distro that came with all (or at least some) of the development tools one would need. Looks like someone beat me to it. It's a great idea because setting up a development environment on a fresh install can be a time-consuming process and to have most of those pieces in place right out of the gate is pretty cool.

[SkittleLinux18]

I finished downloading Workbench but I haven't had a chace to play with it yet on my VM. I will as soon as I finished downloading OzOS and am done with my daily hours of studying for the damn GRE Test.

[carlosponti]

seemed like with my system the vmware couldnt handle it, it was very slow and took a long time to get the widgets or whatever they are called booted.

[elija]

So far I kind of like it. I have had a whale of a time sorting out my widgets on the side bar.

I only have a couple of reservations

1. The three bits of development software I use most regularly are not installed. This is no real biggie, they are easy enough to install.

2. It's called workbench. Mind you as an ex Atari ST'er I have to say it is a Gem of a Workbench

This distro could well end up on my main desktop machine

[SkittleLinux18]

Ok, so the OzOA livecd iso file is 594 mb. Today was the third time I tried downloading it. I got to 541 mb and the download cut out! ggrrrrrrrr!

It's ok for now because WorkBench is amazing!! I'm installing it to my Virtual Machine now! When I get back into town, I'll probably install it on my spare computer. Nothing goes on my main computer except PCLOS. Anyway, this is amazing!