Datamation 11.2.10 Fedora 14 vs. Ubuntu Maverick: Distinct Differences By Bruce Byfield [[clip] Both Fedora and Ubuntu continue to be centered on GNOME. At the same time, both offer alternative interfaces. But with Ubuntu's focus on improving usability in the GNOME interface and, in the next release, defaulting to its new GNOME-based Unity desktop, alternatives like the KDE-based Kubuntu or Xfce-based Xubuntu seem to be receiving less attention. Lesser-known graphical interfaces like LXDE and Sugar are available in Ubuntu, but receive little promotion <http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3911026_2/Fedora-14-vs-Ubuntu-Maverick-Distinct-Differences.htm#> in the release notes. The same is true to an extent in Fedora. However, in the last few years, Fedora has been giving KDE and Xfce more attention, acknowledging them more strongly as alternatives. Fedora 14 continues this tradition by promoting the MeeGo mobile interface in its release notes. Suggesting that Ubuntu neglects alternatives would be going too far. Still, it does seem accurate to say that the latest Ubuntu release focuses on its version of GNOME, and treats other desktops <http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3911026_3/Fedora-14-vs-Ubuntu-Maverick-Distinct-Differences.htm#> as secondary, particularly if they are not developed in a separate sub-project. [clip] By contrast, Fedora seems to retain more of the spirit of a traditional distribution, shipping a distribution that does not venture far technically from what upstream projects like GNOME offer. Nor does Fedora show many signs <http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3911026_3/Fedora-14-vs-Ubuntu-Maverick-Distinct-Differences.htm#> of preferring one interface over another, aside from the fact that it defaults to GNOME. [clip] The message in the release notes is that Fedora is for all sorts of users, whereas Ubuntu seems focused on as straightforward an experience for new users as possible. Nothing could more indicative of the differences in the two distro's current concerns. Which of these two approaches to distribution-building is preferable remains a matter of choice. Ubuntu's popularity and the speed of its changes suggest that there is something to be said for its commercial, centralized approach. Yet, at the same time, Fedora's more generalist approach seems more tolerant of the differences in how users work. In the end, neither Ubuntu 10.10 or Fedora 14 are major releases. However, if you look closely, you can see the seeds of differences that might grow larger over the next few years. Full review: http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3911026/Fedora-14-vs-Ubuntu-Maverick-Distinct-Differences.htm -- marketing mailing list marketing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/marketing
