SimplyMEPIS 7.0 returning to Debian

[donecweb]

SimplyMEPIS originally started out based (not a good word for this) on Debian and then switched Ubuntu because the repositories for Ubuntu seemed to have better and more stable programs (as I understand it).

However according to Warren Woodford, the creator of SimplyMEPIS, he is going back to Debian because Ubuntu is really almost a completely new distro each time a new version comes out since it is based on Debian Experimental making it too difficult to maintain the stability that is so important to SimplyMEPIS. The fist test version is supposed to be out about August 2007. This seems to please most of the people at the MEPIS Lovers forum. I will have to just wait and see.

The thing that concerns me is that there will not be a way to upgrade since there is quite a bit of basic differences in Debian and Ubuntu that it will require a clean install and then transferring my documents. I am not really too worried about this as Warren Woodford makes SimplyMEPIS so easy to install and use that I expect the change will be quite easy.

[SensoVision]

SimplyMEPIS originally started out based (not a good word for this) on Debian and then switched Ubuntu because the repositories for Ubuntu seemed to have better and more stable programs (as I understand it).

stability of Debian testing and especially stable branch was always very high. So I think that changing to Ubuntu wasn't done because it had better programs since it actually also used major part of Debian repository and wasn't stability, but fixed time of release which is probably the only real drawback with original Debian...

The thing that concerns me is that there will not be a way to upgrade since there is quite a bit of basic differences in Debian and Ubuntu that it will require a clean install and then transferring my documents. I am not really too worried about this as Warren Woodford makes SimplyMEPIS so easy to install and use that I expect the change will be quite easy.

What is the main problem for you in performing fresh install? You don't wish to loose settings from programs currently installed or don't wish to install every single program from beginning? Or there is something else?

[donecweb]

stability of Debian testing and especially stable branch was always very high. So I think that changing to Ubuntu wasn't done because it had better programs since it actually also used major part of Debian repository and wasn't stability, but fixed time of release which is probably the only real drawback with original Debian...

You may be correct as I don't know enough to say and what you said really sounds more accurate.

What is the main problem for you in performing fresh install? You don't wish to loose settings from programs currently installed or don't wish to install every single program from beginning? Or there is something else?

It's really not that big of a problem it's just that making such a major change is worrisome to me.

[SensoVision]

You may be correct as I don't know enough to say and what you said really sounds more accurate.It's really not that big of

It should be correct since this is one of the main reasons why so many people which previously used Debian moved to Ubuntu when it appeared, it was promised that this distro would be back compatible with Debian repository(which was quickly forgotten by Ubuntu developers but I couldn't blame them for this, as they made great disto and this is what counts after all) and that it would be updated on regular basis which is important for people who wish to have latest software(although I personally think that Debian Testing branch is very good compromise between stability and new programs, I've used it myself for long time).

a problem it's just that making such a major change is worrisome to me.

As long as you follow Linux file structure upgrading even on different distributive shouldn't cause big problem. Restoring of the home folder(I mean setting of old programs) sometimes work even on different distros although it's not adviseable as some minor differences in configs may cause various wired bugs later... Regarding documents you just need to move them to new place and everything would work.
As for GUI features, I think that developers would try to keep everything looking as before, at least visually so it shouldn't cause big problem in the end.
Anyway feel free to ask questions, if you run into troubles or have doubts about how to do something, who knows maybe I'll know the answer