Schizo Slackware

I never could bring myself to try out Slackware so far, and I am not sure why.
Recently, I had the opportunity to try out Slackware 12. Well, actually had the DVD burnt at zyxware.com.


Slackware shows the classic schizoid behaviour - a split personality. The installation procedure brought back memories of days long gone by when I first ventured into Linux territory by trying out Red Hat (the free one, before it was FC). The absolute absence of any progress in this part of the Slackware experience was indeed a disappointment. What is Slackware trying to convey by not having a proper GUI driven installation procedure? The VGA screens and the absence of mouse control are pardonable, but the inability to create a Linux partition during the setup process is not. There are other similar areas where a user will need some familiarity with installation routines to successfully complete the installation. The app package selection is also quite difficult to use, even if it's uselessness is temporarily ignored.

Once a user bravely goes through the steps to get to the desktop, Slackware suddenly becomes an entirely different creature. The harsh taskmaster during the installation procedure, now becomes an overprotective mommy. So, there is no way a user can now access any real system admin tools - no "Control Panel" access. Sure one can change the way the dumb KDE4 behaves, but real access to underlying hardware is prevented.

Slackware was unceremoniously dumped soon after.

What Slackware DID show was the Opensuse remains one of the most well organised and planned distro in DVD. The Canon printer episode is just one major hinderace why I cannot use it.

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