[CVALE] Debian or Ubuntu...

[Pandora]

Landon Blake wrote:
> I was wondering if anyone could share with me the advantages of using
> Ubuntu Linux instead of Debian.

The only real difference between Debian and Ubuntu is one of philosophy. 
And I'm not talking release cycle strategy. I'm talking philosophy. 
 From www.ubuntu.com: "Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to 
others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu 
distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world."  From 
www.debian.org: "We promise that the Debian system and all its 
components will be free. We will support people who create or use both 
free and non-free works on Debian. We will never make the system require 
the use of a non-free component."

So Ubuntu is more communal, Afro-pop sort of hippyish anthrocentrism. 
Debian is free software, as in freedom, and careful promises according 
to the specification. I prefer Debian's philosophy myself, because it 
seems to engender more well designed, freeer programs, and what little 
hardship that comes with it is offset by the fact that it's no-nonsense. 
No propaganda or conveniently unquantifiable fuzzy feelings like Ubuntu. 
Just free software.

One may also consider that Ubuntu is controlled by a single company, if 
not a single person, so despite Ubuntu's vague claim to be communal, 
Debian is the more democratically chosen and peer reviewed distribution. 
Then again Debian doesn't inspire the kind of nationalist flame that a 
keen project like Ubuntu does, so that might result in a loss. No harm 
with them both existing though, as long as I can find good mirrors.