Fundamental confusion regarding LMDE (sorry)
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:07 pm
Ok, sorry for the 10th thread on this topic, but I have a very fundamental confusion regarding LMDE, and I haven't been able to figure it out by reading (I have tried, I promise).
Premise: The only reason why I installed LMDE is because, as I understand it, I could keep the same install for years, as long as I do my apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade (as opposed to, say, Mint 9, which would be really outdated after about a year). NOTE: That's it. I don't really care about Linux Mint's specific tools, neither am I interested in getting the super fresh, newest software in the world. I'm just interested in a distro that I could install, and keep relatively updated software, and not having to reinstall for years (theoretically ever).
Confusion: Since Linux Mint's specific tools aren't of my interest, is there really an advantage to using LMDE vs. Debian testing? Does LMDE provide extra stability by further filtering Debian's updates (or something)? Would I have a potentially more unstable system if I were to switch to Debian testing, or is Linux Mint's tools and look-and-feel the only advantage vs. Debian testing?
Thanks in advance for your help. I guess my confusion arises from the fact that Debian never really calls their distro "rolling", so I'm not even sure whether Debian testing really is rolling, or if I'd have to do a fresh install at some point. If LMDE isn't more stable, and Mint's tools and the look-and-feel are the only advantage, I would consider installing Debian testing just to be closer to the source of this whole thing.
Premise: The only reason why I installed LMDE is because, as I understand it, I could keep the same install for years, as long as I do my apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade (as opposed to, say, Mint 9, which would be really outdated after about a year). NOTE: That's it. I don't really care about Linux Mint's specific tools, neither am I interested in getting the super fresh, newest software in the world. I'm just interested in a distro that I could install, and keep relatively updated software, and not having to reinstall for years (theoretically ever).
Confusion: Since Linux Mint's specific tools aren't of my interest, is there really an advantage to using LMDE vs. Debian testing? Does LMDE provide extra stability by further filtering Debian's updates (or something)? Would I have a potentially more unstable system if I were to switch to Debian testing, or is Linux Mint's tools and look-and-feel the only advantage vs. Debian testing?
Thanks in advance for your help. I guess my confusion arises from the fact that Debian never really calls their distro "rolling", so I'm not even sure whether Debian testing really is rolling, or if I'd have to do a fresh install at some point. If LMDE isn't more stable, and Mint's tools and the look-and-feel are the only advantage, I would consider installing Debian testing just to be closer to the source of this whole thing.