Re: [Hampshire] Unsupported Etch updates

James Courtier-Dutton wrote:
> On 13/03/2008, Russell Gadd <russ.mail.lists@???> wrote:
>
>> I previously (fairly recently) asked for advice on which distro to use
>> between Debian Etch, Debian Lenny, Ubuntu, Fedora. After reading all the
>> contributions I plumped for Ubuntu. However I came up with a problem in
>> OpenOffice. In a Calc spreadsheet file it would not print any sheets other
>> than the first. I filed a bug report and got an answer that this was fixed
>> in the upcoming Hardy so it was going to be ignored for Gutsy.
>>
>> This meant I couldn't use Ubuntu for one of my applications so I had to
>> continue with Windows for the time being. Not a big deal for me at present,
>> although I am now questioning whether Ubuntu is the right choice.
>>
>>
>>
>
> This is the big difference between Linux and Microsoft.
> With Microsoft, you never hear about the bug fixes, until they reach
> the stable distribution. (microsoft updates site)
> So, if you have a microsoft app and it has a bug, you don't get any
> feedback from MS or any date to a update. It just might eventually
> arrive.
>
> With Linux you hear of the bug fix immediately but are not prepared to
> wait for it to reach a stable distribution!
>
In my case, yes, I couldn't continue with this package as it was. Not
only me, but my wife also uses spreadsheets so this was a non-starter!
I've yet to get her to use Linux (the system is now close to showing it
to her).
> For your specific example, you can always get the latest openoffice
> from the openoffice.org web site and install that over the top of your
> current one.
>
> You don't have to wait for it to reach the stable distro. You can make
> exceptions for particular apps if you so wish. It just takes a little
> bit of effort.
>
> James
>
>

I'm prepared to make a certain amount of effort, and this includes
compiling if necessary if I can do it successfully. Switching from
Windows is a significant effort, but I want to do it with some
confidence that I'm making reasonable choices along the way. Thanks for
the info that I can make exceptions with not too much risk.

Russell