[Debian] A few Debian on N8x0 questions..
 

I've been looking around for a few answers to questions regarding the Debian distro(s) available for the N8x0:

- What, if any, are the differences between Deblet and Easy Debian?
- How stable does it run, how much does it suck the battery (relative to the Maemo OS), is it sluggish?
- What is the default window/desktop manager? Does installing KDE / Gnome slow it down noticeably?
- Easiest way of installing to a MicroSD on the 810?

Re: A few Debian on N8x0 questions..
 

Easy Debian Chroot is a project focused on getting a Debian filesystem alongside OS2008, and being able to run Debian applications from that filesystem.

Deblet is a project focused on a bootable Debian system that runs on its own; it can be combined with some stuff from Easy Debian Chroot to use the same filesystem for chrooting and booting.

Your other questions seem to be more directed at Deblet-like usage; as I'm still using a hybrid of Beta3 (an earlier project in the same vein as Deblet), with some chroot stuff borrowed from, contributed to, and just plain different from Easy Debian Chroot, I'm unable to give good answers. (But I will point out that KDE, GNOME, and XFCE will all slow anything down noticeably.)

Re: A few Debian on N8x0 questions..
 

Easy Debian is actually just a set of scripts, developed by qole, which allow you to mount a debian partition or image and launch applications along side maemo. Whether you use qole's images, or Deblet, it matters not.. Easy Debian is just the scripts (as was said by qole himself).

Now the more appropriate question would be the difference in Qole's Debian Image or the Deblet ... Qole's image is a stripped down version of debian made solely for the purposes of the chroot.. while Deblet is a full OS meant to be booted - which means it's slightly larger - but can still be run via the Easy Debian scripts with minimal difficulty. Deblet Installer is moving to include an "Easy Debian" method to where it will download an image, or build a deblet, and setup Easy Debian for you.. when this evolution is complete there will be no difference - Script or Debian wise - between the two.,

I have done no official testing but I can tell you that I get considerably less battery life when using Debian booted. Using Easy Debian isn't that much more of a battery drain than Maemo. No more than launching any other application.

As far as stability.. I have had no problems with my Deblet install and it's all I use now that there is sound and Flash. The video is still being worked on. Camera works.
There is not one for deblet; You have to choose when you install what you want. With Qole's Debian Image it comes with IceWM.. which can be changed to use KDE / Gnome / XFCE / whatever with some script modification. As Benson pointed out.. XFCE, Gnome, and KDE are "heavyweight" desktops.. they will slow everything down beyond what true "Lightweight" desktops will; IE: IceWM, Window Maker, FluxBox, OpenBox, and LXDE.
Use the Deblet Installer For Maemo.. completely graphical utility that walks you through setting up deblet on your Internal or External memory. Once deblet is built/installed.. you can decide if you want Easy Debian, or just to boot to it.. or both. There are plenty of explanations on using Easy Debian with Deblet around.. but essentially all you need to do is install the Easy Debian package from Qole and edit the /home/user/.chroot file.. It's commented very well.

Re: A few Debian on N8x0 questions..
 

Exactly the answers I was looking for, thanks!

Re: A few Debian on N8x0 questions..
 

Deblet seems to focus on a bootable Debian environment, while Easy-Debian aims at a) running single applications in OS2008 or b) using a Debian environment in its own WM but still side-by-side with OS2008. The essence of Easy-Debian is actually just a few scripts that allow you to run any Debian distro you want, hell any OS you want, inside Maemo. I really don't see a reason why you couldn't use Easy-Debian to run Deblet in Maemo (note I haven't gotten around to installing Deblet so haven't tried, it may not work).

My Easy-Debian running from a ext2 partition is quite quick & most apps are stable. You might have been aiming that Q at Deblet, though...

In Easy-debian, it is IceWM, but I think qole said in the next version he'd be switching to e17. In deblet, is it XFCE or Gnome?

As for slowness, I don't really see that much difference when using a light WM like IceWM and a heavier one like Gnome...maybe it is because I have a swap partition big enough to kill an elephant.

Well, I don't know about easiest, but best would to be to make a ext2/3 partition.

Edit: OMG I never saw your posts Benson or fatalsaint. (note to self: read the rest of the thread before you reply...).