Why are packages being held back

[Steven Vollom]

Chris Miller wrote:
> On 7/16/07, Steven Vollom <stevenvollom at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>   
>>  Douglas Phillipson wrote:
>>  When doing apt-get upgrade I get the message:
>>
>> The following packages have been kept back:
>>  hal istanbul
>> 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 2 not upgraded.
>>
>> Why is this happening? Are these possibly broken packages or something?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Doug P
>>
>>
>>  I too am new to Kubuntu and Linux, but no, nothing is wrong, in fact just
>> the opposite.  The really great news is that the upgrades are probably just
>> that, not fixes, just improvements.  When you take the money out of the
>> equation, it allows for better products and results.  You are being notified
>> of things your computer needs that will make it even better.
>>
>>  In Microsoft, it is usual a repair patch to solve a problem that should
>> have been fixed prior to release.  In LINUX, the programs are stable and
>>     
>
> Actually they're just substituting a different wad of code while
> keeping the old broken junk on your hard drive.  Realistically Windows
> is built the wrong way from the very ground up.  Start reading up on
> MSDN about drivers for Windows and things of that nature and you'll
> appreciate the simplicity of Linux.
>
>   
>> don't need fixes, unless they are beta.  That means that they will tell you
>> if the bugs haven't been worked out yet.  Haven't you noticed that most
>> Microsoft updates are to fix problems with the Microsoft product.  When they
>>     
>
> God save me the moment they release a fix for something that's not
> theirs.  When they do that...  were they using Windows to spy on other
> developers?  Are they stealing code from those developers?
>
>   
>> upgrade, they sell you the new product.  It isn't a fix, it is an expense.
>> When have you purchased a Microsoft product you didn't get a patch for
>> within a week or so, and then with regularity until the next upgrade.
>>
>>  When Microsoft went from Win 98 to WinXP or whatever change they made, they
>> called it an upgrade.  That is what you just reported in your email.  2
>> upgrades.  In Linux, the terminology is similar, except an upgrade is not a
>> fix, it is an improvement.  There are very few patches to LINUX products,
>> because they are made as close to perfect before you get them as is
>>     
>
> lol.  Linux has more than it's fair share of bugs and broken bits.
> However, Linux is more intelligent about how it handles them and about
> how it structures the whole OS so it can recover from those errors
> more gracefully.
>
>   
>> possible.  It is a matter of pride.  No Junk.  When it say upgrade, install
>> it, it will make your system better.
>>     
>
> Unless it's Novell talking about Gnome *ducks*.
>
>   
>>  Haven't you noticed you never need to defrag your Linux.  That is the
>> reason.  You don't need a tool you will never use.  By the way, if it says
>>     
>
> That's because Linux's default file systems are self defragmenting.
> They still are subject to defragmentation, but that's taken care of
> during error scanning.  The algorithm treats fragmentation as a minor
> error.  If you put a Linux file system through enough abuse, it'll get
> fragmented and will need to be scanned for errors.
>
> Windows and the NTFS file system, however, doesn't even have a clue.
> I'm not sure if Windows even has a system for where to place new files
> on disk.  It seems to cluster them at random distances from two
> points.  What a joke.
>
>   
>> patch, install that too, it will fix something; it is just that that will
>> hardly ever happen with LINUX, and it is still better for your computer.
>>     
>
> It happens quite often that it fixes things.  Software is just such a
> complex thing that even "upgrades" may inadvertently fix broken
> things.  However, most of the bug fixes are so specific that the only
> way to duplicate the bug is by having certain hardware.  Talk about
> tough to find...
>
>   
>>  I have been with LINUX for about a month only and I will never go back to
>> Microsoft.  It would be like moving from a neighborhood where everyone is
>> healthy and well, then moving into a disease filled neighborhood where
>> everyone is always going to the doctor.  You would have to be a masochist to
>> do that.
>>
>>  Take a deep breath and relax and press install.  If you are using Kubuntu
>> by any chance, they have a program provided by their KDE application called
>> Adept Manager that will blow your mind.  About 22,000 programs are there for
>>     
>
> I'd suggest Synaptic.  Adept is still under heavy development and
> hasn't yet been certified to be even comprehensible to someone other
> than a core developer.  It's good at keeping track of updates and
> notifying you of when there are new updates available, however, the
> package browser was ill-conceived and could stand a redesign.  Plus
> it's horrible on slower systems.
>
>   
>> the taking, most of which are problem free.  Of course there are a small
>> amount of Beta programs, but they will tell you they haven't removed all the
>> bugs yet.  Nonetheless, Linux betas are better than Microsoft upgrades.
>> They have fewer things to fix.
>>     
>
> There's tons of Beta stuff for Linux if you want it.  I ran Kubuntu
> beta for a long while (then it went stable on me).  The beta stuff for
> Linux is quite stable, and so long as you don't stress too many parts
> of it at once it should hold together well.
>
>   
>>  Most cordially,
>>  Steven Vollom, fine-artist retired
>>     
>
> Should add "Kubuntu/Linux Evangelist" to that ;^)
>
>   
Dear Doug,

There are times I wish I weren't so stupid, however, your response is 
gratefully appreciated.  Many times I don't get answers to questions I 
really want the answers to because I am sure they seem so naive, 
however, after posting and too late to change, I realized your question 
was different from what I thought.

I am afraid if I get too goosey about when I am willing to try to help, 
I will get lost in the never knowing category, and therefore never 
contributing.  I thought you were new like me.  I thought perhaps I 
could stop some fears you might have for installing from such a vast 
library of wonderful applications, and just wanted to give you confidence.

Even though I may not live long enough to learn what I need to know 
about LINUX, I can see that it is light-years better than Microsoft 
Windows.  As far as being a Kubuntu/Linux Evangelist, maybe.  Most of 
the Microsoft users don't even realize that it is Microsoft who is 
inferior; many have had fear of inability to adapt to a new system of 
operating keep them from considering the change.  And if the 
mental-midget that I am can get as far as I have in a month, anyone else 
could do better, so maybe Microsoft has something to fear from the new 
Kubuntians or Linuxians, or whatever we are.

In any event, anytime you want to criticize my postings, I welcome it.  
I can learn more from you that I can no response.  I really mean that, 
my friend.

Steven Vollom, fine-artist retired
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