It would appear that on Apr 8, Lukáš Jirkovský did say:
Hi David,
It doesn't matter whether you use the latest install set or the one from 3 'releases' back, after the first update, you will have the exact same, current Arch Linux we all have. It is the smartest way to do a Linux distribution -- hands down.
I don't agree with you. For 99 % (just guessing) packages it's true, but if you need new kernel to correctly boot it's a problem. The fact that in the repo is kernel new enough for you to boot but installer has too old kernel is not really a way how to attract users.
I hope you don't mind an {Arch-newbie} jumping in here... ;-7 Perhaps what David should have said is something like: [paraphrase] It doesn't matter whether your Arch system was installed yesterday using the latest install set or was previously installed using the one from 3 'releases' back, after the next update, you will have the exact same, current Arch Linux we all have. It is the smartest way to do a Linux distribution -- hands down. [/paraphrase] My take on it is that while it's always a good idea to be using a current install medium, with Arch it only matters that your system is able to become current via update. The release of a new install set in itself should never be a reason to reinstall a working system. All I know for sure is that while Arch takes a bit more work to get a running desktop system than some other distros, The idea of not having to start from scratch every 6 months makes it "way worth it..." I've learned that if I can only find the right wiki entry, there is usually a good comprehensive walk through of whatever I need to do to my system. And this way, I wind up with a better understanding of my system. So as long as the rolling release process turns out to be consistently more reliable than updating a 'buntu system to the next release {by editing the sources list and doing an "apt-get dist-upgrade" (2 out of 5 such upgrades really hosed my my 'buntu installs...)} then I'll be singing praises to the rolling release concept for a long time. (I really detest having to recreate my user environment every 6 months...) Nuff said. -- | --- ___ | <0> <-> Joe (theWordy) Philbrook | ^ J(tWdy)P | ~\___/~ <<jtwdyp@ttlc.net>>