Dual arch Ubuntu Studio disks

The Ubuntu Studio project is considering creating a single, dual-arch (32/64bit) ISO image for Lucid Lynx.

Poll is yes/no and feel free to express your concerns.

We're considering this because it would mean a single disk to test along with the possibility of manufacturing these disks for sale. (not to make a livin' but we gotta covers costs) As this is a LTS and we will be heavily focused on stability we feel Lucid would be a good candidate.

We do know however that it will mean that a user is essentially downloading both current disks. Hopefully, we'll reduce some of the size by combining disks. Testing will be required.

I'm on 64bit since my linux beginning 2 years ago and still today I feel sorry about metasymbols (jacklab) misjudgement about 64bit osses. Please avoid ideologic prejudices and bring together both lines on cds/dvds. Just for download I'll recomend both options separated because espacially users with low budgets do not have access to broadband internet access.

Make it easy to separate them, so we (user) can make a separate 32 and 64 bit iso torrents for user with low speed.

I answered the poll as an Ubuntu Studio user myself - I would not be put off by this change. However, I do imagine that a number of low-bandwidth users would be irritated at the change.

For me, a ~2.8GB download for an operating system isn't an unreasonable request (this is about the size of most windows 7 torrent files if one searches) but it is getting a little big.

Also, it might be useful to stress that low bandwidth users can download the Ubuntu image and install the ubuntustudio-* packages on top as needed.

EDIT: Hmm, as I think about this further, two more ideas come to mind: 1) It seems quites silly to have two versions of each package on the disc for almost no benefit. 2) Combining the discs will NOT reduce the number of test cases needed to check the ISO. We will still need to try both the 32bit and 64bit install versions as a problem might present itself in just one of the two versions of a given package.

Hi everybody:

I'm not sure if this fusion of both architectures in one disk will be a good Idea. I think will be great for a comercial presentation thinking of sell that disk. For download an ISO image maybe not, 'coz Ubuntu Studio is no the only ubuntu version, and if it's heavy maybe many people prefer to think twice before download an 2 GB size iso image.

I think will be better to think in develop a live CD with Ubuntu Studio, 'coz with this you can run and see how runs Ubuntu Studio on your PC. And if that Live CD can contains both architectures in one cd (maybe DVD) then will be a great idea.

I think it is a good idea: we could reduce the size of what's to download by only providing a basic operating system. All the extra multi-media packages would then be added as a step two of the installation, with automatic download and installation off the network. The 32 and 64 all inclusive DVD isos would remain available as they save integration time and bandwidth. This would enable to:

• make fit the iso on a CD rather than a DVD, most people don't have a DVD burner these days
• ensure not twice as much data is downloaded

Also mirroring the download site would be a good idea, a lot of people don't use torrents. (Reminder: at the moment the Ubuntu website mirrors only mirror the link but not the actual files for the Studio distribution)

Anyway, keep up the good work...

I am a Ubuntu Studio PPC user, Ubuntu PPC + Ubuntu Studio pkg.

Wouldn't it be helpful to have separate version so that you can track which one is more popular? Either way the user is still downloading a DVD image.

How about adding a Net install CD? As has been said, allowing users with low bandwidth to get a working Ubuntu Studio system and then let them add in the packages they need or when its more convenient to download.

As a side note, please consider adding web design applications to the apps included in Ubuntu Studio. It would fit in great with the rest of the applications. This version of Ubuntu is great for us Mac transplants who are creatively inclined ;)

I think seperate is better. Being a user of Ubuntu 9.10 + Studio packages, i'd be more apt to download a live cd to try and have about for testing machines; than have a huge disc of unused architectures

I'm all 64-bit, but having both on a single CD is a GREAT idea. So many times I've downloaded the image, burned it, then realized the computer I'm working on isn't 64-bit >.<

I think keeping separate WITH liveCD's is the best of all worlds if you think about it. For us laptop users with no cable connection, getting wireless working during install is PARAMOUNT. Please take care of this wireless problem even if you combine the CD's.

I would buy a Ubuntu Studio disk if it was live and I could do an online wireless install! The Debian Installer sucks very hard!

My POLL answer is NO as long as the wireless issue is addressed!!

A dual sided dvd would be good from a sales point of view, one side 32, one side 64. But for download I think keeping them separate would be better for bandwidth reasons.