(No need to vote cstejerean down - he was only suggesting something that he thinks works - the problem is Ubuntu and Windowsthink, if, indeed it turns out that they haven't fixed bugs that make updating difficult).
Seriously, as an engineer I doubt it will be easy: the success of this update procedure depends on reliable upgrade of every single component in the system: not just the kernel/drivers/gnome/etc, but things that I installed afterwards, including those that I compiled, including those that depend on kernel version. For instance I have no reason to believe that VMware will continue working. Similarly, I expect to see issues with video drivers.
And finally, my friend who's been running Gutsy beta got an unbootable laptop after a series of online updates. Linux is solid software. However, all software has bugs, especially if it's forcefully put on a 6-months release cycle.
There is a very good reason why you don't see new Debian releases very often.
I generally strive to embrace new things and new ways of doing things. As long as I believe they're practical. For instance, full OS upgrade over the internet -- brilliant. Ubuntu is the first to offer this to my knowledge. On the other hand, web apps.. I don't see that as being very practical any time soon.
There will certainly be bugs and there's a certain amount of risk in doing an internet upgrade, but this is not major risk. Yet embracing the way of the future early will get you a head start, and I think it's an important mindset to have.
Yes, and as someone involved in the Debian project since 1997, I think I have a good handle on them:
- It's free software, so there's not really any pressure to actually do anything.
- Unstable "works" well enough for a lot of people's desktops, so that takes even more pressure off.
- There a huge number of packages to try and stabilize. Ubuntu has done a good job of trying to pick a good subset and deal with that, rather than try and be everything to everyone.
- There aren't really any paid staff to sit around fixing the more onerous bugs, or do any of the unpleasant muckwork that paid people do.
That said, I've had both Ubuntu and Debian boxes that have been upgraded again and again over the years, and there just isn't much cruft at all. I had one machine in the late nineties that had its main disk swapped out 2 or 3 times, was transferred to a new case/MB once, and upgraded the distribution itself 2 or 3 times, and it worked just fine.