Hi David and Dallam,
Sounds like a good plan tim, but here's my thought on things. I have been
Thanks.
using Linux for over 2 years now, and I'll never forget my first linux installation. Although everything went smooth, I didn't know a darn thing about partitioning. I believe a good automatic partitioning program with ample documentation on how to partition would be great. maybe a partition tool that automatically partitions without the newbie even knowing. Just
Yeah. Really, SuSE 7.1 does this with only the one step where it lets you adjust how much space from Windows it takes. Perhaps in "SuSEdesk" it could we could skip that screen, and just have a little dialog box that says: "The SuSEdesk installer will now adjust Windows so that there is room for SuSEdesk to be installed. By default SuSEdesk will use 50% (amount goes here) of your storage space for it's applications and your documents [Ok] [Cancel] [Advanced Settings...]" Since partitioning is a major thing, I think the user should know that SuSEdesk was taking a major portion of Window's space away, but at the same time, I think a dialog like this would only scare a newbit a small bit.
pop in the CD and viola it creates enough room for *All* of the programs on the CD.
Right. Exactly - SuSEdesk would install all of it's stuff at once.
1.) KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. While I personally love a distro with over 2000 apps, it's confusing to the newbie. Even SuSE Personal Edition has way to many packages for Mr. Windows User. So, keep it simple, include only the absolute basics:
These many packages and freedom are one of the main reasons I switched to linux. If you can't give a newbie more than what windows already provides, chances are they aren't gonna switch unless of course it's out of curiousity. We don't want curiousity, we want reason.
Well there would be several marketable advantages even with a lack of packages: 1.) It still has an office suite and a game - that's more extra software than Windows has. 2.) Just like Windows 2000 Professional, it could be marketed somewhat on stability. SuSEdesk would be an idea replacement for Win2k in that it would be lean and office friendly as soon as it was installed. Now I do understand Dallam's point about teleco costs, but most Linux users who are going to download stuff (or want the stuff) are going to be a little bit use to Linux first. Those people should by the Personal or Professional CD sets. SuSEdesk on the other hand would be targeted to those whose computer knowledge goes as far as how to empty the recycle bin. They may be interested in the power, but can't handle all the options and knowledge even a YaST2 installation requires. Finally, as I mentioned to Jerry last night, SuSEdesk, IMO, should have a $5 coupon for the personal or professional editions of SuSE. Think of SuSEdesk as a bicycle with training wheels - you use that for a while before you learn to ride a bicycle normally. SuSEdesk could be the training wheels of the Linux world. The idea isn't to replace SuSE personal edition, but to create a new edition for new computer users and click-and-drool users. With YaST2 and KDE2, I personally think Linux is _almost_ easy enough for a brand new computer user - I think my SuSEdesk concept would finish of the ease-of-use improvements.
but in the future as the newbie advances, they are bound to find out about these apps and it's better to have them there and ready to use than to go through hell having to find that app and installing it; furthermore, if
Now I agree the newbie will be disappointed when they don't have all the apps they want. But, by the time they start looking for them, they may be ready for SuSE Personal Edition. Let's face it, most Windows users aren't interested in much besides e-mail, instant messaging (oh, let's add GAIM to the list of included apps so they can exchage IM's), web, and word processing. Everythign else is just icing on the cake.
they never had to install an app, they're not going to know what an RPM or tar file is, so getting and installing the apps that were not put there with the default install would be even harder on a newbie, then as they advance and get used to their system they can then start installing and working with RPM and tar.
I agree in a way. But let's face it, most computer users aren't like you and me. They don't want to know what a tar ball is, or that RPM is a great way to install programs. They simply want their computer to work. Tar and RPM would be there if they wanted them, but SuSEdesk wouldn't be targeted at people who want that kind of thing. To make Windows users drop Windows, Linux users must first drop the requirement that the average user know RPM, how to compile something, and what a tarball is. This makes sense to you or me, but it makes no sense to your great Aunt Ruth who only wants to see some photos from her family. Currently those kind of people are stuck in the Windows world, and must live with BSOD's, slow performance, and even what I feel is a less friendly interface than KDE. However, if you made a really easy version of Linux for those people, you'd have it made. Additionally, when you bring the click-and-drool crowd, you bring something all of us would like: commercial app support. Just think: you could go to your store and find office tools, multimedia apps, games, the works - all for Linux. Stuff we would all enjoy - just because there was finally an easy Linux distro made with the kind of quality we expect from SuSE. The people that did want the power later on, would upgrade to SuSE Personal Edition using the $5 off coupon. The idea would cirulate around that SuSEdesk would be a launching pad to go to SuSE Personal or Pro once the user was ready (if ever).
2.) KIES. Keep it easy stupid. Installation shouldn't bombared users with complex questions they can't understand. I personally would remove package selection (since there is only a few packages anyway), and just install all of the packages above. Further more, I would do the following:
No, it shouldn't bombard them with questions about what apps they want installed etc. The default installation, in my oppinion, should be everything This way everything is ready to go for each stage the newbie advances. Also it's easier to get rid of an app than it is to install an app, so in other words, if the newbie decides he doesen't need an app, he can simply uninstall it and be done with it.
Right. This is what Microsoft did with Windows 2000 installation - which is the best installation program I have ever seen come out of Redmond - it just installs everything (1 gig's worth). Back to what software to include, I'll through in vi(m) just for you. <g> It's a small app anyway. I'd just skip the 10 other editors (including 5 vi clones), etc. -Tim -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy R. Butler Universal Networks Information Tech. Consultant Christian Web Services Since 1996 ICQ #12495932 AIM: Uninettm An Authorized IPSwitch Reseller tbutler@uninetsolutions.com http://www.uninetsolutions.com ============== "Information Powered by Innovation" ==============