[TAG] which distribution?

[Alan Pope]

>> I disagree. The one feature that differentiates the distros for the new
>> user
>> is the control panel like programs to setup the machine. I haven't seen
>> SUSE's most recent version but I hear they finally surpassed Mandrake in
>> ease
>> of configuration post install.
>
> I disagree -- the 'setup' of a machine is actually the same (more or less)
> on each distribution. You are referring to the GUI differences which in
> themselves are built *on-top* of text configuration files. It is *this*
> which is common throughout. What changes is merely the location of these.
> As far as ease is concerned, that is a relative process, since some may
> find one thing more easier than others.
>

Umm, forgive me, but he did say "for the new user is the control panel
like programs". For which I completely agree. I am a self confessed geek
who doesn't have a problem with editing text files, but my wife wouldn't
like or want to do that.

To setup the system for me, I'd just hack around te relavent configuration
files, but for her, she'd want something pretty, functional and easy to
use. That's a major problem with most linux distributions IMO, the lack of
a decent *graphical* easy to use tool for configuration purposes.

I recently installed KDE on my debian system and noted that it has a
printer config wizard, which looks nicer and feels more robust than the
CUPS system its sat on. Doesn't mean *I'll* use it, but wifey might.

>> All the distros seem to be easy to install now. Debian included, if you
>> use
>> something like KNOPPIX to install. It's configuring printers, mice,
>
> Why Knoppix to install Debian? If you're trying to play the command-line
> installers v GUI-installer game. Forget it.
>

Harsh.

Knoppix is easier to install than plain debian. [FACT]. No disputing it.
You chuck a CD in and within minutes you will have debian with lots of
extra stuff with minimal effort and no faffing around with config files.

This has got to be a win-win situation for Linux (and debian). It means
more people using Linux (tick!), it means more people using debian
(tick!), it means more people realising that Linux isn't "Just for nerds"
(tick!). Ok, so it's a win-win-win situation.

Just because debians $DEITY-awful text based installer is okay for some,
doesn't mean its good for everyone.

Don't forget one thing a lot of us spend a lot of our professional and
private time doing is convincing Joe Public that Linux is a Good Thing
(tm). If we stumble at the "is it easy to install" hurdle then you can
kiss that convert goodbye.

If I can say to a Windows Luser mate "hey, stick this cd in, and it will
allow you to use a nice graphical windowing system, browser, office, mail,
graphical manipulation etc with *no* Linux knowledge *at* *all* then that
has to be fun.

As an illustration, I did this last night. I have a mate who has never
used Linux at all. He's a windows man. One of his projects is to put a PC
in an arcade cabinet and boot an OS so he can play MAME (old classic
arcade games via emulation). I suggested Linux and he was colder Tux on
Pluto to the idea. When I mentioned he could chuck a hard disk in the
machine with all the games on, and just boot to a CD (that happens to run
linux) and that it works out of the box, he was interested.

Needless to say, he was amazed at how easy it was. I suggested that he
might want to install it on his hard disk, but then thought, why bother?
It works, he doesn't have to worry about corrupt file systems or fscks on
boot.. Winner! :D

</ramble>

Windows users are used to GUIs, good or bad. Yes, you and I can use
vi/emacs/jed/whatever, and have a great time with it. But Joe Schmoe wont
touch it if he has to type commands in. This is completely fair and right.
Comuters have been around for *how* long? And you still have to type
commands in!? Why don't we just go back to paper tape and punched cards
and be done with it! :D

Cheers,
Al.