[TAG] which distribution?

[Alan Pope]

Thomas Adam wrote:

>  --- Alan Pope <alan at popey.com> wrote:
>
> $person(> >) = "Thomas Adam"
> $previous="Richard Bray"
>
> (Alan, when you snip, could you retain the people's names, thanks. It
> gives our scripts more of a change that way :))
>

Sorry, I didn't snip, it was the mail client that did that.

>> 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.
>
> While this maybe true, not everything is solvable from a GUI, and there
> are instances when one has to edit text files. We have had this discussion
> in the past (c.f. Window Defectors' column of previous months ago).
>

I didn't say every problem was solveable. Ok, here's an example from the
windows world. If you're configuring windows you use a GUI for the vast
majority of stuff. My wife has never used a command line in windows, never
had to. For Joe end user they shouldn't have to. The vast set of standard
daily tasks are available through a GUI. This isn't often the case with
Linux.

This is not a philosophical point of view, it's a fact that one reason
Windows users are weary of switching to linux is the command line. If the
majority of their daily tasks can be addressed through options in a GUI
then they'll find life "easier".

I reiterate, you and I are fine with command lines, that I don't dispute.
I just believe that *not* providing GUI tools seriously hampers Linux
penetration on the desktop.


>> Knoppix is easier to install than plain debian. [FACT]. No disputing it.
>
> Yes, but Knoppix already *has* everything there, which in itself is
> limiting since there is *so* much more than just a 'prettified' KDE GUI.
>

Exactly my point. Install windows and you get a GUI, cruddy notepad, awful
basic word processors, calculator etc. All basic, but GUI based and pretty
easy to use.

Insert the debian CD and get a windows *user* not techy, *user* to get the
same functionality and they will spend a good while doing it. Give them
Knoppix and they're ahead of windows from the get-go - and for free!

>> Just because debians $DEITY-awful text based installer is okay for some,
>> doesn't mean its good for everyone.
>
> Maybe not, but I have mentioned a lot in the past about why a text-based
> installer was used for Debian.
>

To be frank that's not relavent. I'm talking about joe-user installing
Linux and getting going with the same or similar apps as they can on
Windows in the same or less time. Not the reason why one distie chose one
way over another.

Cheers,
Al.