[TAG] Debian Installation

[Rick Moen]

Quoting John Karns (johnkarns at gmail.com):

> Yeah, I was thinking mostly of the Sarge install I tried a couple of years
> back.  The install completed without a problem, but then when I was
> confronted by the thought of having to go through setting up / tuning X to
> get from wherever the install had left it to where I envisioned having it,
> I decided that I'd try something else.

Confronted with the same problem, I spent ten minutes browsing the Web
and package catalogues, to see what optional hardware-autorecognition
packages might be relevant to X11 -- and immediately found read-edid 
(hardware information-gathering tool for VESA PnP monitors), discover
(likewise improves video probing), kudzu, kudzu-vesa (VBE/DDC stuff for
autodetecting monitor characteristics), and mdetect (mouse detection).
All of those assist X11 setup, if present.

And, being publicly spirited, I spent the _next_ ten mintues creating
http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Debian/hardware-detection.html .

> In most situations the difference is probably just academic, but in some
> cases, e.g., "transcode", where one is dealing with long, CPU intensive
> processes, the difference becomes a practical one. 

Could be as high as a 10% gain, in edge cases -- in my experience.  Of
course, one can do that with Debian source packages and tools, if so
inclined.  

> I guess the point I was trying to make is that although a distro like
> Ubuntu or $PICK-A-DISTRO-AIMED-AT-NEWBIES may have it's origins in being
> designed for the non-geek users out there who are looking to replace the
> more ubiquitous family of OS's, the easier installs and the ready-to-use
> configuration can also provide a choice for more convenience for some of
> the more experienced users too.

You're making the common error of confusing a distribution with an
installer.  There are actually dozens of very distinct installers that
can produce a Debian system, some of them droolingly simple and GUIfied.
See:  http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Debian/installers.html  (in need of
updating, but it illustrates the concept)