Marc Wilson wrote:
On Thu, Sep 07, 2006 at 09:20:00AM +0100, Chris Lale wrote:
A totally gui install would make Debian feasible for a huge number of
home desktop users migrating from Windows.
Why? Why does a GUI installer make it feasable, but a ncurses installer
not make it feasable? It's unfortunate that Debian has actually caved in
to this pressure.
[ ... ]
My point was that installing Debian should be no more complex than
installing other operating systems. Debian could potentially attract a
large number of home desktop users from Windows now that Windows 98 is
no longer 'supported' and Windows XP is soon to be replaced. Anyone
installing Windows would not expect to have to use the DOS commandline
during the process.
My main concern was that anyone choosing the 'Desktop environment' task
during installation should end up with a desktop which includes a GUI
front end to Apt (eg Synaptic). They should not have to use commandline
tools like Apt-get or Aptitude after the base install. According to the
parallel thread in the debian-boot list
(http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot/2006/09/msg00250.html) this will be
a possible route. (An Ncurses install would still be an acceptable
option, and a necesssary one for low memory systems. It does not involve
using the commandline. The point is that by including Synaptic in
tasksel's 'Desktop environment' it would be possible to run a Debian
system without ever using the commandline. I hear you shuddering with
horror!)
Debian can be different things to different people - a server, a network
client, a development environment, an X environment, a commandline
environment, etc. I just think that Debian should offer a smooth ride to
someone who wants a Free desktop replacement for Windows.
Chris.
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