Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 17:20:14 -0700 (PDT) From: JTSage <wisesage98@yahoo.com> To: FreeBSD Advocacy <advocacy@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: I'm leaving Message-ID: <20010517002014.2472.qmail@web9505.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <200105162356.QAA27847@usr01.primenet.com>
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Terry, freebsd-advocacy :
Thanks terry for summing up what the deal is with this thread. It needs to
"just work" . If I am new to freebsd, what I need as the end product of an
installation is a system that I can begin to start learning, without having to
learn how to configure X / KDE / GNOME / etc first. It needs to just work. As
an experienced user, I need a quick install that does exactally what I need. I
think these two can be blended, and in fact mostly are already. All that
really needs to be added is an intuitive, informative configuration script, or
GUI, it dosn't matter which, that will set up X with the current hardware
configuration. This will give an advanced user a jumpstart, and also an option
to skip X installation. And, it will give the newbie a somewhat familair home
as they come from the MacOS or Windows worlds into the BSD world. I don't
think the issue here is making an install GUI, it is making sysinstall
adequetly INSTALL a GUI, instead of simply launching the included xf86config
script, which frankly, is not exactally newbie friendly. All the install needs
to ever have on the screen is one of these two things :
1. A well formed, somewhat informative question and answer box that clearly
tells me what I need to tell sysinstall
OR
2. A notice telling me it is doing something, and an approximation of how
much time I am going to be waiting. (I.E. "time to pee", "get some coffee",
"go eat a pizza and check me in the morning" )
IMHO, a GUI install would be a pretty bad idea, because the possibilty of it
not "just work"ing is too great. But an installer that could set up a GUI that
would "just work", even with only a 90% success rate, now THAT would be great!
~Jon
--- Terry Lambert <tlambert@primenet.com> wrote:
> > I thought this sort of technology was already in XFree86. Thought it was
> > how they managed to create one big SVGA driver that works with about 80% of
>
> > the cards that they support.
>
> No, or XFree86 wouldn't need all the BS modelines and crap, and
> could be easily configured for high resolution.
>
>
> > What impresses me about Red Hat Linux is how good the hardware detection
> > has gotten in general, not just with video. I recently upgraded a
> > motherboard/CPU, video card, and CD-ROM (from SCSI to IDE), while keeping
> > the same hard drive. When I booted Red Hat, it came up and informed me
> > that I had a new video card and CD-ROM and then made the appropriate
> > adjustments to the fstab and XF86Config files. I didn't have to "do" a
> > thing. It just worked.
>
> Yes. This is a good thing.
>
>
> > I know that for a more advanced user, graphical installation and
> > administration utilities can often get in the way more than help,
> > especially when they operate in a strictly linear "answer this series of
> > questions in order" fashion. But I'd rather have a graphical utility that
> > allows me to do something in a slightly cumbersome method than have nothing
>
> > at all, which is usually where I am now on Linux/FreeBSD systems.
>
> Yes. Most people fall into the "I don't give a damn how it works,
> just do what I wanted" camp.
>
>
> Terry Lambert
> terry@lambert.org
> ---
> Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of my present
> or previous employers.
>
> To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
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=====
----=====-----=====-----=====-----=====-----=====----
"Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real,
and you're just a reflection of him?"
- Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes)
----=====-----=====-----=====-----=====-----=====----
[-WiSE-] wisesage98@yahoo.com www.wisefreebsd.org
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