Re: Any thoughts on Graphical install UI?

From: Sancho2k.net Lists (lists_at_sancho2k.net)
Date: 03/10/05

  • Next message: petrasl: "Synaptics touchpad xorg" 
    Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 19:07:49 -0700
To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org

    Joaquin Menchaca wrote:
    > That makes a lot of sense actually. However, many of the installers
    > have ncurses type of installs in addition to the nice smooth graphical
    > install, and on top of that they even have a manual non-ncurses command
    > line only install. :-) We can default it to text, but have an option to
    > go graphical.
    >
    > It would be nice to attract more people to the platform and avoid being
    > a niche within a niche.

    Of all Unix-like OSes available, FreeBSD doesn't have to worry about
    attracting users. People use freebsd because it rocks, and it does what
    it does good, and you really can't ask for more than that.

    OK, you can, but you're getting petty. Step back for a moment and ask if
    the current installer is crippling because it's not smooth and graphical
    -- honestly, it's brainboggling how easy your installations are when you
    take out the need for a mouse and buttons and sectioned-off screens.

    I've used several of the pretty Linux distros. I've never considered any
    of the ease-of-use shortcut tools from vendors like red hat useful, nor
    has a graphical installer turned me on in the least.

    I have been a long time user of OpenBSD. Their camp is raw, sometimes
    unfriendly, but always strong and simple. Maybe it doesn't attempt to
    attract the newbies, but my personal belief is that making your OS too
    newbie-friendly takes away from the simple pureness that is one of
    *BSD's greatest strengths and drags it down. If I wanted a shiny happy
    OS, I'd stick to Windows. It's not like there aren't options out there
    that are newbie friendly; even a literate, attentive, and curious *nix
    newbie can pick up FreeBSD without much effort, even without the other
    fluff.

    In all honesty, I use both FreeBSD and OpenBSD because they are
    straighforward, no-nonsense, and raw. This doesn't mean they are hard.

    I realize my response probably seems a little inflamatory and I
    apologize for this, it's not the intention. (You did ask for "any
    thoughts".) But I don't like the idea of an OS that tries to be all
    things for all people.

    DS
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