Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 00:36:16 -0600 From: "Bob Giesen" <BobGiesen@earthlink.net> To: "Mark Yeck" <y3k@gti.net> Cc: <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: A question from a convert from Windows to FreeBSD Message-ID: <00c801c1a3d8$438a8720$0100a8c0@pegasus> References: <007b01c1a381$93765900$328dfea9@pegasus> <2807.198.151.239.42.1011756241.squirrel@y3k.shacknet.nu>
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Yeck" <y3k@gti.net> To: <BobGiesen@earthlink.net> Cc: <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 9:24 PM Subject: Re: A question from a convert from Windows to FreeBSD > I honestly think there are some misconceptions about how easy windows is to install. Just because 99% of people use windows doesnt mean that 99% of the people can install it. I doubt if there are many unsophisticated users who could install windows. I know quite a few users with a wide variety of experience. I dont think that any of them would be able to install windows and not able to install freebsd. Let's not inflate the m$ stock any more than we need to; I think they only have about 94% of the OS installations. ;-) And, to be fair, it should be mentioned that a great many OS installations are not done by users at all; the machines come preloaded. Of course, that usually only lasts so long before m$o$ must be reinstalled for sake of sanity... Seriously, though, on_a_clean_installation (which is certainly something less than 99% of the installations done), accepting their defaults will result in a fully (well, okay -- reasonably, if not fully) functional machine -- with simply inserting the CD and clicking the mouse a few times. > That's not to say that the freebsd installation procedure couldnt use improvement, but i seriously doubt that microsoft's domination has much to do with ease of installation. I disagree. The inclusion of a wide range of working drivers supplied by hw vendors (read "at no cost to m$") allows them to concentrate more on other work, including ease-of-use issues. > What parts could be automated better? It's been a little while since I've done a fresh install, but i think you can go through almost all of the installation selecting defaults. Right off the top, the modem installation and configuration comes to mind. Going online is a big, big part of computer use, these days. Most users don't want to have to wade through a few pages of instructions on how to make sure their modems are being detected, then having to learn about ppp and chap scripts to go online... When I installed w98, my modem was detected and a default configuration created, without input from me. In order to go online, I had only to open a wizard (Internet Connection Wizard) which asked me for a phone number for my ISP -- that's all! (Yes, I renamed the connection to match that of my ISP and added an optional AT command set to suit my set-in-my-ways taste, but that was strictly unnecessary -- and very simple.) Of course, the first time I connected, I had to supply my login and password, but I was prompted for it -- I didn't have to edit any files (let alone know which ones to edit). Yes, the instructions are out there for accomplishing the feat in FreBSD, but w98 makes it very easy to get the modem & connection up and running. It would be nice if it were so easy in FreeBSD. By all means, KEEP the textual config files (since it's nice to be able to use scripts for admin tasks), but the installation procedure could be simplified. > Seriously, though, your input as a fresh convert from windows is very useful. If you can let people know specifically what parts of the installation were troublesome, they will improve them in future versions. Actually, I'd love to even help, someday, but I'm afraid that will be some considerable time into the future... To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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