From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Apr 26 17:44:17 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C3B381065670 for ; Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:44:17 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mx01.qsc.de (mx01.qsc.de [213.148.129.14]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 82E818FC08 for ; Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:44:17 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from r55.edvax.de (port-92-196-27-202.dynamic.qsc.de [92.196.27.202]) by mx01.qsc.de (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2955D3DE68; Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:44:16 +0200 (CEST) Received: from r55.edvax.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by r55.edvax.de (8.14.2/8.14.2) with SMTP id n3QHiAfc001482; Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:44:10 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:44:10 +0200 From: Polytropon To: Giorgos Keramidas Message-Id: <20090426194410.c00aaf73.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <87zle3mii0.fsf@kobe.laptop> References: <20090426001855.GA89151@owl.midgard.homeip.net> <87zle3mii0.fsf@kobe.laptop> Organization: EDVAX X-Mailer: Sylpheed 2.4.7 (GTK+ 2.12.1; i386-portbld-freebsd7.0) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: FreeBSD Questions Mailing List , Tim Judd Subject: Re: Modern FreeBSD Installer? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: Polytropon List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:44:18 -0000 On Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:28:55 +0300, Giorgos Keramidas wrote: > I think this is a reasonable approach to the problem of which > installation mode to launch. The default is `user friendly', [...] No, the default is GUI. That's a big difference because it entirely depends on the user. Imagine a bline user. Is GUI user friendly for him? No, because he has zero output on his Braille line. The installer does something and he doesn't even notice. My idea would be to add a short description for each choice (so the illiterate user can make an assumption of what he will get), but default to the SIMPLEST option always. That's the idea of FreeBSD: The installer provides a basic OS that runs, but YOU need to install the applications you want. The philosophy is: If you want it, go get it. It's not that it fills GBs on your hard disk with stuff you'll never touch (as in my case, PC-BSD would do with the whole KDE stuff). FreeBSD installer selection --------------------------------------------------- Please select the environment where you want to perform the installation (1) Text mode installer This installer runs well on a serial line and is intended for professional users. It runs on every system (desktop and server). (2) Graphical installer (basic) This installer is intended for PCs. It gives help and advices and guides you through the installation. It's recommended for new users. (3) Graphical installer (extended) Works as (2), but gives even more help and advices. Runs on most recent computers. It can be utilized by new users, too. You have 30 seconds to make a selection. If no selection is made, the text mode installer (fail-safe mode) will be launched. Choice ===> _ PF1 PF2 PF10 Help Language Abort > [...] there is a > timeout so the installer won't get stuck forever in the prompt, and > there is still an option for a plain console-based installation for > everyone who wants to go that way. The plain console shouldn't be the option, it should be the default. The GUI should be the option because it IS optional (read: not required) for real work. -- Polytropon >From Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...