Debian *is* easy to install [LWN.net]

Debian is easy to install

Posted Sep 25, 2003 15:09 UTC (Thu) by stuart (subscriber, #623)
In reply to: The new Fedora Project by brouhaha
Parent article: The new Fedora Project

Dude, get a clue!!

I installed Debian GNU/Linux years ago and was pleased to see it's still much the same process today. It asks you lots (or little as mentioned in another reply) of well explained questions so you get what you want just about straight out of the box.

And that's it. No really that's it. Ocasionnally I run apt-get update && apt-get upgrade, if e.g. there's been a new stable release or a security release of a package. The installer is not difficult, it just asks you questions which are being asked because there is often no resonable default.

I find installing Debian (old installer -- haven't tried this new fangled one) easier than Windows XP and 2000. FACT.

So, much as the install process is a favourite drum of non-Debian GNU/Linux users to bang, I ask you does filling it with eye candy make an installer any better?

Stu.

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Debian *is* easy to install

Posted Sep 25, 2003 20:47 UTC (Thu) by zonker (subscriber, #7867) [Link]

I find installing Debian (old installer -- haven't tried this new fangled one) easier than Windows XP and 2000. FACT.

Er, no. Opinion. You find it easier, many users (obviously) do not. This is not a factual debate, it's one of opinion.

I don't find the Debian installation routine to be that difficult, but I cut my Linux teeth on Slackware about seven years ago. However, almost any user who is installing Linux for the first time (assuming they're not crossing over from a proprietary UNIX or *BSD) is going to have problems with it. Conversely, I think many newbies could easily install Mandrake or SuSE so long as they're at least casually familiar with terms like DNS and so on.

I also think "well explained" is a bit of a reach. That entirely depends on the point of view of the user. The uninitiated will have a bit of trouble parsing questions about whether SSH should have priviledge separation or not, and so on. And, IIRC, Debian doesn't assist the user in configuring their sound card or video card. It doesn't auto-detect the network card, leaving the user to guess which kernel module a particular NIC will need.