stu.overungar
05-16-2006, 02:51 PM
Hi, I wish I had this linux distro to give to people I know, who have a computer that isn't running well anymore.
The live CD's are perfect for this. It needs to have the best winmodem support possible. I am using Xandros, and Xandros installed the modem driver all by itself. It did ask me if I wanted to use the winmodem, and that's all I had answer. (I don't think it's a good idea to ask, however, since I believe that forty percent of the normal home users would be afraid to answer it, and the rest would only get the answer right half of the time.) Most, almost all, computers have a winmodem, and most of the people that I know have dialup, and they need this to be able to get onto the inernet.
Another thing it needs is to have printer support. That's another thing that's used by everybody. Linux seems to know which printer I use, but it takes some configuration sometimes. For most people, that would make it hard to use. I've also had the printer just work. So the computer needs to recognize it and do the driver thing by itself. As far as "DPI" or "portrait," most people don't ever want to use that, so just get the printer to print and don't give them any choices. Later, some people might want to do something like that, but most wouldn't.
Java is needed by some people for stock or poker sites, so it needs that in the browser. Digital cameras are another thing people like to use with their computer.
I think that anything else could be downloaded via RPM, deb, mo, YAST, pupfile, etc., etc. That leaves room on the disk for the modem and printer stuff. The Linux gurus, and semi-gurus, wouldn't care for this distro, probably, but it could be used for millions of computers that died from Windows. There would be no need to worry about having the correct kernel, as long as you could make it clear that they can download things in .deb .mo,.dotpup, or something similar. As long as it's real easy. The Pup distro makes it very easy, I think. Most people will never upgrade their OS.
And they will never want to edit a system file. And the GUI must come up first, because they will not want to use the command line, because they never heard of it, and it's too intimidating. I've had problems figuring out how to log in as a user, or as root. You'd need the GUI to make this crystal clear.
I have friends and relatives who replace their four, five year old computer all the time for just that reason, because it's bogged down and running slowly, or something stopped working. They're afraid to reinstall Windows to give it a fresh start, even though it costs them $500. Of course, they do get a new computer and printer, so it's not a complete waste. But, then, two years later, they are in the same shape again, having problems. I believe that they would be happy with the old one if it worked.
If it's possible to make this distro, I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that within a year or so, it would be in a million homes. And, I think people would be willing to buy it and buy support for it. When my wife buys a van, she looks for the most reliable one she can find, and then spends a thousand dollars on the service package anyway. It's a waste to me, but people want sometheng that works. I think I know five people right now who would use it. Their computer isn't working right, so within a year or so, some of them will buy a new one.
These are just some thoughts, and I would sure like to be able to hand someone this disk.
The live CD's are perfect for this. It needs to have the best winmodem support possible. I am using Xandros, and Xandros installed the modem driver all by itself. It did ask me if I wanted to use the winmodem, and that's all I had answer. (I don't think it's a good idea to ask, however, since I believe that forty percent of the normal home users would be afraid to answer it, and the rest would only get the answer right half of the time.) Most, almost all, computers have a winmodem, and most of the people that I know have dialup, and they need this to be able to get onto the inernet.
Another thing it needs is to have printer support. That's another thing that's used by everybody. Linux seems to know which printer I use, but it takes some configuration sometimes. For most people, that would make it hard to use. I've also had the printer just work. So the computer needs to recognize it and do the driver thing by itself. As far as "DPI" or "portrait," most people don't ever want to use that, so just get the printer to print and don't give them any choices. Later, some people might want to do something like that, but most wouldn't.
Java is needed by some people for stock or poker sites, so it needs that in the browser. Digital cameras are another thing people like to use with their computer.
I think that anything else could be downloaded via RPM, deb, mo, YAST, pupfile, etc., etc. That leaves room on the disk for the modem and printer stuff. The Linux gurus, and semi-gurus, wouldn't care for this distro, probably, but it could be used for millions of computers that died from Windows. There would be no need to worry about having the correct kernel, as long as you could make it clear that they can download things in .deb .mo,.dotpup, or something similar. As long as it's real easy. The Pup distro makes it very easy, I think. Most people will never upgrade their OS.
And they will never want to edit a system file. And the GUI must come up first, because they will not want to use the command line, because they never heard of it, and it's too intimidating. I've had problems figuring out how to log in as a user, or as root. You'd need the GUI to make this crystal clear.
I have friends and relatives who replace their four, five year old computer all the time for just that reason, because it's bogged down and running slowly, or something stopped working. They're afraid to reinstall Windows to give it a fresh start, even though it costs them $500. Of course, they do get a new computer and printer, so it's not a complete waste. But, then, two years later, they are in the same shape again, having problems. I believe that they would be happy with the old one if it worked.
If it's possible to make this distro, I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that within a year or so, it would be in a million homes. And, I think people would be willing to buy it and buy support for it. When my wife buys a van, she looks for the most reliable one she can find, and then spends a thousand dollars on the service package anyway. It's a waste to me, but people want sometheng that works. I think I know five people right now who would use it. Their computer isn't working right, so within a year or so, some of them will buy a new one.
These are just some thoughts, and I would sure like to be able to hand someone this disk.