Re: easyLinux Beta.

[jfm2@club-internet.fr]

> 
> http://eit.de,  choose German or English.
> 

I knew about it.

> easyLinux Beta will be released on 10 FEB 99.
> 
> easyLinux Final is expected by end of March.
> 
> It looks like what I'm looking for, and seems further along than Indy.
> They are taking orders for the Beta CD!
> 
> - Linux 2.2.1
> - XFree86 3.3.3.1, used for installation UI.
> - KDE
> - other treats
> 
> I'm not sure if we should consider merging with easyLinux,
> but the thought crosses my mind.
> 
> Their web site (orders page), says they need an ftp server
> for ~300MB CD image. Can/should Indy help them out?
> 

We are the not for profit and pennyless project we don't have
resources on our own.

EasyLinux and Mandrake have gone the commercial way while I want to
keep Indy as not for profit. A kind of Debian but oriented towards
making Linux more suitable for normal people.  Also making a distrib
is not an end but only one of the tools for reaching this goal.
Putting user-friendly programs under the spotlights, influencing other
distribs (if they "steal" from us still better, that is why Indy is
GPLed), fighting techno-bigotry are other ways to reach this goal.


Why keep Indy not for profit?

There are drawbacks about this like the fact I am unable to work on it
full time plus the overhead of a net-based project but if things go
well there is a chance we get a bigger team than for commercial
distribs and then make faster progress.

Also being not for profit means we can concentrate on what is useful
instead of what is glamorous and increases sales.

Take EasyLinux as an example.  They have KDE like us, Suse, Caldera
and Mandrake so this is not a specific feature of it.  In addition KDE
is a big step forward for Linux, everybody agrees on that including
people like Miguel de Icaza (one of the main developpers of Gnome
project)


The specific feature of EasyLinux is the X based install.

First this isn't new: Redhat tried it in 95 or 96 and ended going back
to using a curses based install.

Second: If you think about it, this is the kind of feature who is
great for sales, great for having good critics on magazines and in
fact nearly useless.  I would much prefer an install allowing the user
to configure PPP so he can immediately ask for help in case of need
instead an X-based one.  Also installs are not half as importanat as
what happens later.  There is one install that beats EasyLinux hands
down: bring your box to an install party or still better buy a
computer with Linux preinstalled (that will ensure no hardware
compatibilty problems).  But what happens after that "unbeatable"
install?  Is the user getting tips for problem solving (like in
Windows and the GIMP) or is he supposed to find the info by himself
(implicitly assuming he knows the main Unix commands and where is the
doc)?  Is the user forced to learn VI due to programs dropping into it
and VI being the only editor available in emergencies? Will cleaning
tasks be executed if the box is not powered on at 3am?  Will he have
to recompile the kernel or will he get out of the box a kernel able to
face every situation and with decent performance?

Personally I think we should fix these problems before before even
thinking on an X-based install.  And the fact we are not for profit
allows it.

-- 
			Jean Francois Martinez

Project Independence: Linux for the Masses
http://www.independence.seul.org