Linked by Robert Gering on Tue 17th Sep 2002 18:11 UTC
First, a little background. I am a Windows user who has been using Windows since 3.1. I am not a programmer or a developer, I am a user. I process photos, use the internet, e-mail, write letters, play the ever important games and even use it to develop my comic strips. I am not computer illiterate and I use my computer with confidence and skill. Now with that said. I hate Windows.
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>>1) You have to choose between Windows distros too (Windows ME or 2000 or XP Home or Pro, etc.) Which is the right one? (The answer is NOT ME!)<<
Really your only choice is between XP home and Pro, thats the current versions far as home use. Those who compair choosing between win 95 98 ME 2k XP... and choosing between Mandrake , suses, slackware, bubbassuperlinux, whatever are missing the point. There is only the 2 current versions of windows those pre XP are outdated, (yes 2k is still in use for sever reasons but it's still a outdate version) People's windows choice is only between home and pro and if they don't know the differance they will just buy home. Differant distros of the same kernel is a much differant choice and everyone has a differant opionion and will result in the person just picking one and hoping for the best.
Fat16 hasn't been a file system option in a long time. Also in XP yes you have to choose, unless you have a 30gig plus partion and it defaults to NTFS. But the installer gives you insight on what each is, most people would just pick on or the sugested one and go with it.
Windows sets up drives better than linux. One nice partion you can keap track of. Linux has to much of a habit of doing it's own thing with partioning and nuking your other partions. Most smart people or people who have ever had windows crap out learned to make two partions, one for the OS and apps and another for Data, thus eliminating most all worries.
The big thing that windows excels at on the install is it's asking very few things, just things like the time and date, time zone, name, password if you like and now maybe setting up network. But thats optional. A new user can sit back and do nothing. Then when it's installed that have a working system and can go in and get things changed or working if it didn't happen in the install. During the install people don't want to be making all sorts of configuration choices. They want to get it up and working then mess with stuff. Choosing Gnome vs KDE on the install is nuts, a user doesn't know anything about them. The just want to get it working. People don't want to configure anything. Onces the computer is up and they can go online and look at what they can do they might get playing around with the system. If your one with two computers online and can be looking up stuff about the options infront of them thats great but most people don't have this. They find them selves having to make a choice right there with no background. This is were people panic , kill the install. Reboot windows look at more info , then try installing again. Get through that option then have the same problem on the next option. There shouldn't be options on the install!!! Just info to fill in like times and passwords. Let the person know they can even get linux working on their machine first. Then go into messing with it. Let them default to KDE and start to think it sucks and look for other options and find gnome, or any other kind of thing. When I install an OS i don't care about getting online or what options i choice or anything. Priority is getting it installed and running.