Goodbye Microsoft. Hello Debian

I am a unix/linux administrator, and use it exclusively on all my dedicated/colocated servers. But I will be damned if anyone but an elitist would find merit in utilizing it at home.

I am not Microsoft lover, in fact I am typing this on a MBP right now…but this is asinine.

sounds like a criminally insane plan to overthrow the microsoft regime. mwaha.
no but really, if i was at home on my pc i’d download it in two seconds.

“goodbye-microsoft.com” lol

That sounds pretty normal for me. As Microsoft’s marketing dept. is aggressive with that fucking windows Debian should go against them.
Great initiative.

This will get some newbies in serious trouble.

@HAX

I agree. If you need a one click installer to install your operating system…Linux is not for you.

Your right. I’ve tried debian and it took me way beyond my normal comfort zone just to edit a text file at times. Really quite a complicated change. Debian might not be amazingly difficult to use but its a big jump from windows.

I agree, a one-click install would definitely cause some problems.

one click install is not a good way to start using Linux. Users need to know what is Linux and how it works.

imagine, if a windows noob clicking the install link, and than boom! he is in the Debian desktop. He must be in horror. Unable to log off or shutdown the computer.

I use debian at home, mainly because of an internet-2 based repository that makes updating super quick :)
However, so far Ive found ubuntu to be the best for user linux, measured by the number of “support” calls I get :(.

ubuntu ftw

I could not get the thing installed. After the restart it just boots into xp ??? WTF ???

@DOC

It should have showed a boot menu for about 10 seconds after you turned on your computer (after BIOS boot screen) which should let you boot into any OS you choose that is on your computer. Make sure you watch the entire booting process of your system to make sure you didn’t miss it :p

It doesn’t work with Vista, looking for the wrong bootfile.

I would like to install Linux but the problem is does this small file (502 KB) only really installs Linux ?? :S because last time I got Linux Enterprise Edition it was 5 whole CDs or may be after running setup, more files will be needed to download?

Secondly, can this thing be runned in Microsoft’s Virtual PC? (it’s not because I luv MS but it’s just because I am new to LINUX).

Thanks!

THAT’S REALLY COOL.

“Windows .NET Developers goes to “Debian Mono Developers”

[Johan Hernandez / http:johansoft.blogspot.com]

Agreed its kool, but my first intro to linux was Gentoo and to be honest ‘in at the deep end’ made me learn.

Now there’s an ironic twist for you!
If the curious were using a Linux OS they would likely not be able to do something so draconian as download and install another operating system so easily. Speaking from experience, Microsoft’s operating systems are at best ignorant, at worst blue screened, when another operating system is introduced next to them.
I would caution anyone about installing Linux on some else’s computer, ie a company computer.
Speaking from experience, even if MS is dumb enough to allow you to install a dual boot Linux, you risk loosing data and applications on the MS OS side.
Great if you are the sys admin. Not so good if you’re being paid to do work on your computer. (On the plus side, a blue screened MS drive can be slaved back to recovery mode easily with Linux.)
For newbies, read about defragging and partioning before attempting a dual OS installation. Remember, MS OS’s are not programmed to be aware of other OS’s other than native MS.
At home I use Ubuntu Linux to protect all my precious files. Something Microsoft OS’s were never able to do. I also use a dedicated Linux application firewall. I highly recommend it and would never use anything else.
But if you play DirectX types of games and have a lot of hardware slaved into MS-only-drivers you may be in for a long winter of learning the Debian way. I personally think Debian is fantastic.
Linux is a bank vault and MS is paper mache. But don’t drop the vault onto the pretty paper mache until you have learned the “combination” to the vault first.
Cheers,
linuxjon…

if you have not tried the install. heres what it does.

it bsically installs a small o/s and duel boots it. the linux o/s is like a live cd. this then downloads the required packags. MUST have time and a fat connection.

Yes. Indeed. Anyone one a notebook that was hoping to use this installer will need to make sure they have access to an ethernet jack.

This merely automates the task of getting the installer running. It follows the Debian installation manual (running the install from grub/lilo.) The file installs copies grldr/menu.lst into C:\ and the Debian netboot initrd/kernel(linux) in C:\Debian. It then adds a boot entry in boot.ini for C:\grldr (The grub boot loader).

I have used it, and it doesn’t not automatically partition your hard drive. It is just the d-i (Debian installer) image. It gives you the same choices the Debian installer does… i.e., use the whole disk, guided partitioning, manual partitioning etc.

Lastly I am sick of people yapping their mouths while having no idea at all what this is, or what it does.

I do not know the purpose that it was created for. I also do not know why you have call the Dev names or put him down. So what if the Dev said hey, lookit, I can automate this process and make lives of “noobs” a bit easier. How does that warrant the whole process as being asinine?

Take your foot, and pull it out of your mouth. Then put on a helmet and go to bed. Thank you.