I am using Gentoo for some years now, and installing Gentoo on a new box isn't hard at all, but you have to be prepared. You need a running linux-system, a live-CD (or USB-Stick), and the handbook.
So, i have SLAX and the handbook on my USB-Stick which i use to install Gentoo. Boot SLAX, look at the handbook, and the installation is pretty easy. When i started using Linux (with SuSE 7.1 iirc), i soon tried other distros and got stuck with Gentoo, and i had no problems with installing, even when i was a total noob at linux. When someone ask me: "Hey, you know that linux-stuff. I have heard it must be pretty cool, i want to give it a try! Which distro should i try?", i think two seconds about it and then always say "Gentoo", because when someone is not able to install it, i think he should not use a computer at all. I think there are a lot of people using a computer who should not be allowed to use one ;) Installing Gentoo (and using Linux (maybe except Ubuntu) in general) forces you to learn how computer and operation systems works, how one gearwheel fits into another etc. > If they want it, then they *have* to learn it. On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 10:52:29 +0200 Sebastian Günther <sam...@guenther-roetgen.de> wrote: > * Nikos Chantziaras (rea...@arcor.de) [04.04.09 03:55]: > > > > I thought about it and I would still like an installer. People asked me > > "I want that too" after they see what Gentoo can do and is about. I > > could help them learn to keep their Gentoo healthy and running, but I am > > not willing to install it for them or teach them how to install it > > themselves. Too much work. > > 1.) If they want it, then they *have* to learn it. No convinience > here! > 2.) They learn much more about their system, when they install it, than > from a running system: For once they *know* what is installed and > how that is configured. > > > So from my observational point, the lack of > > an installer just means that people who would like to try Gentoo just > > don't, because the learning curve is too steep, beginning right at the > > installation. To learn, you need a system that already runs so you can > > learn that system. Gentoo needs to be installed by someone who already > > knows. Chicken and egg. > > > > 1) If the people need to learn Linux: give them Ubuntu. If they are > annoyed enough about how the things are configured there, then they > are willing to learn the things they need for Gentoo. > 2) You only have the chicken and egg problem if you want every newbie to > Linux start with Gentoo and also support his/her unwillingness to > RTFM. > > Gentoo is not for people, which want to be washed, but not to get wet! > > Sebastian > > -- > " Religion ist das Opium des Volkes. " Karl Marx > > s...@sti@N GÜNTHER mailto:sam...@guenther-roetgen.de > -- Dominic Kexel <nexe...@evil-monkey-in-my-closet.com>
