I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir but I think this is a good point - One of the big contention points people give me towards Linux is that it's a pain in the ass to install and setup. I guess about 5 years ago it was, maybe even a couple of years ago.
I can't believe I'm going to say this but Fedora 9 was much easier to install then a Windows XP SP2 system (Gateway Laptop). I know not all Windows installs are a pain but they all still require installing and updating a lot of software. Linux Install- 30-40 minutes http://www.howtoforge.com/installation-guide-fedora8-desktop - see example install Put in the Free Fedora 9 DVD, run through the menu, select install options accept partition layout select add additional software (plug in ethernet for this) Watch progress bars reboot, Login (wireless works and is already connected, video good, etc.) Linux Extras (optional) (get updates) Configure session to liking, add applets, enhanced features, etc. Start to use the burning software, Office products, music tools etc. right out of the box Spend the next day tweaking, adding the update channel and installing extra cool apps done Windows Install - 2-3 hours Use the correct version of Windows CD with correct serial # Select Install, no major options reboots, starts install Get asked some timezone settings, serial # etc. Get the XP finishing steps extra 5minutes wasted there Login Every device needs to be installed - Video, Wireless, Ethernet, Modem, etc. - download about 20 drivers (because Windows systems don't specify WHICH hardware device is needed) - Install all following obnoxious directions - remove the drivers that didn't work (i.e. system had broadcom wireless so uninstall Intel) - reboot a few times while doing this - check device manager to see what is still not working, try to resolve. Update the System from Microsoft 30minutes+ wasted - downloads and installs SP3 Install Office 2003 10-15mins Install Firefox, chat and other tools 30min Install Burning software and Virus package 30min _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Jun 4 - Sqeak! and eToys Jul 2 - KVM (Tenative) Aug 6 - Zenos Sep 3 - TBD
