Jamin W. Collins wrote:
On Fri, Apr 18, 2003 at 12:53:59AM -0700, Vineet Kumar wrote:* bob parker (bob_parker@dodo.com.au) [030417 11:58]:Linux was ready for the desktop quite some time ago, especially Debian. OK it's not that wonderful to install but how many Windows users install their own system? Very few I'll bet.This is a very important but seldom realized point. I invite anyone who claims that "Linux is hard to install" to attempt a ground-up install of any version of windows.
Jamin Collins wrote:
For versions prior to W2K, installing Windows usually is much more of a nightmare to install than are current Linux distros. However, W2K and WinXP do a much better job of installation than previous versions, and it could be argued that they are easier to install than Linux, in most cases. Still, there are some cases where just the opposite is true.Sorry, but if you honestly think Windows is more difficult to install than most Linux distros, your missing something. I'm certianly pro-Linux, and prefer it to any MS release, but the MS releases are a fair bit more "hand holding".
Right now, I'd have to agree with Jamin that Windows 2000 and Windows XP have a much easier install than most Linux distros. But most of that is due to the hardware manufacturers being in bed with Microsoft. If Linux distros could get the same level of cooperation out of the hardware manufacturers, it wouldn't be two weeks before Linux would start outshining Microsoft on the installs. Considering that we don't have this level playing field, I'd say Linux is doing downright super.
One more thing. Installing Linux is far far far easier on Macintosh or a Sparc or than is installing Windows on that hardware. In fact, you might even go so far as to say it's nigh unto impossible to install Windows on some of these hardware platforms. So Windows may be easier to install than Debian on an x86 box, but I'd wager Debian's easier to install than Windows on about 10 other type boxes. So, 10 times out of 11, Debian's easier to install than Windows. :-)
-- Kent