I know this have been discussed many times. But I still not happy. (Sorry)
Why is it that debian can not take a shortcut in the path for having a quick
desktop installation?
Why not to release a basic knoppix-like CD with the most common desktop
applications that 99% of people would want?. Using a very basic installer and
the hardware auto-detection of knoppix (or any other that works) it would
clone itself to the hard disk in a few minutes.
It would be possible to install the rest of the debian applications from the
debian testing CDs anyway.
I know that this wouldn't work in all platforms (most surely only in x86) but
even if it is a very limited solution I think it worth been a valid debian
subproject on his own.
I think that the save in time that an approach like this produces is something
to be taken seriously.
I have installed debian for desktop purposes several times so in time it
becomes boring, and there are many stupid details (about fonts, java, etc...)
that I rather prefer not to hold in my mind.
Now I live happily with a knoppix installed to hard disk, and fetching soft
from the debian unstable branch, only thing is that there are a few upgrade
conflicts in some packages, nothing too hard to work around.
Many people is doing the same.
What do you think? (Don't open fire with the magnum 45, please :-)
Alfredo