Re: Idea of a Debian Mascot [Was: FW: Bits from the DPL: FTP assistants, marketing team, init scripts, elections]

[Hal Vaughan <hal@thresholddigital.com>]

On Wednesday 27 February 2008, Rich Healey wrote:
...
> Many of my windows using mates are at least familiar with Tux, even
> though many have only ever used linux at my place (and then only
> using firefox to check email, hardly the grandest most eye opening
> event).

Debian is not aimed at the same audiences as those distros.  If it were, 
then there'd be no need for those other distros.

> Debian could use an image revamp, last night i was messing with a
> debian install disk trying to get driver information for a NIC in my
> solaris machine, and honestly even with the (non-default) GUI, it's
> hardly impressive.

There is a revamped image with a new logo and an easy to use GUI 
installer one can use if Debian is an issue.  It's a fairly large 
project.  Here's a link to it:

http://ubuntu.com.

(I notice, when checking that home page that it seems like it's been 
taken over by Dell.)

> Projects like mandriva have much prettier, and more intuitive
> installers. Debian is incredibly fast and efficient, and fantastic
> for experienced unix admins, but not their exclusive domain, more
> publicity can never be a bad thing.

I use the Net Install.  Last time I checked, I can do a complete 
install, without X, in about 20-25 minutes on a server and don't have 
to mess with any extras.

I LOVE user friendliness.  It's a MUST for me with my workstation.  When 
I'm writing screenplays, I need to be able to have my computer do what 
I want without thinking about how to use the tools so I can think about 
my writing.

However, Debian is not designed for that market.  It's designed for 
servers and people that want stable systems.  I figure by the time a 
Debian Stable version is issued, the software in it has been tested for 
longer and by more people than just about anything out there.  As 
cliche as it sounds, I know I actually get more and better sleep at 
night because my servers are running Debian.  I know I don't have to 
check over them and babysit them.  There is no other distro I'd trust 
as much for long term stability as I do Debian.

If you want a friendly GUI and a nifty and easy install, go for another 
distro.  There's a reason there's so many distros out there and it's 
too much to ask for one distro to try to hit more than one or two 
focused markets.

And if we have to have a mascot, maybe we can just go with I-Chaya.

Hal