Re: I need guidance about how to configure a newly installed Jessie ... great progress
On 20150421_1930+0100, Brian wrote:
> On Tue 21 Apr 2015 at 10:38:03 -0600, Paul E Condon wrote:
>
> > On 20150421_1248+0100, Brian wrote:
> > > On Tue 21 Apr 2015 at 11:30:55 +0000, Bonno Bloksma wrote:
> > >
> > > > >>>>Also 'Expert' doesn't really imply that that user is an expert.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>It does to me. Strange name choice if that is not the case.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Would "advanced setup" be better? Ric
> > > > >
> > > > > Yeah it would, it implies access to finer grained features than to the skill level of the person installing.
> > > > >
> > > > > Could be just me that sees it that way though. :)
> > > >
> > > > Nope, I think you are absolutely right. I never selected "Expert" install as
> > > > I am in no way an Expert, but it seems I should have.
> > > >
> > > > I definitely understand pretty much all that is offered there.
> > > > I might not use it all but "Advanced" covers better what the option intends
> > > > to offer.
> > >
> > > What does it offer that is more advanced than what is offered by
> > > partitioning and installing GRUB in the regular install?
> >
> > In my case it offered the option of manual entry of an IP address for
> > the computer, as opposed to letting DHCP provide an IP address.
>
> The majority of people wouldn't know the difference between an address
> allocated by DHCP and a fixed address. Furthermore, they probably do not
> care. The installer does the right thing with the regular install. It
> caters for the most usual situation in which Debian is installed.
>
> Someone who does not realise that a fixed address is important for them
> can do corrections from the installer when it dawns on them. Its a
> win-win for the installer.
>
> > For experts, 'Expert install' apparently offers a check-list of things
> > to decide this time, like the pre-flight check-list for airplane
> > pilots. Experts in any topic tend like and use check-list, IMHO.
>
> You are equating 'Expert install' with 'experts' rather than with 'more
> control'. Maybe we should have 'Debian Simulators ' to mimic the flight
> simulators for aeroplane pilots. Oh - we do?; its called 'Change debconf
> priority'.
>
> > I learned that almost no one who has deep experience and real
> > expertise regularly uses the non-expert path and thus can understand
> > what a newbie is talking about when the newbie is asking for help with
> > the most recent implementation of netinst. Knowing the context of a
> > question is important to giving focused comment and help. I see this
> > as a problem worth thinking about.
>
> I use the regular path frequently. Possibly more frequently than a
> preseeded install. I'd question the first sentence; it implies that
> that person has little idea about what they are doing.
>
> > I have no idea for a realistic solution. I don't believe any newbie
> > reads ALL the documentation that is available just a few mouse clicks
> > away from www.debian.org. Everyone has a point where they decide they
> > are ready to try it, and they stop reading and start doing. When
> > should that be? Who is qualified to critisize a mistaken decision?
>
> Everyone is qualified; it is the way we make progress in any field of
> endeavour.
>
> 'ALL' documentation amounts to the manual and the Release Notes. I would
> I hope a budding aeroplane pilot would familiarise herself with what the
> machine can do before operating it.
>
Thanks, for your comment. It is very revealing.
Peace,
--
Paul E Condon
pecondon@mesanetworks.net
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