On 2021-02-24 14:36, IL Ka wrote:
I am sorry for giving inadequate advice. Please forgive me as I am new to Debian. My idea was to install Debian, and then install non-free firmware. This is the third question about "how to install Debian if I have nic that needs non-free firmware" I see in this list on this week. So, what is the best practice to do so? Use an unofficial installer that contains non-free firmware? If so, I believe this info is worth adding to the Debian installation guide somewhere in the wiki, so we can give a link to this wiki to newbies. It seems that a lot of people face this problem trying to install Debian on their laptops.
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/out+of+the+mouths+of+babes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_roomI agree that the "Download" button on the Debian home page links to an ISO image that is inadequate for installing Debian onto computers without an Ethernet interface (e.g. many laptop/ notebook/ netbook computers).
A deeper "gotcha" is that building a multi-boot computer with Windows, Chrome, Linux, BSD, etc., is a non-trivial feat, especially when it involves UEFI, Secure Boot, GPT, and proprietary firmware/ drivers. I avoid these complexities by installing each OS instance onto a dedicated storage device (I prefer 2.5" SATA SSD's).
AIUI the Debian project has prioritized "freedom" over everything else. But, by not providing sufficient information for users to make an informed choice, they are damaging "freedom of choice", frustrating new users, and wasting resources on conversations like this (over and over and over...).
David