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On Sun, 1 Feb 2009, tom brough wrote: > Gordon Henderson wrote: >> I've just installed Debian Lenny on wifeys AAO... >> >> I have to say, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do - certianly >> *not* something I'd ever expect her to be able to do in a million years - >> even though she has installed XP on a box in the past... >> >> So while she's happy to use it, running xfce4, open office, firefox and >> thunderbird (aka iceweasel/dove) there will still be a job for us geeks to >> do...http://wiki.debian.org/DebianAcerOne >> >> I actually suspect part of what made it harder for me was never having >> used a "modern" window manager. (I use fvwm - been using it for the past >> 16 years) Working out how to lock applications to the task bar (wossat >> then?) was tricky - initially, and installing the right wi-fi stuff. I >> ended up compiling a custom kernel for it too and removing 100's of >> packages that really aren't needed, and while it boots in under a minute, >> it's way longer than the original 15 seconds that Linpus Lite booted in.. >> >> Still, that's progress for you! >> >> Gordon >> >> > Where you aware of this :- > > http://wiki.debian.org/DebianAcerOne Yes. That's exactly what I used. I also installed Wicd as suggested and in answer to Neils question about why I compiled a custome kernel - it's because that's the way I do it, it boots quicker, and the supplied kernel didn't support the wifi out of the box. The chipset is supported in 2.6.28, so it's "free", as is wicd. Kernel config in http://unicorn.drogon.net/configs/ for anyone who wants it. All statically compiled except the sound and wifi modules. No guarantees it includes everything, but it works for me. > Just remember you have achieved with debian - single handed something > that is fairly tricky to get right on a Ultra Mobile Laptop. These boxes > come pre-installed (as do the XP versions) so most users be it linux or > windows would not know how to install either from scratch. I've no complaints about Debian! The things I'd not have expected my wife to do would be to setup the Wi-Fi, install real player, and a few other tweaks - like reducing the font size. Remember she's coming from a Win XP world and wants a task bar (although to maximise screen height, I've moved it to the side). > In most disaster cases users would reach for the (specially prepared) > rescue disk which would do a "look no hands" wipe and re-image" bye bye > all your settings and account setups and additionally installed > software, data etc ........ My wife will reach for me ;-) > I wonder how many highly paid Windows experts worked how many hours to > shoe horn XP onto the Acer Aspire One XP models ? > > Its a shame that Acer didn't go for a debian based packaged version of > GNU/Linux for the Aspire One. But this is their first outing with > GNU/Linux and they haven't done too badly. They did bothered to try > GNU/Linux, which earns them at least one brownie point in my book. Indeed, and although I've used Debian sine 0.9r7 (or whatever it was then), the AAO did come with a working 'yum' thingy to let me install a few more packages for her when it was in Linpus mode > All in all I think congratulations are in order for your achievements. > > Besides half the fun of GNU/Linux is that you can cut your own version > ;-) No such luck with Windows ..... Indeed! It's been an intersting experience, lso the first time I've looked at udev (I normally turn that off, as well as all the hot-plug stuff) and I'm now tempted to switch my own (acer) laptop to xfce, (it's currnetly running Lenny and fvwm) and maybe even my desktop. I first used fvwm on an X terminal hosted off a Sun workstation in 1993/94. Still makes me officially a boring old fart ;-) Gordon -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html