World's Easiest Linux?

[dandart]

I have decided to devote my free time to creating the world's easiest-to-use Linux distribution yet. It will:
Provide full hardware and media support out of the box
Provide an intuitive interface

This will be primarily designed to run on a new UMPC, so it's optimised for one system.

Does anyone have any tips for making the easiest Linux distro easier?

[randyd]

I am a newbe to LINUX. I've been tyring to get 8.04 to set up my RealTech 1000 Eithernet card. I've read the help menu & two Ubuntu books. Nothing works. Good luck with all hardware issues.

[studio51]

OpenSuse is good

[Manchunian]

I don't like OpenSuse myself, it's far too greedy on system ressources. I think ease of use is very important for a beginner's distribution, but so too is speed. If newbies can be wowed by how fast Linux is compared to Windows, that gives them one more reason to strick with it. Suse has the ease of use, that's true, but it's by far the slowest Linux distribution.
I think an easy distribution should make the installation of codecs, Java, Realplayer... child's play: and keeping the system up-to-date should be very easy. One of the things I've noticed on these forums is that a lot of beginners have trouble with the concept of repositories. I think you should make the set up of these intuitive. For example, Mandriva uses the excellent easyurpmi tool; Archlinux has a file with a list of servers - you uncomment the one you want. The Archlinux method obviously demands too much Linux knowledge for a newbie, but it does have the advantage that the user doesn't have to actually look for the repositories, which is the case of Debian. I think too that messages telling the user what (s)he needs to do are a good idea. Something like this:

Welcome to DadartLinux! The first thing you need to do is set up which servers you want to get your software from. Do you want to do this now?...If you want to listen to music, you shoud install codecs. To do this, follow these instructions....

Talking to the new user, making it clear what needs to be done, and automating as many tasks as possible, this is the key. Oh, and don't forget to tell them that they'll need to reinstall their graphics card when they update the system! So many people panic when they see that black screen with a flashing cursor.
Finally, an easy installation process and good hardware recognition are a must.

Good luck

[dandart]

Thanks for your suggestions, but I'm only going to add repositories for security updates in the background, seeing as this is for complete newbies, there should be a minimalist approach and very few apps (email, browser, paint, edit etc)

All codecs required should be already installed, and hardware support may not be so much of a problem as it may be targeted to one specific UMPC.


If it's for all computers:
There are a lot of open source modules for things like networking and I intend to include all that I can, to prevent any user action required to compile them. This will need testing on all kinds of computers, so the beta test will be very long but worthwhile.

Graphics drivers for 3d acceleration are probably not what newbies want, because they're not needed for things like painting, editing, writing emails, etc. so I will include only free drivers.

System load for this system will be kept at a minimum and I hope I will be able to bring to live even an original Pentium!


Installation (in the case of all-computer support) will be automatic, and it will choose sensibly where to put the installation.

I require GUI programmers (eg Qt, GTK+, Python, Tk) for the simplicity of the system, so if anyone wants to volunteer to help me there I will be very pleased!

There will be no concept of the word "Linux" as it may scare newbies, or a terminal or console. On startup it will say "Welcome to your computer! Please wait while I start!" or similar.

Cheers

[Manchunian]

Sounds good. I'd be a willing tester - but I wouldn't be able to help out with any programming.

[dandart]

Thanks. When I've got my alpha's I'll come to you for suggestions and improvements then. Excellent, my own beta team!

[masterjediama]

I'm new to linux and have working away at how to do stuff in linux. 2 things that I've had some problems with are:
1. Installing linux
2. installing programs in linux

I have yet been able to install a 'real' linux on my computer. (I don't think pendrivelinux counts) it seems like the installers ask you too much. As with programs, I have yet to get one installed myself.

I think that's what most newbies are use to and need some help on.

Also I can test your new version when you finish it if you want.

[Oxygen]

I have decided to devote my free time to creating the world's easiest-to-use Linux distribution yet. It will:
Provide full hardware and media support out of the box
Provide an intuitive interface

This will be primarily designed to run on a new UMPC, so it's optimised for one system.

Does anyone have any tips for making the easiest Linux distro easier?

Good luck with that.

[Manchunian]

I'm new to linux and have working away at how to do stuff in linux. 2 things that I've had some problems with are:
1. Installing linux
2. installing programs in linux

This is very typical of the problems newbies face. I think the first issue is becoming less and less of a challenge these days with installers like the one Mandriva and Ubuntu use asking fewer and fewer questions and employing clear GUI. However, the second is part of what I mean when I say that the concept of repositories needs to be clarified and simplified to newbies. In my opinion, beginners need messages to tell them how to set up those repositories and then how to use them. As it is, once they've installed their system, they're put in front of a screen that resembles something they're used to and they expect to be able to get started installing programs as they did before. Even if they do set up their repositories, a lot of newbies will then fire up their Internet browser, type the name of the program they want in Google, download what they think is an executable onto their desktop which they then double click in the hope of installing the thing. It needs to be made clear to them that this is not what you do in Linux.