Re: Barriers to Entry, how do we knock them down?

On Friday 17 May 2002 11:09 am, Greg Gilbert wrote:
> * Aaron Hilton (videogamer@shaw.ca) wrote:
> > I found installing OPIE for the first time was a huge challenge. How do
> > we make this a non-issue for the new guys?

<snip>

> > 3) command line know-how.
> > IMHO, I believe requiring command line setup/configuration is too much
> > to ask of new users who have never seen such a thing before. There are
> > certainly quite a few people that don't mind learning command line
> > usage, however this provides one of the most significant barriers to
> > entry for new users. Lets keep the main line installation and operation
> > away from commandline, but still accessible for the more advanced users.
>
> I think this could be done by providing familiar images with opie
> already set up. I think someone has actually put some togother using
> busy box, although I dont know where. This is also sounds similar
> to how OpenZaurus distributes their images.

Yes, Robert Griebl has done a fantastic job with these images. They're not
perfect, but familiar is still more difficult to setup. You can find them
at: http://www.softforge.de/bb/
For the nerds there is a non-opie image and the cluebies can use the pre-opied
image. Since OPIE changes so quickly, I use the cleaner image and add to it.
So far, it's smaller than familiar images by about a meg. Also, it contains
necessities, such as ps,vi and sh history (all of them are part of busybox,
but they are well configured and much easier to use than familiar on first
flash).

<snip>

> Greg
Received on Sat May 18 19:48:24 2002