[osol-mktg] Re: perceptions of OpenSolaris

[Stephen Lau]

Phase 0 is targeting integration RSN (onnv_62).
Granted, it's not the *complete* NWAM (i.e.: GUI, etc. etc.), but it's
certainly a start.

cheers,
steve

On Wed, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:17:20AM +0100, Patrick Finch wrote:
> When will NWAM integrate?  I don't disagree with you, but there is so 
> much progress and it moves so rapidly - look at this review from February:
> http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/02/02/closing-the-loop-on-sun-startup-essentials/
> I guess he was using Solaris 10 u2.
> 
> Patrick
> 
> 
> 
> Stephen Lau wrote:
> >I would rather wait for NWAM to integrate, as that's the big killer for
> >me in terms of approachability.
> >
> >Joe User: How do I configure wireless?
> >Solaris Fan: Simple! Use wificonfig createprofile blah blah blah blah
> >blah... or dladm blah blah blah blah blah, followed by ifconfig ath0
> >plumb, then ifconfig ath0 auto-dhcp.
> >Joe User: Whatever. I'll go back to Fedora & NetworkManager.
> >
> >Once NWAM integrates, we would have a lot more parity for the desktop
> >user.
> >
> >cheers,
> >steve
> >
> >On Tue, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:37:38PM +0100, Patrick Finch wrote:
> >>Sure, SX isn't KDE, people remember GNOME on Solaris as JDS, which is 
> >>not a helpful name.  But Joe's point
> >>
> >>"It would be great if we can get some technical press to write an 
> >>article on this topic. 'Is Solaris more approachable?' - would start 
> >>some interesting debate in the open. Or, get some coverage on slashdot."
> >>
> >>is quite right.  It isn't as approachable as the most polished Linux 
> >>distros, some things are still quite tricky (e.g. I have had problems 
> >>configuring printers) and somethings are just not there (some 
> >>multimedia, suspend/resume especially) but I think that people would be 
> >>surprised that you can plug in your digital camera, or any USB disk, or 
> >>a phone card, or that there's Wifi support.  And it's easy to forget 
> >>just how far the desktop has come -I already take these things for 
> >>granted and forget that people who tried SX even a year ago will not 
> >>have had a similar experience.
> >>
> >>I don't think that people are going to use OpenSolaris because it's 
> >>"almost as good a desktop as Suse", but they at least should not be put 
> >>off from trying the things that make OpenSolaris special because they 
> >>think it is not an approachable OS.
> >>
> >>I will see if we can find a journalist interested in doing a review. 
> >>There were quite some stories about SX developer edition, but I don't 
> >>think that any of the ones I read were by people who had actually booted 
> >>it! (I could be wrong)
> >>
> >>Patrick
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Stephen Lau wrote:
> >>>On Tue, Mar 13, 2007 at 08:12:24AM +0530, Joe G (Joseph George) wrote:
> >>>>Yes, there is a perception that Solaris is not approachable.
> >>>>
> >>>>I personally have seen the look of amazement on the faces of folks who 
> >>>>have tried the BeleniX liveCD. I have told many that they can get the 
> >>>>same desktop if there were to install SX.
> >>>... and that would be misleading.
> >>>(IIRC) Belenix uses either xfce or KDE, neither of which is available
> >>>with a default SX install.
> >>>
> >>>-steve
> >

-- 
stephen lau // stevel at sun.com | 650.786.0845 | http://whacked.net
opensolaris // solaris kernel development