Comment A Good Start... (Score 2, Interesting) 35
I think the Debian folks have done a wonderful job so far; the auto-detection is a godsend. That being said, I think that the UI could still use some work. The one thing that caught my eye while going through the instalation was that I would have no idea how to use the screens presented. As an example:
On the second step of the installer, it asks you to select a region. On this screen, there appears to be perhaps a menu and then a <Go Back> button at the bottom. When I first saw this screen, the only thing I could think to myself is "How do I select the region? I don't see a radio button, I don't see checkmarks and the only action related button is it go back - How do I get off of this screen?"
It seems that there is a mixture of UI techniques. Either the entire installer should be menu based, in which case the <Go Back> button would be integrated into the menu or they should go with a wizard approach in which each screen has buttons for <Go Back> and <Go Forward> and each select list is turned into perhaps a radio or check-mark based list. I think that the pure-wizard type solution would be preferable as most user's have gone through wizard's before.
Along the same lines, when the term "select" is used in a text based installer, it should be clear HOW an item is to be selected? Do I hit enter? Spacebar? Am I supposed to be able to use a mouse? If so, why doesn't mine work etc etc etc.
Well, thus ends my two-cents worth. I hope that anyone reading this doesn't take this as an insult towards the installer team: they are doing wonderful things and they should keep in mind that thing about UIs is that opions on them are like arseholes: everyone has one.
On the second step of the installer, it asks you to select a region. On this screen, there appears to be perhaps a menu and then a <Go Back> button at the bottom. When I first saw this screen, the only thing I could think to myself is "How do I select the region? I don't see a radio button, I don't see checkmarks and the only action related button is it go back - How do I get off of this screen?"
It seems that there is a mixture of UI techniques. Either the entire installer should be menu based, in which case the <Go Back> button would be integrated into the menu or they should go with a wizard approach in which each screen has buttons for <Go Back> and <Go Forward> and each select list is turned into perhaps a radio or check-mark based list. I think that the pure-wizard type solution would be preferable as most user's have gone through wizard's before.
Along the same lines, when the term "select" is used in a text based installer, it should be clear HOW an item is to be selected? Do I hit enter? Spacebar? Am I supposed to be able to use a mouse? If so, why doesn't mine work etc etc etc.
Well, thus ends my two-cents worth. I hope that anyone reading this doesn't take this as an insult towards the installer team: they are doing wonderful things and they should keep in mind that thing about UIs is that opions on them are like arseholes: everyone has one.
