I agree that GIMP should NOT be installed by default, powerful it may be, but only very few people actually NEED a fully featured ADOBE-style bloatware program when all they want is a simple image editor, (Kolourpaint FTW!)
I don’t think OO should default install either, Mousepad + AbiWord are plenty for me, and 90% of casual computer users… How many people actually need a fully-featured DB, or spreadsheet, or presentation software? If you need it, download it and install it, I don’t need them and object strongly to any OS that tells me I do, installs it and makes it default associated with file types without asking me first.
I hate when I install an OS, and click on an image file and see “GIMP” grind horribly and painfully slowly in to “life” , equally annoyed when I want to read a .txt or .rtf or even .doc, and I see OO decide for itself that it is the tool for the job. Linux is about choice, and also about allowing computers less poweful to be used. Default installing HUGE memory resource and HDD hogs goes against this. By all means include them on CD or DVD, but DO NOT default install and associate.
Any kid going to school these days needs (basic knowledge of spreadsheets, databases and ) presentation software.
IMHO Gimp belongs in a linux distro. There’s a lot to say about it’s learning curve, but it’s the most powerful graphics tool for linux there is. And it’s not taking 100s of megs.
@Wakou: for a long time now, you have the opportunity to make changes to the collection of software to be installed. Quite easy to block OO.o out for install. Ever tried that?
Why should I have to take steps to stop it installing when I did not ask for it or want it in the first place? It is a royal PITA to uninstall…
I know NOW that there is a way to stop it on install, but it is too late! The whole install process is one of my major gripes with openSuse, I would like to see much more info given during the process. It is after all the first thing new users have to deal with…
Any kid going to school these days needs (basic knowledge of spreadsheets, databases and ) presentation software.
Well let these “kids” install the software they require when they require it, don’t clutter and pollute my computer and everyone else’s for the sake of these “kids”
(“My” kids, FWIW wouldn’t know a spreadsheet if they were bashed upside the head with one at 10 minute intervals…, this probably says more about the UK education system than anything else!)
“but it’s the most powerful graphics tool for linux there is”
Which is precisely why it should NOT be installed by default, and associated as default app to open .pdf .png .jpg .bmp etc etc etc,
If you want a powerful image editor, gimp is the dog’s B’s. If you simply want to look at a picture and add some text to it or resize it, it is definitely NOT.
Do you think GIMP is the best way to look at a PDF? …
Nor do I but openSuse/KDE somehow believes that it is, and auto-associates .PDF to GIMP, new users have to learn how to change preferred or default apps.
Think that has Firefox to blame for which sometimes like to use odd programs… at least I’m quite sure that a default KDE install would by default open .pdfs with Okular.
The thing is, the gcc compiler and kernel sources belong more to a standard Linux install than big bloated apps.
These basic and important things are left off liveCDs because there is no room. Kind of like leaving the engine out of a car to give more leg room :sarcastic:.
Dump OO, Gimp, whatever, but make sure we have the compile system first I say.
Obviously there are opposite views on what should/shouldn’t be on a CD distro. I do like the idea of GCC and Headers being included, and can understand OO and The Gimp being there as well. I suppose I would come down on the GCC/Headers and no Gimp side. One thing that I feel should be included on a live CD, and it would have certainly helped me last week, is Partition Editor. Obviously useful for setting up the partitions, more intuitive than yast (IMO) and a happy smiling GUI for ease of use. The other point is whether we’re talking about Live CDs or Live/Install CDs. Obviously they are both, but the key to what is on them is what their primary function is. A CD simply isn’t big enough to be all things to all people.
Ubuntu’s target market is to make it as easy as possible to get up-and-running with a featured system and little hassle.
If the removal is because it is “too complicated” then that’s not adequate to remove Gimp.
If the removal is for size, then what is going in that is so large to push out Gimp and what are the alternatives? Use Thunderbird instead of Evolution?
For the general consumer, if F-Spot comes through then the needs of 80% of users should be met. That still doesn’t answer why to remove Gimp.
OpenSUSE seems to have the LiveCD to get one started soon but provides the DVD for those more particular. Ubuntu doesn’t have the benefit of that, or more specifically they don’t sponsor a project that does that.
There are Ubuntu DVDs, but not prominently advertised.