possibly add option during install of non free video drivers

[Corsairs]

What about programming the Mageia installer to sense graphic card capability then notifying the user of being able to select advanced options during the installation process that would allow them to choose whether to use non free video card drivers or FOSS drivers, then afterwards select which window manager options are then available so that on first reboot the graphics and desktop are all set up and running.
I have found lots of new comers to linux don't often learn how to do those installs or know of their capability until later on which creates quite a bit of frustration when first learning to set them up correctly. I have seen people get frustrated/lost/stumped with the CLI method or aggravated at gui's which don't work and lead them around in circles as they try to "just make it work". Often newcomers then go to forums seeking help only to get a go RTFM response or told to go google the hell out of it, but does this really help people be happy with linux right away or keeps giving linux that "hard to use" black eye.
Too often when newcomers play with the computers of more experienced users that have already been set up with the cool effects they cant believe how nice it can be then want their computers running similarly.
its been my personal experience to note that friends/coworkers who have given me their old computers or laptops before they toss them out ask me to set them up on linux as an experiment usually end up liking the machine so much when they get it back they quickly switch from the other commercial offerings and take up linux.

Just my 2 cents on what might help Mageia, take it for what its worth.

[Sfiet_Konstantin]

Hi
Are you new in Mageia ? If yes, welcome
In fact, Mageia already has this ability, but not in DVD version, that only contains free software and is designed to only install free softwares.
In order to enable 3D acceleration with proprietary drivers, you have two solutions :
- After installing DVD version, you can go to repositores management and eanble non free drivers, and then use the display configuration tool in MCC to get the driver.
- Use the live CD, that includes drivers, and can be installed directly

[pmithrandir]

I don't really understand why mageia do the same error than mandriva.

Why to create a DVD with free only software as the default distrib. If they have the right to create a live CD with proprietary drivers, why to put in first line the DVD with free only stuff.
It would be much easier to have by default the system that works, and to keep the system that works "sometimes" as a backup solution. Available to download, but not installed.

Or maybe to give some non free software on the DVD, but to ask during installation which repositories people wants, to install the right version.

Right now, we have 2 solutions :

Use the live CD, that includes drivers, and can be installed directly

Should be the best, but presented as a temporary solution in most article.

After installing DVD version, you can go to repositores management and eanble non free drivers, and then use the display configuration tool in MCC to get the driver.

Not easy, not natural and definitly hardf to explain to someone who has just install mageia.

[isadora]

Though i feel what you mean pmithrandir, i think it's more about licensing then about errors.
Mageia does have it's own policy concerning this issue. Let's say, the core of the distribution is about free- and open-sourced software.

More information about this topic, is to be found in the (temporary) wiki:
http://mageia.org/wiki/doku.php?id=licensing_policy

[wobo]

I don't really understand why mageia do the same error than mandriva.

Because it is not an error.

Why to create a DVD with free only software as the default distrib. If they have the right to create a live CD with proprietary drivers, why to put in first line the DVD with free only stuff.
It would be much easier to have by default the system that works, and to keep the system that works "sometimes" as a backup solution. Available to download, but not installed.

Mageia is a free distribution and by supplying a free DVD it follows the philosophy of GPL'd software. Linux is about this idea of non-licensed and free software.
For those who don't care Mageia also supplies the LiveCDs which contain non-free software. These LiveCDs are also for those who can not set up net access without the non-free software (wifi). Everything else works with the free software and it is up to the user to decide. It's an opt-in system, you have to do something to get proprietary drivers.

I am totally aware that there are many people out there who do not care about all this free, non-free, licenses, whatever. All they want is a nice system. But these issues exist and making people aware of them is the first step of getting rid of these issues.

[pmithrandir]

I think you can check a lot of users, I have never met someone who use only free software.
The 1st reason is the poor level of the open source video drivers.

I will totally understand to have the choice during the installation, but I think it's a major error(and I maintened the word) to choose to have by default a free only distribution.
Basically, people who want's to try linux could choose between mageia and ubuntu.
One is fast and totally usable after the installtion.
The other one cannot read a mp3, a DVD or a DIVX without working on it for hours to understand how it works and what to install.

I'm not sure the MCC value is meaningfull enough for new comers to keep them during that process.

Honnestly, if you want free only stuff, you don't choose mageia, because you are aware of the differences, so you are a high level developper or computer addict. It means you are part of 1% of the population. And most of them don't really care of the MCC because they know how it works.
Mageia must fits the customers who want to install it.

Ubuntu have got so much users because evrything works fine directly... In the same time, mandriva loose users and money... Maybe there is a reason.

[Sfiet_Konstantin]

I think you can check a lot of users, I have never met someone who use only free software.
The 1st reason is the poor level of the open source video drivers.

I was truly surprised by nouveau for my nvidia card. It is faster than Nvidia driver and does not causes glitches.

Basically, people who want's to try linux could choose between mageia and ubuntu.
One is fast and totally usable after the installtion.
The other one cannot read a mp3, a DVD or a DIVX without working on it for hours to understand how it works and what to install.

The live CD is here to try Mageia and discover how it works.
About divx codecs and all those stuff, I think that there are room of improvements (autodownload flash / codecs based on packagekit ?)

But I think (and it is my opinion) that ubuntu is really the "linux distro for dummies". When you understand what is a free software, how it works, you understand your computer, and want a little more control. Ubuntu does not permit that (if you install KDE under ubuntu, if you want root, then you breaks the distro). Mageia is suited for many users : basic , intermediary, experts, powers users. But, indeed, it is a little bit more complicated.

And if there is a strong community around mageia, the community can help newbies and make the process of learning simplier.

Ubuntu have got so much users because evrything works fine directly... In the same time, mandriva loose users and money... Maybe there is a reason.

Nothing works. Ubuntu (at least the version I tried) is installed as a pure free linux, but has installers for non free drivers. It is just more visible as a notification directly apprears after the 1st boot.


My 0.02€

[TabletHater]

I'm a noob and new to the party, so please excuse me to dare say these:

Mageia (or any distro I would guess) should choose between one of those two positions:

1. We are firmly against the use of tainted software and accordingly we won't make it any easier for you to install them. You're on your own.

2. Though we appreciate the importance of free software, we're also realists and like to offer a working and user friendly distro as oppossed to a geek friendly one.

That is, based on your position you either make it easier or not, but not semi-easier as Mageia presently seems to make. Excuse me, but this looks absurd. And I wonder, all those defending the current position do or do not use tainted software themselves?

[pmithrandir]

But I think (and it is my opinion) that ubuntu is really the "linux distro for dummies". When you understand what is a free software, how it works, you understand your computer, and want a little more control. Ubuntu does not permit that (if you install KDE under ubuntu, if you want root, then you breaks the distro). Mageia is suited for many users : basic , intermediary, experts, powers users. But, indeed, it is a little bit more complicated.

The issue here for me is that mageia comes from mandriva, that comes from mandrake that created the idea of a distro for dummies. They wrer 5 years in advance of ubuntu to this idea, but because they want to reach all goals at the same time, they created something not best for everybody.

I can understand that people could appreciate to use the same distro for a server, personnal use,and so, but that is not so easy to realize.
BTW, Ubuntu does that perfectly, for years I can only works with ubuntu server at work. I saw some red hat, maybe one or 2 debian, but that's it. Ubuntu is 90% of the server in 1 to 100 people companies.

Regarding your needs, I don't get it, you want to connect as root on KDE ? Does mageia allow you to do that ? I thought it was not adviced, and even not possible since 2 or 3 years for security reasons...
There is the KDE menu root something ^package that allow you tyo perform root action from dolphin easily without command line. Again something that should be installed by default...

Fopr Nouveau driver, I don't test the last one. If they are good, it would resolve this topic for nvidia card...