Hello,
I spotted recently on http , 'netinstall' and wondered what it was.
It was where usually 150-180MB of distro basic set up is downloaded as an iso, checked and installed directly from that downloaded iso to the hdd.
After this netinstall has been installed a window opens with some required and some optional additional downloads, completing that finishes off the install.
Thus requiring no physical external media to be available or used. eg no usb, cd or dvd.
Alternatively to the netinstall of 150MB-180MB it was multiple GB iso of the distro.
At a guess* this netinstall would be completed via a GUI point n click (or kb n click).
I make the GUI guess* - based upon, after reading the description of this type of netinstall although I have not installed a distro in this manner, it became apparent to me that I had completed something similar recently for my 10yo nephew on a new Toshiba laptop where it is supplied by the manufacturer this way and requires the install of windows 8.1 to be done over the net directly from M$.
You see no desktop just a black screen with Toshiba blah blah, installing....... the guide says "you must have a working internet connection plug it in then turn on the laptop for the first time and wait until it is installed over the internet from M$, it may reboot multiple times, wait for the completion screen"
Most knowing how slow M$ updates are in comparison to the lightening fast Linux updates, you can get the idea doing 8.1 this way took many hours to complete, (over 16 hours), then many hours to dl/install the bug fixes and security updates (all evening and until 4pm the next day) to complete.
Not currently available for LL it could solve the "LL on CD", and the LL on CD/vs DVD questions/debate as 150MB is Lightweight and can be burned as an iso for install if users didn't wish to do direct iso to hdd installs, and also offer an additional solution to some of the LL USB how to's, problems, issues tutorials, us Linux newbies have.
It seems interesting on a more efficient OS than M$, eg; Linux.
Numbers time hehe, it would require -
1/ a netinstall iso
2/ a tutorial to be wrote for that
3/ a GUI to be adapted/or wrote for the completion of required areas to complete the install.
4/ possibly an expansion of the additional software for netinstalls, or adding of these additional software to the GUI @ #3
5/ plenty of time to make this available.
Positives -
1/ manufacturers would like this option and its users who've used similar with MS installs would be familiar with the method, has potential for more new users of Linux.
2/ it may be a way to get LL on to new machines re #1. Or be useful in conjunction with the recently discussed by Jerry idea of offering machines with LL already on them.
3/ it may be a way to solve external media problems/requirements.
4/ it could showcase the difference in install speed, and update speed, very easily to someone who has never used Linux previously right from the start, before the OS is even installed.
eg; it wouldn't take over several days to install and update
(ramble area) - The visual difference would be so extreme I 'vision' some videography genuis with - 2 exact same computers next to each other with 2 time clocks, where they video it for YouTube (and elsewhere), then directly after install completion the showing of MS v/s replacement Linux appz, to demonstrate the same can be done on each machine. Dispelling some of the myths about Linux as an OS.
Of course the Linux OS would require a part 2,3,n... videos to show all the extra things it can be used for after that install and how it can be tweaked, in all the ways windows cannot.
Thus concisely (unlike this post) visually displaying the efficiency of install and use of Linux v/s windows in like for like manner, the video it'd probably go viral. (especially if the greater Linux community jumped on it and made concerted efforts to ensure it did)
(end ramble)
Further ideas I offer -
1/ it could also be added/used for the assisted install paid for option.
2/ netinstalls of distro I seen I was curious so had to look for info what it was, the download was an iso only, the LL download could arrive with the tutorial on how to install the iso directly to hard drive and screenshots of what to expect, and how to use/tutorial of the follow on after install to complete the installation and add option software.
A complete 'package' but not a "package".
(Linux newbie joke attempt warning, after the fact in true newbie style like I usually demonstrate).
3/ the work creating that would be balanced off by the staff time not being needed as much to do paid live installs.re #1 - paid option
4/ an unassisted free netinstall as iso only and no access to 'package' deal tutorials, could be available for experienced users to d/l. Thus the paid option is for the assisted installs as currently.
I don't know the ins/outs of the process, I have only completed one such install so far as stated above.
I do not have the knowledge to discuss the topic, it's just my suggestion in case the idea is interesting/or not for others to discuss.
