(Received through www@gentoo.org and personally later on) (Mail from Carl Karsten) [... Snip 5b is confusing ...] A few things contributed. the 5b part is where I no longer felt as though I was understanding what I should do, but I think the problem extends to the whole thing. A. In general, I think the same choices should be described, but more description on the impact they have. "Impact" falls into two categories: things that drive the decision, and things that are effects of the decision. #1 should be placed at the point the person is told they have a choice, #2 at the point where the choice has an effect. A good example of #1 being done well is the stage 1 2 or 3 choice. Where I think #1 could be done better is in 5b/5c choice. Where I would like to see #2: "(or, in some cases, a single stage1 file)" - I would like to know what choice(s) would determine if I do/don't have that case. something like (or, if you are using an X or Y cd, a single stage1 file)" B. The part that really tripped me was "If you have lynx available..." For some reason, I figued that I should have it, so when I couldn't find it I assumed that I had done something wrong in a previous step. It's like an error detecting protocol: if the checksum fails, I should go back and redo the part that I did wrong. After reading the lynx/links2 parts, I wonder why links2 is ever an option. I see the "more powerful" but I don't see where that power is used as part of the setup. For those that want a boot cd for other things besides setting up gentoo, get knoppix - don't make the gentoo cd more confusing for newbies. C. I think that there should be consistancy accross different sections with regard to earlier hoices. This may be the way it is done, if so then it needs to be more clear. I doubt this is clear, so I think some psudo code will help make my statements clear: 2b - make your choice: Minimal LiveCD Universal LiveCD chap 5 Present the options in the same order if you are using a Minimal LiveCD do this else (you are using Universal LiveCD) do that Don't flip them around: chap 5 if you are using Universal LiveCD do that else (you are using a Minimal LiveCD) do this I 'should' be able to figure out either one, but keeping the same order helps me remember. I am guessing it is because I am not only remembering "Universal" but also it was the 2nd choice, and so when it comes up again, if it isn't both "Universal" and 2nd it triggers a checksum error and off I go to see if I did something wrong. What would be really nice is if there was a way to checkpoint (?) or verify that the previous steps were completed. Or a way to test if we are ready for the next step.
One step at a time :) I've updated chapter 5 with a few phrazes to make the choice more natural. Especially since it is rather easy (not like all users have a choice, it just depends on how you install Gentoo).
lynx/links2 is a sad situation; I've mailed gentoo-releng about this in the hope that all LiveCDs have a common browser so we can stick with a single one. Multiple choices in this case aren't positive as the power of links2 isn't needed by the installation anyway.
The checkpointing stuff is handled in bug #50641; I'll try to have our document consistent wrt choices. Anyway, renaming the bug so I know it's about the lynx/links2 stuff (all the rest is covered now).
Committed to CVS. All your base are belong to links2 now.
