Yokemate of Keyboards
Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
From: Northern Calif...
I think that this is a great idea to bring awareness of good programs being ported to MorphOS2.x to people that might become interested to find out what MorphOS2.x is. We might even get 1 or 2 new users this way, from people that like to experiment with alternative OSes and also already have a MorphOS2.x compatible G4 computer that is not being used for anything else.
There are other people in the world that like to put old equipment back to work, instead of having it thrown in the trash, recycled, or forgotten in the closet, or attic. Since MorphOS2.x is so much more responsive than MacOSX on the older G4 Macs, it should impress a few people that take the time to investigate it by installing the free demo version and taking a look at it. I think that the MorphOS Development Team should rethink the amount of pre-installed software that currently is included in the MorphOS iso and add more programs that are pre-configured, setup ready to be used with all components needed also installed, sort of like how most Linux distributions come with tons of its free programs pre-installed, or easily installed as an option during the install process. Something like the "Pack Ultimate", but only programs that are tested, rock solid, and still supported by their programmers.
The MorphOS community could help by putting the added programs together with an installer and provide all support to keep it updated and the MorphOS Development Team could work with them by deciding which programs they approve to be included in the added programs package, and also tell the group of users maintaining the added programs package how the Team wants the installer to work as an option during the regular install process, or a menu option to install the added programs after the MorphOS install is complete.
The MorphOS iso does not take up much space on a CD, so filling the rest of the space of a standard CD with added programs would make it easier for new users to get several added programs without having to go to many other download sites (or Papiosaur's site to get the Pack Ultimate) to get more content for their MorphOS install. This added programs & content does not have to be nearly as large and complete as the "Pack Ultimate", but I think it would be good if the "Team" would consider adding a few more programs to the standard MorphOS2.x install, either as always installed with the OS, or as an option to add during or after the install of the OS.
I know that the "Team" has had some criticism of the Pack Ultimate in its early days/months, but have not read any recent criticism of it lately, so maybe if there is no longer any criticism from the "Team" members, they could include a mention of the Pack Ultimate and provide a link to it within a short note describing it to new users who install the latest version of MorphOS. The only problem I can see with this idea is that downloading and installing the Pack Ultimate probably takes longer than the 30 minutes available from the demo version of MorphOS2.x.
Sorry for going off topic, and again congrats on putting up your software port on a site not dedicated to MorphOS alone.
MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.