Hi Martin,
We already have all that in our standard install DVD that we use when replacing hardware so I never considered them as additional applications.
No one want to use a bare bone eCS, or any other OS for that matter, one want more and new drivers, but also software, that's perhaps more important to end/home users to keep up with the rest of the world. A dated web browser has to be replaced at once and should therefore not be included, just as similar software that change fairly often.
You may have a standard DVD with a lot of corporate software you can apply in a chunk, as the end user it's not available to me so the question raised by Eugene is very relevant. Several of the original OS/2 applications could need attention, both in design (color and graphics) but also function and capabilities. Some has been replaced by new versions and now feel better while others persist, but why not include some new standard software with the OS?
Fairly statical but useful to many would include things like:
A GUI (or Wizard/SmartGuide) front end to diskinfo.exe would be interesting.
Wouldn't mind a file recovery tool paired with an optional setting for JFS to always write .LONGNAME EA's or special inode filename info.
QT4 ODBC DataBase Manager + unixODBC backend
TCP/IP configuration tool
New Image/Icon Editor
Not every software is bug free to begin with, but with the proper attention and feedback, exchange of knowledge and relevant information by testers, end users and developers, the software evolve into something better.
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I have created a large tree with software on my main machine that I go through and install from just to get what I want, but it has to be maintained as new software appear, one has to visit sites here and there and follow download links.
It seem that everyone want to tinker with the system their own way, so to not close the door but rather allow everyone to do that I would like to extend my suggestion in an earlier post in another thread. Lets have an updated online software catalogue that developers would announce their software in, just as they announce them here at os2world, paired with a front end for the end user.
That way the OS doesn't have to include outdated software but rather a convenient online software catalogue. The front end should of course be able to use local paths to already downloaded software.
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My wish is that the new distro would rather merge the Live DVD and the OS installer concepts
The user/admin can either just use it to surf the web or monitor the network without leaving the computer and do some selected stuff ("LiveCD" usage)
and/or
start the OS installer to tweak things with a fairly populated desktop and get the feel for the system while he/she wait for the installation to finish (in the background).
Regards,
Jan-Erik
Software tester, database recovery, automated software tests, technical support resource
of MONITOR ERP System AB, a standardized Resource Planning System for the industry
Home user of eCS-OS/2 as main OS.