[WinPartners] Re: Fall 2005 Getting Started CD release effort underway

[Kerem B Limon]

Quoting Peter Maloof <pjm at MIT.EDU>:

> Deb:
> 
> > Today, most students have access to faster Internet connections both on 
> > and off campus.
> 
> Instead of a CD, I suggest a downloadable CD image. It'd be easier to 
> update, presumably less expensive and you wouldn't ever have to worry 
> about software not fitting. Some students would have it installed before 

With all due respect, if the method of acquisition is download, then there is no
point to a CD image and it would over-complicate things. This is like printing
a document, only to type it back into the computer. Instead, you could make it
just a .zip file if the intent is a wholesale download. Otherwise, the
web.mit.edu/software page is more than satisfactory.

What would be useful (and we had talked about this in the past) is a simple
shell installer that would let you download a large .zip file, expand to all
the contents of the downloadable software, then let you check those items you
want installed and do an unattended install of all of those. In a pinch, it
doesn't even have to be unattended, just launch the installers sequentially,
overriding the reboot prompt at the end of any that have it--kind of like what
the Adobe CDs do. (Sorry, Atticus--;), not trying to pile up more work on
you!).

-Kerem


> they even show up on campus, which is good for things like VirusScan. If 
> you required certs to get it, you could even guarantee students have 
> valid certificates.
> 
> > Linux:
> > Adobe Reader 5.08
> 
> Version 7 is available, and far superior to version 5.08.
> 
> -- 
> Peter Maloof
> Server Operations Team
> Information Services & Technology (IS&T)
> pjm at mit.edu
> 


Kerem B. Limon
kerem.limon at mit.edu /e-mail