Bootup speed for F8

[Stewart Adam]

-  
Stewart Adam
Diffingo Solutions Inc.
Tel: 450.447.2758    Web: www.diffingo.com

On Sun, 2007-12-02 at 22:58 -0800, Andrew Farris wrote:
> Sure thats true, but perception is also just a fake improvement, and once the
> user gets used to seeing the login earlier... they'll get more and more
> discontent with how long it takes to be usable after they logged in (afterall
> they *already logged in*).  For a great example of why this can be frustrating,
> install a copy of Vista; its 'boot time' is great, but you login and wait... and
> wait... and wait.  When you do see the desktop you still can't do anything
> useful with it because the system is still so heavily loaded with background
> processes starting.  Its much the same with xp, but vista made it even worse,
> while the 'boot time' is even lower.
> 
> I have always appreciated the fact that a machine thats STARTED in linux can be
> logged into quickly and be useful with minimal delay.  The general case with
> windows which delays many background processes until login is that you can boot
> your system and walk away to get coffee... but when you come back you'll still
> sit there waiting after login before you can work.
> 
> I'm only bringing up the windows comparison for contrast, because MS has been
> working hard to bring about this same early login illusion.
> 
> Making the system *actually usable* sooner is where development time and effort
> should be spent rather than spending time to fake it.  If a valid argument can
> be made for a method to get desktop software to begin processing earlier due to
> early login then lets talk about that.  If its nothing more than login without
> letting CPU cycles go toward the desktop startup then why bother?

I agree, but the point I'm trying to bring up is let's do both in
moderation. Hacking to reduce boot time can only shorten it by so much;
At one point, there will be nothing left to shorten. An early login can
also only do so much before annoying the users (because like you say do
it too much and it makes the login unresponsive). But the two put
together and you get a quick and responsive boot up.

Stewart