Browser choice in Linux Lite 2.2

[Valtam]

Web browser user preference these days seems to be split between Firefox and Chrome. In the next version of Linux Lite I'd like to give people a choice from the get-go about what browser they would want to install and use. There are several reasons for this:

1. Freedom of choice
2. I am out of ways to make Linux Lite fit on a CD, 2.2 is now DVD size. Having no web browsers installed allows us to still fit on CD thus taking care of our cd-rom only people.
3. Misko's 'Set default web browser' application can now be incorporated, a very useful tool that can be integrated into a new tool I am calling 'Web Browser Configuration' which will reside in Menu, Internet.
4. Objectively speaking, Chrome seems to be leading the way with web standards and web application compatibility, Youtube and Netflix are a good example of this.





There is another part to this. With no web browser installed by default, the Help Manual is left at the top of the Menu without a browser installed to utilize. This is solved with the following resolution - a standalone browser.

The code is small, a web browser that is 29kb in size! It is a port of a project from the PClinuxOS community I'm calling 'Lite Browser'. This web browser was ported for LL to use strictly with the Help Manual although it is quite a capable web browser in itself (not capable of showing videos like youtube etc). It is lightweight and very fast launching in a snap with tabs, zoom, backwards, forwards, search, reload and homepage buttons. Requires one small dependency: sudo apt-get install python-webkit Code here - https://www.freecinema2022.gq/files/lite-webbrowser.py launch in a terminal with: python lite-webbrowser.py (make sure it is executable first)

[img height=431 width=800]http://i.imgur.com/k07maCf.png[/img]

I'd like your feedback on this as it is a big move and I'm unaware of any other distro that currently gives this much choice with such an important piece of daily used software.

Thank you

[Wirezfree]

Hi Valtam,

I think this a very good option, and it certainly fits with keeping it "Lite" ethos
I think the screen shots are clear, understandable.

Here in the "EU"(European Union) this would not come as to much of a surprise/shock.
We had an option presented to make a choice of a default Browser since 2010.
It would then install/set your default Browser on XP/Win7 & Win8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrowserChoice.eu

Would it be a "Auto" thing that pop's up on "1st Live Boot" ~ "Please Select a Browser...."?
If so, it may negate the need for the "Lite Browser" option.?

Dave

[Valtam]

Would it be a "Auto" thing that pop's up on "1st Live Boot" ~ "Please Select a Browser...."?

I'm thinking of incorporating it into Lite Welcome.

If so, it may negate the need for the "Lite Browser" option.?

People may still click on Help Manual on the Menu before they install a web browser. Having the Lite Browser is a safety net.

[Monkeyman]

Good idea!  I've always been a Firefox fan (and probably always will be) but since it's not the only good browser out there, it makes sense to be able to install Chrome right out of the box.  Having a tiny browser pre installed just for reading the Help Manual is a grand idea.  Nothing like not being able to install something because you can't get online to figure it out.

I wouldn't worry too much about the CD/DVD thing.  I know there are some that only have CD-ROM capabilities but I think they're in the vast minority these days.  I tend to stay behind the times when it comes to hardware (purely due to money or lack of it) and I'm able to burn DVDs on both my old desktop and my 4 year old laptop.  The actual media (DVD-R disks) are cheap (at least they were last time I bought a pack).  I have 5 or 6 blank DVD-Rs so if someone wanted to burn 2.2 and just couldn't come up with the scratch for a pack of 'em, I'd gladly burn 2.2 on a DVD send it to them in the mail.

[Wirezfree]

[quote author=Wirezfree link=topic=1099.msg6604#msg6604 date=1414805856]

Would it be a "Auto" thing that pop's up on "1st Live Boot" ~ "Please Select a Browser...."?

I'm thinking of incorporating it into Lite Welcome.

If so, it may negate the need for the "Lite Browser" option.?

People may still click on Help Manual on the Menu before they install a web browser. Having the Lite Browser is a safety net. [/quote]

Makes sense, Good points..

Dave

[Valtam]

I wouldn't worry too much about the CD/DVD thing.  I know there are some that only have CD-ROM capabilities but I think they're in the vast minority these days.  I tend to stay behind the times when it comes to hardware (purely due to money or lack of it) and I'm able to burn DVDs on both my old desktop and my 4 year old laptop.  The actual media (DVD-R disks) are cheap (at least they were last time I bought a pack).  I have 5 or 6 blank DVD-Rs so if someone wanted to burn 2.2 and just couldn't come up with the scratch for a pack of 'em, I'd gladly burn 2.2 on a DVD send it to them in the mail.

I agree with you on that point, not to mention that there are now plenty of versions of Linux Lite out there now that fit on CD that people are covered for updates until at least 2017.

[Hans]

I really like the idea of choice (especially now that firefox is releasing new versions every week and not always very functional ones), but I think that not having a browser out of the box counteracts the point of being user friendly to beginner users.
CD-ROM people are more than covered and I agree with you moving on to DVD size...

Thanks very much for all your hard work, Valtam and team.
Cheers!

[zebedeeboss]

Sounds like an excellent idea - and will make Linux Lite even more appealing to 1st time Linux users looking to jump in feet first.

Being given the option to choose which browser they want will empower them and show how easy it is to install software

[bitsnpcs]

The idea for the browser choice is a good one , I like it as each has their favorite, and also may wish to try new ones they are unfamiliar with
I also like the idea of a standalone browser for the help manual, it is very well thought out, for the purposes explained and additionally if anyone ever had a browser specific issue with their chosen browser it being independent/standalone would still function and give access to the help file/is a backup browser.
The GUI and work shown looks excellent, thank you Valtam and Misko.

[Monkeyman]

I was just checking out the Help and Installation pages.  Text doesn't take much space.  How much space would it be (total) for the Help and Install pages plus any misc related files (that aren't automatically included in the OS)?  If they're only a few mb, why not just include them in the release and do away with that little browser, especially if the little browser (from now on to be called the LLLB or Linux Lite Little Browser...feel free to add that somewhere ) is really only good for accessing the Help and Install pages?  Just a random thought.  Take it with a grain of salt.  I've taken my Ambien and am on my way to bed so I might not be making sense.