• Libb@piefed.social
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    7 days ago

    Disclaimer: I’m old enough to have learned using a computer when computer magazines where a novelty, back when there was not even such a thing as a CD to accompany them (when those started appearing, I would hoard them ;)

    Is the installer for LibreOffice really bigger than the 700 MB of a CD?

    One won’t be, you’re right but put them all together like I imagine they have done so one can install it on any computer they have, and you will quickly need more space.

    • Linux deb is 210, add to it another 240 (it’s a tad larger) for the rpm version.
    • Windows installer is 360, times 2 (one Intel and one Arm),
    • Mac app is 300, times 2 (one Intel and one M chips)

    To that, one may add a few more megs for the various language packs, and maybe (no idea what’s on the disc) a few more megs for the PDF of the official manual in various languages?

    Plus, you know, there may be some real cool cliparts on that disc too :p

    More seriously, providing a disc sure sounds old school but, imho, there is still a couple things going on for that (supposing the mag is well written): it’s an easy to carry/share/store away all-in-one solution, that also works 100% offline.

    • No Internet required is great when you don’t have high speed unlimited access or, say, a heavily ‘controlled’ access. Such a disc would probably be more helpful as a USB stick than as a disc, but I imagine the cost would not be the same but I have no idea.
    • One gets all the basics info they need to install and start using the LO suite in a few pages, hopefully extended with the PDF of the full manuals for each app, which happen to be an excellent documentation, for anyone caring to read them. At least, I can vouch for the Writer manual as I have read it ;)

    This is the kind of things I will gladly purchase for anyone willing to give LO a chance instead of MS Office if I know they’re don’t have much experience online (using forums, searching for info).

    If Linux Mint (the distro I use, and help people install) was available likewise with a CD and a special issue of a magazine or even a book, I would distribute copies around almost all the time. A lot of people (my age but also much younger, and much older) kinda appreciate it.

    Sorry for the lengthy reply, I kinda wanted to share the idea that even if it’s odd it’s also really cool to offer this kind of bundle ;)