On 03/14/2013 06:52 AM, Denys Vlasenko wrote:
On 03/11/2013 08:49 PM, Michael Cronenworth wrote:
On 03/11/2013 02:41 PM, Björn Persson wrote:
Yes, why not display the Grub menu?
Because it's the year 2013. Not 1999.

Whether any text is displayed or not, there still needs to be a long
enough pause that the user has time to press a key. Not displaying any
text at all would make it harder to understand that the time to press
that key is now. Many people won't even understand that they have an
opportunity to press a key.
Does any other computing device you own prompt you for a boot menu? Your
mobile phone? Your TV (which likely has embedded Linux)? Your car?
My computer is not a mobile phone or car.
I much prefer it to *not* become mobile phone-like cripple.

Why is that? Could it be because a boot menu is not necessary for normal
operation? A normal user doesn't need to wonder "Hey what kernel do I
need to boot today?" every time their system boots.
...until something breaks.
*Then* suddenly you discover that you _do_ need a way to see all
this stuff (and more).

If you are a developing developer and need to boot a different kernel or
change kernel parameters then you know how to get into the boot menu --
on-screen prompts or no on-screen prompts.

There is a time when developers need to distance themselves from
user-interfaces and realize they are not the only user of the
user-interface. This is one of those times.
Intentionally dumbing down the system so that even idiots can use it
will result in *only* idiots using it.

If you don't want to see boot menu, there is a way to switch it off.
This behavior can be made much easier to enable,
if necessary - along the lines of "Don't ask me again" checkboxes.



+1

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Stephen Clark
NetWolves
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