A small Debian-NP detail

Hi,

I just joined the list.  My name's Holmes Wilson and I'm involved with 
running a program that uses donated computers and linux to set up labs 
in my town of Worcester, Massachusetts: worcestercoop.org.  It's 
similar to Freegeek, but a lot smaller, and still just getting going.  
A big part of my interest in the project has to do with turning 
nonprofits on to the benefits of free software, so I'm really into the 
idea of Debian NP, and I think making a live CD was a very good call.

Anyway, I just tried out the Debian-NP live CD, and I have a couple 
small points that I think could make the next version better suited for 
its purpose:

The first was that I really think the default background art should be 
replaced with something more conservative.  Not because I don't like 
the graphic, or because I personally think people should have boring 
Desktop backgrounds--I hate Windows98 green just as much as the next 
guy.  But speaking as someone who's really tried to pitch Linux to 
skeptical, non-tech-savvy people who run community groups, it's always 
seemed like the number one challenge is convincing them that linux is 
not some weird wacky thing that will make their computers even more 
inscrutable.  To that end, I think Debian-NP would be a more effective 
demonstration if the computer looked a little less weird.  A solid, 
darkish color or a nice gradient would be a lot better, I think.   If 
it were subtly branded with something like "Debian-NP: Linux for 
nonprofits", then so much the better.  But I think the beaker filled 
with magenta liquid is a bit too trippy for people who are already 
nervous about changing computers (and may already be leaning towards 
thinking I'm some hippy idealist :)

The second issue was with the menu in the panel.  Having a separate 
menu for Debian apps is confusing and strange.  Things are set up that 
way too at an LTSP lab we run, and I've seen it confuse people.  Most 
people aren't going to know what Debian is, and to beginners (nearly 
everyone, when it comes to Linux) it's bad to introduce unnecessary 
arbitrary terms for things, because it confuses people.  Some of those 
programs shouldn't be in the panel menu at all, and other very useful 
ones are buried under several layers because they're in the "Debian 
menu".  If we could put all the programs considered useful in a single 
panel menu that would be a lot less confusing for first-time users.

Thanks everybody, for putting together such a nice tool, and I'm 
looking forward to being part of this discussion.

Holmes