12.04 LTS: 64-bit desktop by default?

[Oliver Grawert]

hi,
On Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:03:14 -0700
Steve Langasek <steve.langasek at ubuntu.com> wrote:

> Hi folks,
> 
> Back at last UDS in November, we discussed whether it was time to
> switch to presenting 64-bit images as the default image for desktop,
> like they already are for server, now that all new desktop hardware
> is 64-bit and multiarch is a reality.
> 
> There was a rough consensus at UDS that the blockers were solved, but
> that the question should be taken to ubuntu-devel to gather more
> input.  That input-gathering is happening much later than intended,
> but here we are now.

i might have just a brainfart (nothing of the below has ever been
tested i think and i have no idea if anything of it works at all), but
how about rolling a bi-arch DVD that boots into a 32bit kernel, has some
detection code and then kexecs into the real installer which has the
proper target arch... indeed this would mean to use up twice the space
(1.4G instead of 700M) but users who are unsure about their arch could
at least be sure to have install media that does the right thing for
them and saves frustration and coasters ...

indeed as i said in my intro i doubt there is much data out there if
such a thing works at all, it would have to be tested if/how kexec works
with syslinux/isolinux, if everything falls over when the secondary
booted kernel has bigger word sizes than the originally booted one etc.
but i think it is one possible solution for the problem ...

ciao
	oli
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 198 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/attachments/20120418/605dea67/attachment.pgp>