This image was created by /u/[email protected] for this comment here: https://discuss.tchncs.de/comment/21735989. I had encouraged them to post it somewhere, but as far as I can tell, they never did.
Panel 1: “Installing Windows 20 years ago” screenshot of install wizard with just a couple buttons
Panel 2: “Installing Linux 20 years ago” screenshot of a busy command line
Panel 3: “Installing Windows today” screenshot of a busy command line
Panel 4: “Installing Linux today” screenshot of install wizard with just a couple buttons
Well that screenshot was accurate for Gentoo circa 2005, it’s just the worst choice for ease of install, with Linux graphical installs provided by suse, mandrake, and redhat from the 90s.
Fair point could be made that the out of box experience was sorely lacking and you pretty much had to configure;make install most software you actually wanted…
2005… could have had Sabayon Linux. Easy way to install gentoo with a gui installer. So even then. [Initial release 28 November 2005]. Maybe even other convenient gentoo respins before that.