Re: Making linux more user friendly
From: Andy Fraser (andyfraser31_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/04/05
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Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:35:55 +0100
In alt.linux, Brian white uttered the immortal words:
> Before anybody blows a fuse and writes something truly stupid and
> offensive in reply, please read to the end.
Ok. Done that. Constructive (I think anyway) comments below.
> We all know that linux does not always work with all the hardware on a
> home
> computer
The reason: a lot of hardware manufacturers don't support Linux. If they
release the specs for their device then someone usually writes a kernel
module pretty quickly. If they don't some poor sod has the job of reverse
engineering a Linux driver. IMHO the kernel devs do a fantastic job.
Because of the attitude of some hardware manufacturers they're always
playing catch up.
> so why not probe it from the net first?
How will that work exactly? I haven't put a lot of thought into it but ISTM
that someone is going to have to write a client program (probably for
Windows) that'll probe the hardware. A nice idea for newbies to check
hardware compatibility of their system before installing Linux but unless
someone decides to write this program they'll have to manually check
against compatibility database.
If such a program already exists then disregard the above.
> (Just like the antivirus
> companys do in windows).
Don't they use an ActiveX, a Windows only technology, component to do that?
> knoppix does something like that from the cd.
Yes, using Kudzu. I have coldplug (Gentoo's name for the hotplug boot
script) installed that does that. I only need to "manually" load the nVidia
driver (Knoppix detects that separately too).
> If there are going to be hardware issues, recommend a change of graphics
> or sound card or webcam or whatever.
> Then a distro just for that computer and its user requirements can be made
> and shipped to that user with almost 100% certainty that it will work well
> and as fast as possible on that particular computer.
There's no need for that. If the kernel is shipped with a complete set of
kernel modules pre-compiled the installer can easily detect all of your
hardware and set the system up accordingly. That's much more efficient than
supplying a custom kernel to every user. If a Linux driver doesn't exist
then no amount of customisation is going to get your hardware working.
> Linux is advanced enough that this could be automatic.
It is and it does. See comments about hardware manufacturers and
availability of drivers.
> Microsoft could not compete with that especially for slightly older
> computers.
> Now, about webcams and instant messaging,
> I started a thread looking for normal IM functionality on linux
> (inclucing webcam support of course).
The expression "normal IM functionality" will mean different things to
different people. I don't use a webcam for example so Gaim and Kopete have
all the "normal IM functionality" as far as I'm concerned.
> And a rude yob gave the reply below.
> It is not acceptable. PERIOD
This sounds like the sort of thing you'd write to a tech support company
that hasn't delivered. This is Usenet. It's public. It's not a free
professional tech support service. You have to ignore posts that are
unhelpful and just read those that do help. If you want customer service
then pay for it. Sad but true.
> I wish to speak to his employer about his attitude, so, if any of you know
> more, please contact me. And if you know him, in the linux community,
> please tell him what a disservice he does to his cause.
Woah there! That's way OTT! I doubt very much that he's posting on behalf of
his company. I'm sure his company doesn't offer free, professional tech
support via Usenet and they have nothing to do with it.
I believe that people are free to do as they please (as long as it's legal)
in their free time. I believe in free speech. It sounds like you want to
use heavy handed tactics to stifle someone's right to free speech because
you didn't like what they said. That's not very democratic.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to
say it." - Voltaire.
> I have read through some of the comments in threads here and some
> contribitors have a lot of growing up to do.
Ignore those people. That's what killfiles are for.
> I am not a programmer, i am
> an end user. I expect a usable desktop system.
Choices, choices, choices. You can choose Linux, you can choose Windows.
Choose the best tool for the job. I'm thankful to the F/OSS movement for
giving us a choice.
> That means webcam support
> for IM.
You haven't said which network you're using (MSN, Yahoo, other). These are
usually proprietary protocols. Yahoo, for example, make a Linux and OS X
client but it's severely lacking compared to the Windows client with, you
guessed it, no webcam support. Gaim and Kopete devs (among others) have to
reverse engineer the protocol to get their software to work. This can be a
battle when the protocol changes to thwart them. Maybe they'll get round to
webcam support one day. You should ask them. Or maybe you should
complaining to Yahoo or MSN or whoever's network it is you use because it's
their protocol and network.
> I sent my relatives halfway across the world a webcam and i cannot
> communicate with them through it because i use linux. That is a stupid
> situation. As long as linux has this glaring hole in its armour, it will
> never be accepted by young people as a real operating system.
> I worked with young guys half my age and they laughed at my unix yahoo
> messanger (no webcam support) and my kopete (no webcam support) typing to
> their msn (until msn changed protocols)
> Thats just the way it is. Build IM with webcam for linux of forget the
> desktop.
Over reaction IMHO. I think there are people out there who don't think IM
with webcam support is the be all end all of an OS. I one of them. Those
who do can use Windows. Choices, best tool for the job and all that. For me
that's Linux, for you maybe it's Windows.
-- Andy.
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