Re: Linux-->A Desktop Cluster-***-> Only a Masochist Would Use Linux.

From: Walter Mautner (nextnews.15.eatallspam_at_spamgourmet.com)
Date: 03/24/04 

Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 21:00:28 +0100

David Wong Singh wrote:

> Linux is not ready for the desktop despite the all the rantings of the
> loonie linux wackos.
> OK. I have written here before. I had installed Mandrake 9.2 after
> finally
> getting fed up with Windows crashes and viruses.
> When I first installed Mandrake I had a deadline due and was getting
> very
> frustrated. I took the advice given by some here and finished my
> assignment
> using windows.
>
Ok. Too much to learn, you couldn't expect to take this together with the
deadline.
 
> Now, after using Linux for a month I would like to say Linux is
> DEFINITELY
> not ready for the desktop.
>
> There are just too many annoyances and bugs.
>
Most of them can be sorted out quite fine, so let's go on ...

> First the good points:
>
> I like the KDE environment. It has some really nice features such as
> opening
> a console in the directory your browsing just by right clicking.
> (yes I know KDE + mandrake != Linux)
>
Just one example, but KDE is for sure a nice thing for a windows convert.
 
> LOTS of FREE software.
>
> Stable. It has not locked up or crashed yet.
>
Hope so.
 
> Bad Points:
>
> Though Linux itself is stable the software written for it is not. More
> times
> than I can count Konqueror has crashed. Totem often crashes, and WILL
> NOT
> play DVDs (it crashes). KMix does not keep its settings (even when
> saved as

You might have installed some component from source, without maintaining
the .... well ... dependencies, and some other applications lost their ...
yeah ... dependencies.
A good idea, if you really have to install from source, is to use
checkinstall.
But you most probably won't need it.

> default). Annoying as the default comes out my speakers at a whisper.
> KMix
> also appears EVERYTIME I boot up (perhaps it knows that I'm gonna need
> to
> change the settings back each time...)
>
You set "save session" in KDE some time ago, and now it always starts that
saved session. Run kcontrol to fix that under "components - session
management".
 
> The software that is available on linux is very immature in comparison
> to
> Windows. On windows features abound. On linux features are not
> abundant.

Mmhm, I often see software in linux made with much more care for details and
user feedback, as in windows. The point is, you can even modify most of the
software by yourself, or write simple scripts to add functionality. It's
open source and many projects stay alive just from user interaction.

> A prime example is Real Player, very unstable (try pausing then
> restarting a
> streaming video - CRASH). When embedded in Mozzila ,try to listen to
> the
> radio, it has no pause/rewind/fastforward buttons.
>
One bad example of course, realplayer is not opensource and development lags
way behind actual kernel and soundsystem features. Realmedia should put
some more effort into that piece of software, or release it to GPL and open
source.

> Now sure, windows has its faults too. Its not exactly known for its
> stability (but since win2000 its not doing too badly). But the MAIN
> reason
> why Linux is not ready is installing new software.
>
> Unless a sane method of installing software can be devised linux WILL
> NEVER
> make it onto the desktop. It will only ever be used in situations
> where
> users do not need to ever install new software.
>
There are really matured systems like urpmi (mandrake), apt-get (debian),
portage (gentoo), up2date (suse) which take care of the dependencies.
Rpm by itself is just the "backoffice application" for experts. Just like
compiling from source.
And with Mandrake, you can do it all from the nice gui "mandrake control
center - software management". Just google for "easy urpmi" or "urpmi
setup" and download the software lists.
Of course, you will soon want a broadband. Or a friend with that, burning
interesting things to CD. You can add media in software manager containing
your own downloaded rpms.
....
> Joe User doesn't even know what SOFTWARE really *is*, let alone a
> compiler.
> And nor should he have to know.
>
Just as simple as going fishing on tucows :)
....
> I am asked to insert Mandrake CD 3. Unfortunately my "main" CD ROM
> drive
> broke ( I have 2 in my system). Mandrake does not give me the choice
> to
> select which CD ROM drive I want to use!!! Moreover it insists on
> trying
> to use the broken CD drive even though it no longer even plugged into
> (or
> even inside) the computer.
>
Again, Mandrake control center and the software media manager. You probably
will have to remove the cdrom media and add them again, this time using the
correct drive, inserting one after the other (user way). Or create a device
symlink which maps the remaining drive to the name of the missing one
(smart way, involves some commandline "hacking").
Once more, you can use the control centre to adjust your mountpoints,
without need to touch /etc/fstab by hand-editing, if you prefer.

> I presume this is happening because somewhere Mandrake has my old
> drive set
> as the default CD drive.
>
> How do I change this?
>
> I can't install any software :-(
>
See above :)
 
> Yes, both WERE working.
> Yes, the CD drive left IS working.
> Yes, Mandrake can see and read from this drive.
> Yes, I have tried urpmi.

Urpmi becomes really useful as soon as you add net sources (contrib, plf,
cooker and such). Just go fishing and use google.

> Yes, I tried editinf the fstab file. I don't think I did it wrong
> because I
> can read from the good drive, but I MUST have I suppose.
>
> What do I do?

Use the software manager.
Or if you are brave, take a look at /etc/urpmi/ and the files there.
Be patient, it takes only a short extended effort until you become familiar
with linux. 

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