Re: Britannica and Linux. Does it get any more pitiful?

From: Clump (msgclump_at_canada.com)
Date: 10/07/05 

Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2005 07:57:24 -0400

Jorge Jorgensen wrote:
>> Here is a perfect example of how little software and hardware
>> manufacturers care about Linux.
>>
>>
>> Now let's take a looksee.
>> With Windows XP I put the CD in the tray, selected install from the
>> pop-up
>> menu and after feeding 2 more CD's in I was done.
>> Total time 5 minutes or less.
>>
>> EVERY SINGLE FEATURE OF THE PROGRAM WORKS PERFECTLY!
>>
>> Now let's talk Linux and more importantly what Linux Lusers are
>> willing to
>> put up with and call "working".......
>>
>> http://support.britannica.com/linux/linux.htm
>>
>> You know you are in trouble when you read this:
>>
>> Encyclopædia Britannica has developed a Perl script that allows
>> Linux users to install and run 2004 Encyclopædia Britannica software
>> products on a modern Linux installation.
>>
>> While we are very pleased to offer this Perl script for your use,
>> we must make it clear that the 2004 Encyclopædia Britannica software
>> titles were not developed to run on Linux, and we are not able to
>> support
>> this script, nor any other Linux installation of our software. We are
>> making this script available for the convenience and enjoyment of
>> Linux
>> users, but its use is strictly experimental and unsupported.
>>
>> To elaborate further:
>> This Perl script, including the source code, documentation and
>> related
>> data, is made available by Encyclopædia Britannica. This software is
>> provided as-is, without warranty of any kind, not even the implied
>> warranty of merchantability. Encyclopædia Britannica, the author of
>> this
>> software, assumes no responsibility for any consequence resulting
>> from the
>> use, modification, or redistribution of this software.
>>
>>
>> IOW we sort of made it work for the 5 geek users of Linux that may
>> want
>> this thing.
>>
>> Read on because it gets wven funnier!!
>>
>> n addition, you will need to make sure that the JAVA_HOME environment
>> variable is set properly and that the Java 'bin' folder is in your
>> path.
>> To set these environment variables for the current session, you can
>> use
>> the following commands:
>>
>> export JAVA_HOME=/path/to/JDK (e.g., export
>> JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/j2sdk1.3.1) export
>> PATH=/path/to/java/bin/:$PATH (e.g., export
>> PATH=/usr/local/j2sdk1.3.1/bin:$PATH)
>>
>> To make these variables persist for future sessions, add both of the
>> above commands to your shell's
>> initialization script in your home folder (i.e.,.bashrc).
>>
>>
>>
>> WOW!!!
>>
>>
>> All I did was insert the CD (UNDER WINDOWS XP OF COURSE) and it
>> downloaded, installed and configured java all by itself.
>>
>> My "shell's initialization script" ?
>>
>> WTF is that?
>>
>> WTF is a shell?
>>
>> But I digress and it gets even funnier:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> There are a few bugs known to exist when running the Britannica
>> titles on Linux.
>> We are aware of the following issues:
>>
>> *
>> Various Java VM messages of the form "Font specified in
>> font.properties not found": This can be fixed by replacing your
>> .../jdk/jre/lib/font.properties file with the following:
>> http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/font.properties
>> *
>> Preferences must be edited manually: Preferences must be edited
>> manually under the following:
>>
>>
>> ~/britannica/[product]/conf/[user].[product].preferences.properties
>> *
>> Certain dialog boxes may be too small when displayed: Clicking
>> buttons on
>> the application's homepage launches the dialog boxes in question. As
>> a
>> workaround, just close and reopen the dialog.
>> *
>> 'Go' button to initiate search is missing: The 'Go' button that
>> normally
>> appears to the right of most search boxes is missing. To begin a
>> Search,
>> press Enter or Return instead.
>> *
>> Dictionary does not function: Entering a search term in the
>> Dictionary/Thesaurus search box and pressing Enter will display no
>> results.
>> *
>> Flash presentations do not work: All Flash presentations, including
>> interactive images and the Timelines, will not be displayed. The
>> QuickTime player that is used to render these presentations on
>> Windows
>> and Macintosh does not run on Linux.
>> *
>> QuickTime features do not work: Any video, audio, or animation
>> files that exist cannot be played. The QuickTime player that is
>> used to render these files on Windows and Macintosh does not
>> run on Linux. *
>> Content Updates do not download: The 'Online Updates' feature
>> is not able to download and install updated content.
>> *
>> 'More Online Content' does not function: The 'More Online
>> Content' button that appears above the search results does not
>> function. As a workaround, you can open a browser window to the
>> following address and reenter your search term:
>> http://cdsearch.britannica.com/search?shelf=eb
>> *
>> World Atlas does not open: The World Atlas feature does not open
>> when launching Britannica from the Data Disc. However, the
>> hard-drive installation method noted in the Advanced section
>> below will allow the Atlas to function.
>> *
>> Knowledge Navigator loads, but is empty: The Knowledge Navigator
>> window opens, but the database is not available. Therefore, no
>> data set appears in the window.
>> *
>> Learning Activities and Games & Activities buttons do not
>> function:The Learning Activities and Games & Activities buttons
>> do not launch a browser window as they are supposed to. The
>> workaround for this issue is to manually open a browser window
>> and enter one of the following URLs:
>> o Learning Activities (Student Library):
>>
>>
>>
>> http://cdsearch.britannica.com/browse/learning?shelf=ebi&pid=urs04 o
>> Games & Activities (Elementary Library):
>> http://cdsearch.britannica.com/browse/learning?shelf=ebk&pid=urs04
>>
>>
>> Oh that's a riot!!!!
>>
>> See the Quicktime Player reference?
>> Well that sure as hell explains why many websites don't work with
>> Linux.
>>
>> Once again Linux proves that doing without is the Linux way...
>>
>> But this one is the most hysterical:
>>
>> t is possible to install Britannica to your hard drive so that you
>> do not need
>> to insert the Data Disc(s) to launch the program. To do this, you
>> will
>> need to copy the contents of the Data Disc(s) to your hard drive
>> prior to
>> executing the script. Please note that these advanced processes are
>> required for multi-disc titles.
>>
>> Ultimate Reference Suite CD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2.
>> On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating
>> this directory. For this example, we will use the directory
>> '/usr/local/urscd'. If you choose a different directory, be sure to
>> substitute the correct path when following the steps below.
>> 3.
>> Insert Disc One. Copy the data, imagefiles, and jars folders
>> into '/usr/local/urscd/'.
>> 4.
>> Copy all *.zip, *.jar, and *.inf files into '/usr/local/urscd/'.
>> 5.
>> Insert Disc Two. Copy the DATA2 folder into '/usr/local/urscd/'.
>> 6.
>> Open the DATA2 folder on the disc and then open the data folder.
>> Copy the 'oecx' folder into '/usr/local/urscd/data/'.
>> 7.
>> Insert Disc Three. Copy the DATA3 folder into
>> '/usr/local/urscd/'. 8.
>> Open the DATA3 folder on the disc and then open the data folder.
>> Copy the imagedb folder into '/usr/local/urscd/data/'.
>> 9.
>> If you want access to the World Atlas, you will need to extract
>> the Atlas database from the Java Archive: a. Inside of the
>> '/usr/local/urscd' folder, UN-jar the atlasdb.jar file into
>> '/usr/local/urscd/data/'. b. Confirm that there is a directory
>> at '/usr/local/urscd/data/atlasdb'.
>> 10.
>> Execute the Perl script from the command line (e.g.,
>> './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted, enter the full path to
>> the location where you installed Britannica (for this example,
>> the path is '/usr/local/urscd/'). Note that it will take
>> several minutes to initialize the application the first time
>> the script is executed-this is because some data files are
>> being copied to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Ultimate Reference Suite DVD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory '/usr/local/ursdvd'. If you choose a different
>> directory, be sure to substitute the correct path when
>> following the steps below. 3. Insert the Data Disc. Copy the data,
>> DATA1, DATA2, imagefiles, and jars folders into the directory
>> you just created. 4. Copy all *Zip, *Jar, and *.inf files into
>> '/usr/local/ursdvd/'. 5. If you want access to the World Atlas,
>> you will need to extract the Atlas database from the Java Archive:
>> a. Inside of the '/usr/local/ursdvd' folder, UN-jar the
>> atlasdb.jar file into '/usr/local/ursdvd/data/'. b. Confirm that
>> there is a directory at '/usr/local/ursdvd/data/atlasdb'. 6. Execute
>> the Perl script from the command line (e.g.,
>> './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted, enter the full path to the
>> location where you installed Britannica (for this example, the path
>> is '/usr/local/ursdvd/'). Note that it will take several minutes to
>> initialize the application the first time the script is
>> executed-this is because some data files are being copied to your
>> home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Deluxe Edition CD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory '/usr/local/dlxcd'. If you choose a different directory,
>> be sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert Disc One. Copy the data, imagefiles, and jars
>> folders into into '/usr/local/dlxcd/'. 4. Copy all *Zip, *Jar,
>> and *.inf files into '/usr/local/dlxcd/'. 5. Insert Disc Two. Copy
>> the DATA1 folder into '/usr/local/dlxcd/'. 6. Create a new
>> folder named DATA2 in '/usr/local/dlxcd/'. 7.
>> Insert Disc Three. Open the DATA2 folder on this disc and copy
>> the data folder into '/usr/local/dlxcd/DATA2/'. 8.
>> If you want access to the World Atlas, you will need to extract
>> the Atlas database from the Java Archive: a. Inside of the
>> '/usr/local/dlxcd' folder, UN-jar the atlasdb.jar file into
>> '/usr/local/dlxcd/data/'. b. Confirm that there is a directory at
>> '/usr/local/dlxcd/data/atlasdb'. 9. Execute the Perl script
>> from the command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted,
>> enter the full path to the location where you installed Britannica
>> (for this example, the path is '/usr/local/dlxcd/'). Note that it
>> will take several minutes to initialize the application the first
>> time the script is executed-this is because some data files are
>> being copied to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Standard Edition CD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory '/usr/local/stdcd'. If you choose a different directory,
>> be sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert Disc One. Copy the data, imagefiles, and jars
>> folders into '/usr/local/stdcd/'. 4. Copy all *Zip, *Jar, and
>> *.inf files into '/usr/local/stdcd/'. 5. Insert Disc Two. Copy the
>> DATA1 and DATA2 folders into '/usr/local/stdcd/'. 6. If you
>> want access to the World Atlas, you will need to extract the
>> Atlas database from the Java Archive: a. Inside of the
>> '/usr/local/stdcd' folder, UN-jar the atlasdb.jar file into
>> '/usr/local/stdcd/data/'. b. Confirm that there is a directory
>> at '/usr/local/stdcd/data/atlasdb'. 7. Execute the Perl script from
>> the command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted,
>> enter the full path to the location where you installed Britannica
>> (for this example, the path is '/usr/local/stdcd/'). Note that it
>> will take several minutes to initialize the application the first
>> time the script is executed-this is because some data files are
>> being copied to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Ready Reference 2004
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory /usr/local/rrcd. If you choose a different directory, be
>> sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert the Data Disc. Copy the data, DATA1, DATA2,
>> imagefiles, and jars folders into the directory you just
>> created. 4. After the above folders have been copied, copy all *Zip,
>> *Jar, and *.inf files into '/usr/local/rrcd/'. 5. Execute the Perl
>> script from the command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When
>> prompted, enter the full path to the location where you installed
>> Britannica (for this example, the path is /usr/local/rrcd/). Note
>> that it will take several minutes to initialize the application the
>> first time the script is executed-this is because some data files
>> are being copied to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Concise 2004
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory /usr/local/concise. If you choose a different directory,
>> be sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert the Data Disc. Copy the data, DATA1, DATA2,
>> imagefiles, and jars folders into the directory you just
>> created. 4. After the above folders have been copied, copy all *Zip,
>> *Jar, and *.inf files into '/usr/local/concise/'. 5. Execute the
>> Perl script from the command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl').
>> When prompted, enter the full path to the location where you
>> installed Britannica (for this example, the path is
>> /usr/local/concise/). Note that it will take several minutes to
>> initialize the application the first time the script is
>> executed-this is because some data files are being copied to your
>> home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Homework Essentials CD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home older (e.g., /home/username/). 2.
>> On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory '/usr/local/he'. If you choose a different directory, be
>> sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert the Data Disc. Copy the data, DATA1, DATA2,
>> imagefiles, and jars folders into the directory you just
>> created. 4. After the above folders have been copied, copy all
>> *Zip, *Jar, and *.inf files into '/usr/local/he/'. 5. If you
>> want access to the World Atlas, you will need to extract the Atlas
>> database from the Java Archive: a. Inside of the
>> '/usr/local/he' folder, UN-jar the atlasdb.jar file into
>> '/usr/local/he/data/'. b. Confirm that there is a directory at
>> /usr/local/he/data/atlasdb. 6. Execute the Perl script from the
>> command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted, enter
>> the full path to the location where you installed Britannica (for
>> this example, the path is /usr/local/he/). Note that it will take
>> several minutes to initialize the application the first time the
>> script is executed-this is because some data files are being copied
>> to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>> Homework Essentials Plus CD-ROM
>>
>> 1.
>> Click here to download the Linux Launch Script to your system.
>> It's best to save it in your home folder (e.g., /home/username/).
>> 2. On your hard drive, create a new directory to store the
>> Britannica data files. Do not use any spaces or punctuation when
>> creating this directory. For this example, we will use the
>> directory '/usr/local/hep'. If you choose a different directory,
>> be sure to substitute the correct path when following the steps
>> below. 3. Insert the Data Disc. Copy the data, DATA1, DATA2,
>> imagefiles, and jars folders into the directory you just
>> created. 4. After the above folders have been copied, copy all
>> *Zip, *Jar, and *.inf files into '/usr/local/hep/'. 5. If you
>> want access to the World Atlas, you will need to extract the Atlas
>> database from the Java Archive: a. Inside of the
>> '/usr/local/hep' folder, UN-jar the atlasdb.jar file into
>> '/usr/local/hep/data/'. b. Confirm that there is a directory at
>> /usr/local/hep/data/atlasdb. 6. Execute the Perl script from the
>> command line (e.g., './linux-launch2.0.pl'). When prompted, enter
>> the full path to the location where you installed Britannica (for
>> this example, the path is /usr/local/hep/). Note that it will take
>> several minutes to initialize the application the first time the
>> script is executed-this is because some data files are being copied
>> to your home folder for faster access.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> All that ***?
>>
>> Hell, all I did was select copy to hard drive and when it asked me
>> if I
>> had additional disks I fed them in.
>> Total time 5 minutes.
>>
>> Now there have been numerous posts trumpeting the support under
>> Linux for
>> this application and I am LMAO because if you call this "supporting"
>> you,
>> the Linux lusers have some serious issues.
>>
>> But then again this is not unique.
>>
>> Printers that half work with no utilities (ink adj, diagnostics,
>> printhead
>> cleaning) etc are common with Linux yet they are "supported" just
>> because
>> they manage to put a character on the paper
>>
>> Video cards that are hammerlocked, IOW become basic SVGA cards,
>> because
>> Linux lusers haven't figured out how to reverse engineer the
>> features yet.
>> See ATI for examples.
>>
>> Yes, Linux users seem willing to do without just for the *joy* of
>> using
>> Linux.
>>
>> However, the rest of us are laughing our asses off at you and this
>> Britannica thing is just the tip of the iceberg.
>>
>> Jorge Jorgensen

If that doesn't say it all, nothing does.