Well the issues you are talking about : "package management" and "query" have little to nothing to do with the actual installation process in ANY operating system from a user's standpoint. So....
I think the real issue we have been talking about is NOT installation at all. But the rpm-drake stuff tries to BOTH install AND manage packages without a clear understanding that a user *would* think it is too hard to install linux programs when the gui tools are not made clean and easy for him to use. I *AM* saying that a user watching me install could easily think it was too hard. And I will maintain that having to hit all these damn buttons, in the right order, to use the rpmdrake tool to find, get, and then install a program is MUCH harder than finding, getting, and installing a program in the windows world. I use both, and I have been using computers for 35 years. You will have to *exactly* explain to me how in a step by step fashion the current rpmdrake tools are actually easier. Further, I *CAN* go to a gui in Windows and *CAN* find out what is installed. You say differently, but there is a specific place to go. Finally; and I cannot be any more specific that this. Why not make a better tool than Windows has, so new users can clearly see a superiority right off the bat. Make it gui and play in their world -view. Bob On Thursday 19 June 2003 10:35 pm, Greg Meyer wrote: > Forwarding to cooker since I sent it to w9ya personally in error. This > happened because I was forgetful and did not workaround his reply-to > settings as he requested. > > On Thursday 19 June 2003 05:29 pm, w9ya wrote: > > Or i.e. yes, it was implied, otherwise why bring it up in a > > discussion about newbies ? (What is his point?, and how is it germane ?) > > I wasn't really trying to imply anything other than the fact that I am > really not qualified to discuss whether the existing interface is any good > because I never use it. I do think that Mandrake should do a better job > informing people about urpmi, but that is another issue, and is also > largely up to us to do something about. > > I just find it interesting how such a simple thing is so divisive, and also > how easy people think Windows is. You don't install and remove packages in > the same place in Windows, there is no way to query the system to see what > is installed, yet many long time Windows users insist that package > management in Windows is easier. I continue to maintain, and you can > disagree with me, that Windows software just seems easier because it is > familiar.