I have to agree that the new rpm has serious problems, even if we have to consider that it is still beta and will probably be integrated in the MCC.
However, that is true this is insane to split it in 4 different applications. I know that the Unix philosophy is to do tools that do little things, but do them well, and then to redirect them to do complex operations. But this is true for the console commands, and this is the case with urpmi, which is a brilliant piece of software. For the GUI, this is not true : grouping essential functions in one application would be the rule, especially when it worked like in the first rpmdrake. Here are my criticisms : - why do not you use tabs, instead of splitting the gui in 4 pieces, that are even not grouped in the menu ? - the vocabulary used in the new rpmdrake is really confusing, compared to the first version - search tools are not as powerful as before - freedom is very retrictive, you feel there are a lot of missing functions and you look in every menus for a function that does not exist. I don't think it is better for newbies : too much simplification does not always mean simpler application, but also crippled application. If some functions are only accessible using the console, I do not think this is an enhancement. The GUI is just a frontend to urpm, and all fuctions of urpm should be accessible with the GUI. If you want to hide advanced tools, use "advanced" buttons (even if I don't like that). Newbies will become very quickly advanced users in package management (after 2-3 months ?) and so will be frustrated by a crippled GUI. Another good thing would be to offer two interfaces : one advanced, ane with a "wizard" (like Nero on Windows). David Grant's solution is also good. Newbie users are not dumb, they are just inexperimented, but the learning curve of a software is quicker when the software is very logical, even if it is complex, instead of simply "ergonomic". One proof : a lot of advanced users on that list, that use mandrake since a long time, have had more difficulties to understand the new rpmdrake. Easier, you said ?
