On Fri, 2008-04-04 at 05:50 +0200, Johnny Rosenberg wrote: > He he he... I like you, I really do, I feel exactly the same in most cases, > like "why integrating an email/calendar application when there are already a > few good ones out there".
Well thanks :) > BUT... I also think that we (OpenOffice.org users, developers, "helpers" > etc.) are kind of "good guys" and that we all want as many users as > possible, so even when it comes to questions like this one about including > stuff that is not already there, we need to find at least SOME kind of > solution. Maybe a guide that starts automatically the first time > OpenOffice.org is started after just being installed that let us select > whether or not we want this and that. OK. I think we're approaching the point here. But a couple of comments ... Dumbing-down applications isn't doing anyone any favours - even those asking for it. Lets say for a moment that we put a 'create new email' button in OOo that launchers whatever email client for the user. This will have a couple of knock-on effects ... Users will learn that to start a new email, they open Open Office, and click the 'create new email' button. What happens when they go to a computer that doesn't have OOo? Or if they go to a computer with OOo but without the button, because the person who installed OOo chose not to have the button visible? What does the user now think about how they start applications? If I ask them to start some other program, will their open OpenOffice and look for a button to start it? Another example. How many times have you been sent an email with no text content, but a .doc or .ppt attachment, with *nothing* but images? This is a direct result of Microsoft putting an 'email document' ( or whatever ) button in Office ... people *never* learn how to use their computer properly - they have no idea of the boundaries between applications, and no idea of what the hell they're doing. Take away their MS Office, and they can't attach things to emails - from the sound of it there any many who can't even OPEN their email. This dumbing down of software & user is what's behind the 'WWWWAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhh ... where's my integrated mail client?' posts. This is NOT in the interests of ANY open-source project ( or commercial for that matter ) that competes with Microsoft. Now ... what do we do about this sorry situation? While I agree with your motivation to help users, I don't think pandering to their wishes in this particular way is constructive. What *would* be good, is if people actually learnt how to perform simple tasks ... like attach something to an email. Perhaps some HOWTOs on common tasks, with screenshots, and maybe videos, would be appropriate? But here comes the bad news. Those who would most benefit from viewing and learning this would in all probability screw up their noses and demand once more "INTEGRATION, God damn it, or I'll go back to Microsoft!". For my part, I'm teaching those around me. I have about half our office on Linux & OpenOffice, and also a couple of friends have converted, including one guy who installed Linux on his brand new Mac ( the ones with the HUGE screens ). I've found that people learn very fast when they want to, and not at all when they don't. Lastly, here's something REALLY funny. I just opened OpenOffice and looked at the toolbars, wondering where you'd put such a button, and guess what? It's already there - sitting right next to the 'save' button. I even tried it out, without configuring anything. I typed some text into a document, hit the email button, and OOo saved the document and handed it to Evolution. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So, going back to the original poster ( if he's still paying attention ), exactly *what* further integration is required? -- Daniel Kasak IT Developer NUS Consulting Group Level 5, 77 Pacific Highway North Sydney, NSW, Australia 2060 T: (+61) 2 9922-7676 / F: (+61) 2 9922 7989 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: http://www.nusconsulting.com.au --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
