On Sunday 01 July 2001 05:06 pm, Judith Miner wrote:
> Frank wrote:
> >> There is a HUGE need for a distro that doesn't offer so many options
>
> that it drives would be users away.... <<
>
> I think you have many good ideas, but speaking as a Windows user who has
> recently installed Mandrake 8, it wasn't the large number of options
> that is the problem, but the unfinished business of the GUI after you
> get the thing installed. The first time I installed, I chose the default
> options for my own purposes and did not pick and choose individual
> programs. I reinstalled Linux in a couple of days because I felt I
> didn't know what was on the system. I've always done Custom Installs of
> all my Windows programs (including Windows itself!) and I don't like to
> depend on what other people think I should have. So I reinstalled Linux
> with a custom installation and went through the entire programs list in
> the Mandrake graphical installer. I was, frankly, much happier with that
> because I had a better idea of what was available and what I did and did
> not want.
>
> I think it would be fine for something like the Mandrake installer to
> offer an additional option called "Basic" that would include a
> pre-selected, limited number of programs. A user can always install
> others after using the system for a bit.
>
> The real problems come after you start using Linux--or trying to. I
> still haven't gotten my system set up to the stage where I can try some
> productivity apps "for real." My current problem is getting my Type 1
> and TrueType fonts installed and available to the programs I want to
> use. This is one of the roughest edges of Linux on the desktop. Its font
> handling is abstruse, unfriendly, poor, and just plain weird. It's
> totally different from Windows or the Mac. Where is something like Adobe
> Type Manager when we need it? Even in my Windows 3.0 days, my PostScript
> fonts were rasterized correctly for the screen and printer (PostScript
> or not) and they were available seamlessly to all my applications that
> were font-capable. I find it astonishing that fonts seem to be an
> afterthought on the Linux desktop. Gajillions of often-ugly screen fonts
> get installed. How can I dump them? All they do is make for a long font
> list of useless junk. It's hard to find the necessary information
> because context-sensitive help isn't here yet.
>
> Another example of something that is unacceptable as it stands now: the
> first time I tried to eject a Zip disk, it wouldn't go. First I got
> scared that it was stuck in the drive (an ATAPI internal). Then I
> thought I'd try doing an eject command in a console. Somehow that
> worked--I don't know how I figured out how to include the /mnt/zip
> qualifier. Eventually I kinda sorta figured out how to deal with Zip
> disks, which get mounted through the supermount feature in Mandrake 8,
> but still have to be unmounted by root in order to eject them.
> Doubtless, I could fix that up so user could do it--but I don't know
> how. I also don't know where to look and the directions would have to be
> in something other than geekspeak, which is probably an unrealistic
> expectation.<g>
>
> I could give you a list of other things that would quickly drive
> would-be users away, as you put it. I think they could all be solved,
> probably in short order if some distro truly wanted to appeal to Windows
> users who want to become Linux users but not techies. I don't think it's
> too many choices that drive people away, but an interface that is too
> thin and quickly leaves the unprepared user in the clutches of long,
> obscure command lines. This won't fly, folks. No matter how wonderful
> the underlying architecture is, it has to be easy to use to have a
> chance of succeeding as a desktop OS.
> --Judy Miner
Judy,
A good portion of what you have mentioned has been covered in the Mandrake
archives. People are working on these features and more than can mentioned in
a few brief emails. Rather than stepping on the gas and trying to drive 100
miles an hour, I think it would be a good idea to get a good book on Linux,
sit back and do some reading. Then, if you have additional questions, people
would be more than happy to help you out.
Roman
Registered Linux User #179293
Kmailer by Tux
