Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-31 Thread John Myers
On Wednesday 30 March 2005 12:35, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> Most folks, where work is concerned, expect to have the computer 'just
> work'.  Your boss wants you to show up at 8 am and be productive for 8
> hours, not spend time figuring out the innards (unless that, of course, is
> what you're paid to do ;-)

That's why the *IT people* set up the computers, which then "just work", and 
not the users. Sally Secretary doesn't have to install Windows on her own 
machine, does she? Or Office? If Windows spits out some cryptic 'I just ate 
myself' message, does she have to fix it? No. The business pays people who 
have a clue to do these things. Tell me that STOP 0x000A or 
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or how about the lovely 'Registry hive not found' is 
less cryptic than 'line 6: B: command not found'. With computers, shit 
happens. Somebody's going to have to fix it. Is it Sally Secretary? No. Is it 
Robert Repairman? Yes. Does it matter what operating system? No. Perhaps 
Windows isn't all that user-friendly after all.


I'll agree with the point that in home and small-business environments, where 
it may not be cost-effective to have a full-time IT staff, Linux may 
currently be too hard to manage, unless the users themselves have a clue. But 
in larger businesses, there's no reason Eddie IT can't set the system up so 
that Ernie Executive and Sally Secretary can mindlessly point and click their 
way to productivity. They aren't going to be mucking about in configuration, 
because they won't be able to. They wouldn't be able to in a competently 
managed Windows system either.

Anyway, my point is that I don't buy the argument that 'Linux won't work on 
the enterprise desktop because management isn't point-and-click and users 
don't like that' because the *users* don't care about *system management* 
(and shouldn't be allowed to anyway). Users only need the apps they need, and 
those should already be set up for them, and repaired by people who already 
have a clue.

Sorry if you've seen this message before. Something screwy is going on with 
the list here.

-- 
electronerd


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-31 Thread Frank Schafer
Hi markknecht,

you know you have posted the 

SAME POST
43
  TIMES

do you?

F.

On Thu, 2005-03-31 at 07:00 +0100, Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> wrote:
> > On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> > 
> > > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop 
> > > for
> > > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> > 
> > Novell disagrees:
> > http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> > http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> > 
> > AT&T disagrees:
> > http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> > 
> > Various governments disagree:
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> > 
> > The tide is turning.
> 
> Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
> already has in so many places.
> 
> Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
> Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
> home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
> Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.
> 
> My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
> Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
> things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
> he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
> Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
> edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
> works.
> 
> Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
> quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
> using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.
> 
> My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
> solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
> Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.
> 
> - Mark
> --
> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
> 
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> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
> 
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-31 Thread A. Khattri
On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, Stroller wrote:

> No wonder changes to the registry are so often needed on
> Windows machines in order to configure advanced behaviour.

I think the registry is just pure evil - a great place for
virii/worms/spyware to hide stuff...

> If you can imagine the dialogs necessary to configure something like
> postfix or sendmail, then perhaps that's because  you've worked on MS
> Exchange.

>From what Ive seen talking to customers, Exchange is a nightmare to secure
and administer. We had a whole spate of customers who's Exchange servers
were hacked and converted into massice spam engines. Nice.

-- 

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-31 Thread James Hiscock
> > No wonder changes to the registry are so often needed on
> > Windows machines in order to configure advanced behaviour.
> 
> I think the registry is just pure evil - a great place for
> virii/worms/spyware to hide stuff...

I always get a kick out of this kind of thing: bashing the Windows
registry, while running Gnome/Gnome apps... What do you think gconf
is? There's less information in gconf about hardware, but it's
essentially just HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software, isn't it?
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Stroller
On Mar 30, 2005, at 2:20 pm, Dave Nebinger wrote:
2.  Totally configurable via gui - no low-level file editing.  As power
users this is something that we want/need, but the windows user 
expects to
pull up a dialog for the program and click checkboxes to turn things 
on and
off.  I can just imagine the dialogs necessary to configure something 
like
postfix or sendmail ;-)
This is exactly why Windows is so aggravating - mandatory GUI 
configuration is Windows' major failing, IMO.

All applications have idiosyncratic, unexpected, or just plain quirky 
behaviour, and many have bugs. Trying to document or reproduce that 
from a GUI perspective is a nightmare. Can you imagine being trying to 
reproduce the behaviour to file a bug report saying "if the `update 
file progress' checkbox on the `server statistics' tab is checked when 
the application is running in `silent mode` then uploads will stall 
unless the  `apply' button is pressed on the `configuration' window 
prior to exiting the menu"? Yet such a bug is quite conceivable.

Let's compare that with a similar bug report for a Linux application - 
"changing config file to say UPDATE_FILE_PROGRESS=1 causes uploads to 
stall when `/etc/init.d/msexchange reload` is called". Isn't that much 
easier? No wonder changes to the registry are so often needed on 
Windows machines in order to configure advanced behaviour.

If you can imagine the dialogs necessary to configure something like 
postfix or sendmail, then perhaps that's because  you've worked on MS 
Exchange. Or even Outlook! Software is a compromise, and if you have a 
powerful, versatile application then you will by necessity have many 
configuration options; there comes a point at which wrapping those up 
in a GUI is no longer beneficial, as administrators have to wade 
through through different menus and dialog boxes in order to find them. 
Certainly this is no problem for experienced admins undertaking 
familiar tasks, but it's easy to forget a single step of even a 
frequently-used procedure - the alternative of a single configuration 
file allows one to edit from top to bottom, safe in the knowledge that 
no configuration options are hidden by an "advanced button" or an 
inadequately-labelled checkbox.

Stroller.
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread John Myers
(I'm going to assume a medium to large business here, which actually seems to 
be where the business end of this argument has been focusing)

On Wednesday 30 March 2005 12:35, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> Most folks, where work is concerned, expect to have the computer 'just
> work'.  Your boss wants you to show up at 8 am and be productive for 8
> hours, not spend time figuring out the innards (unless that, of course, is
> what you're paid to do ;-)

That's why the *IT people* set up the computers, which then "just work", and 
not the users. Sally Secretary doesn't have to install Windows on her own 
machine, does she? Or Office? If Windows spits out some cryptic 'I just ate 
myself' message, does she have to fix it? No. The business pays people who 
have a clue to do these things. Tell me that STOP 0x000A or 
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or how about the lovely 'Registry hive not found' is 
less cryptic than 'line 6: B: command not found'. With computers, shit 
happens. Somebody's going to have to fix it. Is it Sally Secretary? No. Is it 
Robert Repairman? Yes. Does it matter what operating system? No. Perhaps 
Windows isn't all that user-friendly after all.


I'll agree with the point that in home and small-business environments, where 
it may not be cost-effective to have a full-time IT staff, Linux may 
currently be too hard to manage, unless the users themselves have a clue. But 
in larger businesses, there's no reason Eddie IT can't set the system up so 
that Ernie Executive and Sally Secretary can mindlessly point and click their 
way to productivity. They aren't going to be mucking about in configuration, 
because they won't be able to. They wouldn't be able to in a competently 
managed Windows system either.

Anyway, my point is that I don't buy the argument that 'Linux won't work on 
the enterprise desktop because management isn't point-and-click and users 
don't like that' because the *users* don't care about *system management* 
(and shouldn't be allowed to anyway). Users only need the apps they need, and 
those should already be set up for them, and repaired by people who already 
have a clue.

-- 
electronerd


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Description: PGP signature


Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: On-topic, possible mailing list issue: was RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread James Hiscock
> Make that 8 copies now...

You're not the only one -- I've received a copy every fifteen minutes
for the last few hours - and it wasn't just his... 
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Bjoern Michaelsen
On Wed, Mar 30, 2005 at 05:35:33PM -0500, James Hiscock wrote:
> I'd just like to point out that text is _also_ a sign. 
It is a sign, but not a analogy (unless you write in ancient egypt).
Otherwise people would not have takes offense by Apple Macintoshs practice
of ejecting a floppy when you put the symbol of the floppy in the trash.


Greetings, Bjoern
-- 
BjÃrn Michaelsen
pub  1024D/C9E5A256 2003-01-21 BjÃrn Michaelsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
   Key fingerprint = D649 8C78 1CB1 23CF 5CCF  CA1A C1B5 BBEC C9E5 A256


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Description: PGP signature


Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread James Hiscock
> > We are beings
> > designed to work naturally from symbols, signs, and icons; not terse textual
> > messages.


> This is
> why symbols and analogies are not good and dangerous in this case. Most
> errors of inexperienced users can be explained by this. And if you
> really understood the concepts many of the advantages of GUIs are gone -
> they are still useful in certain scenarios, but they will not kill the
> commandline in a looong time.

I'd just like to point out that text is _also_ a sign. I think it's
whether or not you can interpret the sign that matters, and not the
form that the sign takes (necessarily)...

...so, essentially, I think you're both right - for the most part.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe that's the whole point behind studying
semiotics... linguistics... anthropology... or any of the arts, I
guess... 
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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread A. Khattri
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:

> Only if you can't see the hype and hidden agendas of those folks.  Novell
> wants you to buy into it to build a consumer base for their own flavor
> (which, on the surface, looks and acts a lot like windows).

Err, its SuSE actually.

Also, they are open-sourcing a lot of their own stuff. (Sure, their
product is in their own interest but its a positive thing for the
community as a whole - we need mainstream players to embrace Linux fully).

> AT&T is only
> testing it out, but basically they're looking to gain some leverage against
> M$ in regards to pricing.

Maybe - Im sure security is a major component of that decision and M$
hasn't done very well in that regard for many years.

> Brazil and other third world nations don't really
> have the cash that M$ tries to extort from them.

The developing world today will be tomorrow's developed world so this is a
positive thing too.

> Hype and agendas aside, there is no momentum in the mass market to move from
> windows to linux.  I'd be real happy if there was as M$ IMHO is holding back
> the development of systems and technology and general innovation, but that's
> another thread all together.

I think people need to see big organizations moving to it (which is
starting to happen despite your poo-pooing), then they'll get more
exposure to it and use it at home, etc etc.

-- 

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Bjoern Michaelsen
On Wed, Mar 30, 2005 at 03:35:39PM -0500, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> Is an icon simpler than terse text?  Yes.  
Is it better? No.
> And it is seen across more
> industries than just the computer industry.  Sewing machines now come with
> buttons with images representing the type of stitch rather than using text.
Because it solves localisation. At work, one printer has two colored LEDs and
two buttons with symbols. The LEDs can blink, go on and off, yet almost
always we need the manual to find out what the bugger wants. The older
printer with the LCD-textdisplay is always pretty clear about what he
needs 
> Cars come with idiot lights that have pictures rather than 'service engine
> soon' (which is itself an over simplification of a problem with the car
> rather than an indication of what the problem is). 
"Service engine soon - at our contract dealer or all guaranties are
void "
> We all know a red light
> means stop, a green light means go, and the yellow light means speed up
> because you're about to get pinned by the red light ;-)  We are beings
> designed to work naturally from symbols, signs, and icons; not terse textual
> messages.
Yes, but most people *understand* the reasoning behind the traffic light
(as you prove with the yellow light). Those people who like GUIs because
they simplify things do _not_ understand what happens behind it. This is
why symbols and analogies are not good and dangerous in this case. Most
errors of inexperienced users can be explained by this. And if you
really understood the concepts many of the advantages of GUIs are gone -
they are still useful in certain scenarios, but they will not kill the
commandline in a looong time.
> 
> > You are implying here that Linux's ultimate goal is to replace Windows. I
> > do
> > not agree here. I think the two can coexist just fine. Linux for those
> > end-users curious enough to go deeper into their computer's innards, and
> > Windows for those that want it to 'just work' (innasmuch as windows
> > works... :P) without having to learn anything about how it works. The
> > server
> > market is of course a different matter, but we're talking about desktop,
> > right.
> 
> That's the wrong assumption.
> 
> Basically to say "Linux is ready for the desktop" is in kin to saying that
> "Linux is easier to use than windows so it can supplant the current
> installation base"; I don't think anyone here can say that with any
> sincerity.
a) Concider linux to become more common in the workplace.
b) A preinstalled SuSE is far more "desktop-ready" than Windows for a
   typical technophobic user (most are) who never even conciders to buy
 a hardware upgrade - prizes are so low nowadays, people just replace
 complete machines.
c) There is just one blocker left: games. But for the "just works" crowd
   a game console is a tempting concept ...
> Most folks, where work is concerned, expect to have the computer 'just
> work'.  Your boss wants you to show up at 8 am and be productive for 8
> hours, not spend time figuring out the innards (unless that, of course, is
> what you're paid to do ;-)
Thats exactly what he will get with one good linux admin and locked-down
clients for everybody else.
> That's the one thing that windows, I hate to say, has - it just works.
No it doesnt. At least in my experience: at work there is always 10-20%
overhead to fix things on windows. I guess (but dont know from
experience) Apples might be much better, but windows is at least as
maintanance-heavy as linux on a single machine. But linux gets easier
with every machine more, while windows does not.
> I don't want to see linux/gentoo/freebsd/whatever go in that direction
> either.  I'm happy with my gentoo systems and don't want to see them
> bastardized to become more like windows.
> 
> My argument, however, was to be 'ready for the desktop,' to supplant
> windows, requires that they do so.
Other distros do. A Distro based on gentoo, which is originaly a metadistro
(a tool to built a distro) might certainly do that too.

Greetings, BjÃrn
-- 
BjÃrn Michaelsen
pub  1024D/C9E5A256 2003-01-21 BjÃrn Michaelsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
   Key fingerprint = D649 8C78 1CB1 23CF 5CCF  CA1A C1B5 BBEC C9E5 A256


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread A. Khattri
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Mark Knecht wrote:

> Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
> Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
> home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
> Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

RH pretty much has all of that covered with their own GUI tools.
Likewise for SuSE. Gentoo doesn't come with its own GUI tools but then I
dont look at Gentoo as a mainstream desktop Linux OS.

> Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
> quickly.

Most of the costs of support centers are for those old folks who never
grew up with computers.


-- 

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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RE: On-topic, possible mailing list issue: was RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> I received six different copies of Mark's message...

Make that 8 copies now...

Looked at the actual message headers and other than repeats for mailing list
stuff (see below), there's nothing really helpful in identifying the problem
source...

Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:31:06 GMT
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for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Wed, 30 Mar 2005 21:31:02 +0100
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Received: from mail pickup service by gaznet.co.uk with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
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Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 21:31:03 +0100
From: "Mark Knecht" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B:
command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
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On-topic, possible mailing list issue: was RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
Okay, mailing list question...

I received six different copies of Mark's message...

Granted he did cross post to gentoo-user@gentoo.org and
[EMAIL PROTECTED] so I can understand getting two copies, but
six?

No offense to you, Mark, but was this something he did or something that
either the normal list or robin.gentoo.org did?

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
> Behalf Of Mark Knecht
> Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 3:01 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B:
> command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

[snip]


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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> > > Why does something have to act/look like Windows to be ready for the
> > > desktop.  If that's what you need/want just use Windows already!
> >
> > It's not that the next OS has to act/look like windows to supplant
> windows,
> > it's a question of usability...
> >
> > There's a lot of research that has been done and is ongoing re: user
> > interface design.  So far the research supports the statement that
> "simpler
> > is better" in regards to usability is concerned.
> 
> Here we agree ;) But do your previous points actually work towards this?
> Is a blinking icon simpler than a terse text message? Is a self-updating
> computer simpler than an admin being in charge of updating his own 
> computer? What when it installs something that breaks the system (we all 
> know this can happen...). How many layers of 'simplicity' do we have to 
> wade through to find the real problem? How is navigating through pages of 
> GUI dialogues simpler than a quick edit of a text file?

Is an icon simpler than terse text?  Yes.  And it is seen across more
industries than just the computer industry.  Sewing machines now come with
buttons with images representing the type of stitch rather than using text.
Cars come with idiot lights that have pictures rather than 'service engine
soon' (which is itself an over simplification of a problem with the car
rather than an indication of what the problem is).  We all know a red light
means stop, a green light means go, and the yellow light means speed up
because you're about to get pinned by the red light ;-)  We are beings
designed to work naturally from symbols, signs, and icons; not terse textual
messages.

That's what the research has and is proving out.

> > The replacement for windows will be one that provides a simpler,
> consistent
> > interface, not one that is more complex and requires intimate details of
> > low-level file editing and command prompt access, the current face of
> > linux.
> >
> > I love linux and use it everywhere except my 7 year old daughter's
> computer
> > (granted I could probably do it there too except the sites that she
> likes
> > to use are too dependent upon IE).  And I won't go back to windows, not
> > anytime soon.
> >
> > But I can realistically gauge how much it would take to move
> organizations
> > in the direction of linux and understand where 'linux is ready for the
> > desktop' zealots miss the mark.  Most organizations are looking to cut
> > costs and simplify their infrastructure (again to cut costs).  Linux on
> the
> > desktop won't do that in it's current state and would have to be
> > significantly dumb-downed before it can happen.  I for one am glad it's
> not
> > going in that direction.
> 
> You are implying here that Linux's ultimate goal is to replace Windows. I
> do
> not agree here. I think the two can coexist just fine. Linux for those
> end-users curious enough to go deeper into their computer's innards, and
> Windows for those that want it to 'just work' (innasmuch as windows
> works... :P) without having to learn anything about how it works. The
> server
> market is of course a different matter, but we're talking about desktop,
> right.

That's the wrong assumption.

Basically to say "Linux is ready for the desktop" is in kin to saying that
"Linux is easier to use than windows so it can supplant the current
installation base"; I don't think anyone here can say that with any
sincerity.

I don't think linux is out to (or even could) replace windows.  I do think
it has it's place.  What it's destiny will turn out to be is beyond my
guess.

Most folks, where work is concerned, expect to have the computer 'just
work'.  Your boss wants you to show up at 8 am and be productive for 8
hours, not spend time figuring out the innards (unless that, of course, is
what you're paid to do ;-)

That's the one thing that windows, I hate to say, has - it just works.

> I think a happy medium can be reached with certain distros trying to piece
> together a newbie friendly Linux desktop that moves towards some of the
> point
> you mentioned originally. As I understand it, Xandros and Linspire are
> working towards these ends. I just don't agree with the argument that
> 'Linux'
> in general needs to be more user-friendly. In my opinion (for what it's
> worth) Linux (and UNIX in general) is just fine the way it is. If the day
> comes where I have to point and drool my way through a gui to admin my
> Linux
> box, that is the day I move to FreeBSD... as this is exactly why I left MS
> all those years ago in the first place... the obscurity.

I don't want to see linux/gentoo/freebsd/whatever go in that direction
either.  I'm happy with my gentoo systems and don't want to see them
bastardized to become more like windows.

My argument, however, was to be 'ready for the desktop,' to supplant
windows, requires that they do so.



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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
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--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread darren kirby
quoth the Dave Nebinger:
> > Why does something have to act/look like Windows to be ready for the
> > desktop.  If that's what you need/want just use Windows already!
>
> It's not that the next OS has to act/look like windows to supplant windows,
> it's a question of usability...
>
> There's a lot of research that has been done and is ongoing re: user
> interface design.  So far the research supports the statement that "simpler
> is better" in regards to usability is concerned.

Here we agree ;) But do your previous points actually work towards this? Is a 
blinking icon simpler than a terse text message? Is a self-updating computer 
simpler than an admin being in charge of updating his own computer? What 
happens when it installs something that breaks the system (we all know this 
can happen...). How many layers of 'simplicity' do we have to wade through to 
find the real problem? How is navigating through pages of GUI dialogues 
simpler than a quick edit of a text file? 

> The replacement for windows will be one that provides a simpler, consistent
> interface, not one that is more complex and requires intimate details of
> low-level file editing and command prompt access, the current face of
> linux.
>
> I love linux and use it everywhere except my 7 year old daughter's computer
> (granted I could probably do it there too except the sites that she likes
> to use are too dependent upon IE).  And I won't go back to windows, not
> anytime soon.
>
> But I can realistically gauge how much it would take to move organizations
> in the direction of linux and understand where 'linux is ready for the
> desktop' zealots miss the mark.  Most organizations are looking to cut
> costs and simplify their infrastructure (again to cut costs).  Linux on the
> desktop won't do that in it's current state and would have to be
> significantly dumb-downed before it can happen.  I for one am glad it's not
> going in that direction.

You are implying here that Linux's ultimate goal is to replace Windows. I do 
not agree here. I think the two can coexist just fine. Linux for those 
end-users curious enough to go deeper into their computer's innards, and 
Windows for those that want it to 'just work' (innasmuch as windows 
works... :P) without having to learn anything about how it works. The server 
market is of course a different matter, but we're talking about desktop, 
right.

I think a happy medium can be reached with certain distros trying to piece 
together a newbie friendly Linux desktop that moves towards some of the point 
you mentioned originally. As I understand it, Xandros and Linspire are 
working towards these ends. I just don't agree with the argument that 'Linux' 
in general needs to be more user-friendly. In my opinion (for what it's 
worth) Linux (and UNIX in general) is just fine the way it is. If the day 
comes where I have to point and drool my way through a gui to admin my Linux 
box, that is the day I move to FreeBSD... as this is exactly why I left MS 
all those years ago in the first place... the obscurity.

$0.02...
-d
-- 
darren kirby :: Part of the problem since 1976 :: http://badcomputer.org
"...the number of UNIX installations has grown to 10, with more expected..."
- Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, June 1972
--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
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--
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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
> solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
> Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

Heard of squid?  It's only the standard proxy for linux-based systems and
kicks the crap out of net nanny...


--
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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list


--
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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop
> for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees: [snip]
> 
> AT&T disagrees: [snip]
> 
> Various governments disagree: [double-snip for an nytimes link]
> 
> The tide is turning.

Only if you can't see the hype and hidden agendas of those folks.  Novell
wants you to buy into it to build a consumer base for their own flavor
(which, on the surface, looks and acts a lot like windows).  AT&T is only
testing it out, but basically they're looking to gain some leverage against
M$ in regards to pricing.  Brazil and other third world nations don't really
have the cash that M$ tries to extort from them.

Hype and agendas aside, there is no momentum in the mass market to move from
windows to linux.  I'd be real happy if there was as M$ IMHO is holding back
the development of systems and technology and general innovation, but that's
another thread all together.



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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Mark Knecht
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:57:10 -0500 (EST), A. Khattri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> > quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Novell disagrees:
> http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
> http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200
> 
> AT&T disagrees:
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us
> 
> Various governments disagree:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?
> 
> The tide is turning.

Yeah, Linux on the business desktop is going to happen, or really
already has in so many places.

Where Linux won't happen on the desktop in any big way is in the home.
Configuration is too difficult. Until all configuration for a standard
home machine can be handled in gui apps somewhere it won't work since
Grandma and her 7 year old grand daughter cannot be expect to run vi.

My now 12 going on 13 year old son has never had anything other than
Linux. He got his first machine at 8 or 9. He used to bitch about
things here and there, and still does once in awhile, but with Cedega
he can play Half Life. He does all homework with Open Office and the
Gimp. He and I are trying to set up some sort of video capture/movie
edit setup for him to capture XBox things he wants to show people. It
works.

Kids are very adaptable. They will complain but it stops pretty
quickly. I wanted mine on Linux because I especially didn't want a kid
using Windows on my network. It's bad enough with an adult doing it.

My biggest worry now is Internet predators. I wish there was a real
solution for that sort of stuff under Linux, like Net-nanny etc. under
Windows. That's what scares me as a parent.

- Mark
--
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list



RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread A. Khattri
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:

> Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).

Novell disagrees:
http://business.newsforge.com/business/05/03/23/1755222.shtml?tid=152&tid=2&tid=37&tid=18
http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=397A879F-C1BB-4CBE-A8A4-633DE1B25200

AT&T disagrees:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aZ2JnBlm5tOs&refer=us

Various governments disagree:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/technology/29computer.html?

The tide is turning.


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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> Why does something have to act/look like Windows to be ready for the
> desktop.  If that's what you need/want just use Windows already!

It's not that the next OS has to act/look like windows to supplant windows,
it's a question of usability...

There's a lot of research that has been done and is ongoing re: user
interface design.  So far the research supports the statement that "simpler
is better" in regards to usability is concerned.

The replacement for windows will be one that provides a simpler, consistent
interface, not one that is more complex and requires intimate details of
low-level file editing and command prompt access, the current face of linux.

I love linux and use it everywhere except my 7 year old daughter's computer
(granted I could probably do it there too except the sites that she likes to
use are too dependent upon IE).  And I won't go back to windows, not anytime
soon.

But I can realistically gauge how much it would take to move organizations
in the direction of linux and understand where 'linux is ready for the
desktop' zealots miss the mark.  Most organizations are looking to cut costs
and simplify their infrastructure (again to cut costs).  Linux on the
desktop won't do that in it's current state and would have to be
significantly dumb-downed before it can happen.  I for one am glad it's not
going in that direction.



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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread darren kirby
quoth the Dave Nebinger:
> > We can't make Linux "better" and "ready for the desktop"-- which does
> > *not* mean we have to do everything via a GUI, dagnabit; people can
> > certainly use the command-line comfortably *if they know how*-- unless
> > we identify where people are falling over it and how to remove the
> > obstacles to their understanding and ease-of-use. Difficulties using
> > error output effectively looks like an obstacle to ease-of-use to me.
> > Heaven knows I won't know what to do about it if I do find an "answer"
> > (or the beginnings of one), unless that answer is "add to the docs", but
> > we all contribute what we can, and asking the question in the first
> > place is what I can :-) .
>
> Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).


This is a non-argument. I have been using Linux as my main workstation for 
over 2 years. I am sure several people on this list have been using a Linux 
desktop much longer than that. Right from the beginning the parrots said 'not 
ready for the desktop'. I have no doubt that they will be saying it in 10 
years.

So when will it be ready? When all facets of security have been traded in 
favor of convenience? When some arbitrary percentage of people are using it?
No. I rather think that the average person is not ready for the Linux desktop.

Your 4 point plan to make Linux desktop ready looks to me like removing 
everything I like about Linux, and replacing it with useless bloat, and 
moddlecoddling touchy feely nonsense that just gets in the way of a 'real' 
user, and 'real' work.

This may be an eliteist attitude, but I don't want Linux dumbed down. If 
someone can't make a go of it, stick to Windows or Mac. I am sick and tired 
of seeing truly great ideas and technology have everything good and 
innovative sucked out until it is ready for consumption by the masses. 
Popular music anyone? Television? Only two examples of of great mediums that 
are now a vapid wasteland because they cater to the lowest-common denominator 
tastes of Joe Sixpack and Suzy Lunchpail.

Why does something have to act/look like Windows to be ready for the desktop. 
If that's what you need/want just use Windows already!


This rant was written using a Linux Desktop
-d
-- 
darren kirby :: Part of the problem since 1976 :: http://badcomputer.org
"...the number of UNIX installations has grown to 10, with more expected..."
- Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, June 1972


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave V
Much of this is already possible actually. There is certainly nothing that 
can't be automated or configured in gentoo with effort. However, distros like 
Mandrake already hide startup output via splash screen and allow configuration 
of just about everything through KDE and their own tools. I'm pretty sure I've 
seen a redhat setup that almost automatically self updated too. But to disallow 
the manual editting of configuration files would cripple linux as it is known 
today. I'm not sure why that would be a requirement. Anyway, I think linux IS 
ready for the typical desktop user, but I don't think the typical desktop user 
would use gentoo. Gentoo is a power user/administator paradise. But also don't 
forget that the typical desktop user expects that Windows will be preinstalled, 
configured, and ready to use. A preinstalled and configured linux box with 
Mandrake or Ubuntu, would probably work just as well.

On (2005-03-30 08:20), Dave Nebinger wrote:
> > We can't make Linux "better" and "ready for the desktop"-- which does
> > *not* mean we have to do everything via a GUI, dagnabit; people can
> > certainly use the command-line comfortably *if they know how*-- unless
> > we identify where people are falling over it and how to remove the
> > obstacles to their understanding and ease-of-use. Difficulties using
> > error output effectively looks like an obstacle to ease-of-use to me.
> > Heaven knows I won't know what to do about it if I do find an "answer"
> > (or the beginnings of one), unless that answer is "add to the docs", but
> > we all contribute what we can, and asking the question in the first
> > place is what I can :-) .
> 
> Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
> quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).
> 
> Because of the wide use of windows any replacement OS (be it linux, bsd,
> macosx, or whatever) would have to function in a similar way before it would
> be accepted.  The following would be a base set of requirements for such a
> replacement:
> 
> 1.  Boot totally into a gui - no startup output.  Those messages are great
> for someone trying to diagnose an issue, but are just confusing to some and
> unnecessary to most, which is why windows boots to gui and totally hides
> this kind of information.
> 
> 2.  Totally configurable via gui - no low-level file editing.  As power
> users this is something that we want/need, but the windows user expects to
> pull up a dialog for the program and click checkboxes to turn things on and
> off.  I can just imagine the dialogs necessary to configure something like
> postfix or sendmail ;-)
> 
> 3.  Less service-oriented and more interactive.  Sure we run ftp servers,
> web servers, mail servers, etc.  And we expect them to go off and do those
> things without bothering us.  But at this point the windows user expects
> visual feedback on everything - a mail icon indicating there's new mail in
> outlook, blinking network light showing network activity, other tray icons
> with menus allowing you to get to the background 'services' right away.
> 
> 4.  Self-updating.  M$ has been pretty poor in this respect but they are
> actively working on it and getting better.  My windows box downloads updates
> automatically, installs them with a nice progress bar (and not a lot of
> detail), and either a) handles whatever is necessary to get the new updates
> used or b) asks me to reboot for the changes to take effect.  The whole
> process is totally brain-dead, and that's what the average windows user is
> going to expect.
> 
> I think all of these things would have to come to pass before linux would
> make it on the desktop, and I'm not sure I believe they will ever happen.
> Nobody wants to take linux in the direction of windows (thankfully), and
> since most of the linux developers are power-users they have no reason to
> want or include this kind of brain-dead junk in their software.
> 
> 
> 
> --
> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 

-- 
A statistician, who refused to fly after reading of the alarmingly high
probability that there will be a bomb on any given plane, realized that
the probability of there being two bombs on any given flight is very low.
Now, whenever he flies, he carries a bomb with him.


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave V
*sigh* I guess I just have to get over the fact that such a simple oversight 
has marked me a typical windows user, but seeing as how no one wants to leave 
my name out of this, I might as well try to respond constructively.

As has been said, some people, like myself, are just a little newer to gentoo 
than others or by sheer dumb luck didn't make all the same mistakes as everyone 
else.

For the record the error was in /etc/conf.d/hdparm (not where a place anyone 
suggested). Now I dare ask... is there any reason that commands are being 
executed in in a configuration directory? Yes, yes, I suppose there could be 
uses for every line in the config files to be treated like regular bash code, 
but logically command not found error should not occur in a configuration file 
unless that config file is not really a config file. I did run several grep's 
on several files, but finding the offending "B" in like looking for a needle in 
a haystack, especially since I didn't know which haystack to search. 

How do we make it better? We could point out the exact offending file. Or say 
that an error was found while parsing config files or init scripts. There are 
plenty of things that could be done, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort in 
this case as it was just a simple typo that spawned this whole discussion.

Dave


On (2005-03-30 14:49), Holly Bostick wrote:
> Nicolas Bailey wrote:
> >I think you are being a little unfair in your judgement.  Thinking to
> >look in /etc/init.d, etc. relies on at least some knowledge that not
> >every Gentoo user will have (esp. the newer variety).  The same is
> >true in the case above.  Either you didn't know or didn't immediately
> >think of the consequences of the CONFIG_PROTECT settings.
> >
> >I'd tend to lend your arguments more merit if the error in question
> >said something to the effect of:
> >
> >/etc/init.d/hdparm: line 6: B: command not found
> >
> >Then a quick "head /etc/init.d/hdparm" would reveal the answer in a
> >much less obfuscated manner.
> >
> >As it stands, I think you are wanting to require the user happen to
> >know some semi-trivial Gentoo knowledge that they won't necessarily.
> 
> I'm not requiring anything; i'm *asking*.
> 
> For all I know, your example
> 
> > /etc/init.d/hdparm: line 6: B: command not found
> 
> is no more understandable to a "typical user" than the actual error was, 
> and that's what I'm wondering about.
> 
> After all, the only difference is that your example is more *direct*, 
> not necessarily more *clear*, as Dave indicated in his response.
> 
> If the user can read and comprehend that your example indicates that one 
> should look in the specific file /etc/init.d/hdparm for a random "B" 
> (which is probably a typo, but it even requires some technical knowledge 
> or experience to recognize that, doesn't it?), then they can reasonably 
> be presumed to be able to comprehend that in the original error they 
> should look in the specific file /var/lib/init.d/depcache; the only 
> difference between the real error and your example is that they will 
> actually *find* the "B" in hdparm, but they will only find calls to 
> files in /etc/ in depcache, where they would then have to manually 
> search (or, preferably, grep, which is admittedly an advanced skill imo) 
> for the file likely to contain the typo. So with the original error, the 
> sequence of actions is unchanged (look in the file specified by the 
> error output, for the string indicated in the error output), just 
> longer-- if you understand the stderr output in the first place.
> 
> But would said user be able to succeed if the error message was direct, 
> or is the message already too obtuse to be understood, direct or 
> indirect? If so, why?
> 
> Is the issue that users need to be trained in understanding error 
> message syntax because neither the indirect or direct messages are 
> understandable if you don't know it, and where should such training or 
> basic documentation be presented?
> 
> Or is the error message comprehensible, but people don't read it at all?
> 
> That's a social engineering issue-- but which one of the several that A. 
> Khattri indicated? "Laziness" (users can't be bothered/don't have time 
> to read)? Trained lack of confidence (long-term Windows use trains you 
> very heavily in the belief that you are incompetent to touch 
> system/application files, no matter whether you actually are or not)? 
> Trained despair (if people are very used to Windows' incomprehensible 
> error messages, they may not even look at stderr output, certain that it 
> is similarly useless)? Or is it simply that "average computer users" 
> (whoever they are) have no interest in self-reliance and prefer to "ask 
> the expert", whether or not that is in fact necessary?
> 
> If one or more of these is in fact the problem, how can it be moderated, 
> minimized or eliminated?
> 
> We can't make Linux "better" and "ready for the desktop"-- which does
> *not* mean 

RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Dave Nebinger
> We can't make Linux "better" and "ready for the desktop"-- which does
> *not* mean we have to do everything via a GUI, dagnabit; people can
> certainly use the command-line comfortably *if they know how*-- unless
> we identify where people are falling over it and how to remove the
> obstacles to their understanding and ease-of-use. Difficulties using
> error output effectively looks like an obstacle to ease-of-use to me.
> Heaven knows I won't know what to do about it if I do find an "answer"
> (or the beginnings of one), unless that answer is "add to the docs", but
> we all contribute what we can, and asking the question in the first
> place is what I can :-) .

Unfortunately, Holly, I don't think linux will be ready for the desktop for
quite awhile (yes, that does make me sad).

Because of the wide use of windows any replacement OS (be it linux, bsd,
macosx, or whatever) would have to function in a similar way before it would
be accepted.  The following would be a base set of requirements for such a
replacement:

1.  Boot totally into a gui - no startup output.  Those messages are great
for someone trying to diagnose an issue, but are just confusing to some and
unnecessary to most, which is why windows boots to gui and totally hides
this kind of information.

2.  Totally configurable via gui - no low-level file editing.  As power
users this is something that we want/need, but the windows user expects to
pull up a dialog for the program and click checkboxes to turn things on and
off.  I can just imagine the dialogs necessary to configure something like
postfix or sendmail ;-)

3.  Less service-oriented and more interactive.  Sure we run ftp servers,
web servers, mail servers, etc.  And we expect them to go off and do those
things without bothering us.  But at this point the windows user expects
visual feedback on everything - a mail icon indicating there's new mail in
outlook, blinking network light showing network activity, other tray icons
with menus allowing you to get to the background 'services' right away.

4.  Self-updating.  M$ has been pretty poor in this respect but they are
actively working on it and getting better.  My windows box downloads updates
automatically, installs them with a nice progress bar (and not a lot of
detail), and either a) handles whatever is necessary to get the new updates
used or b) asks me to reboot for the changes to take effect.  The whole
process is totally brain-dead, and that's what the average windows user is
going to expect.

I think all of these things would have to come to pass before linux would
make it on the desktop, and I'm not sure I believe they will ever happen.
Nobody wants to take linux in the direction of windows (thankfully), and
since most of the linux developers are power-users they have no reason to
want or include this kind of brain-dead junk in their software.



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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-30 Thread Holly Bostick
Nicolas Bailey wrote:
I think you are being a little unfair in your judgement.  Thinking to
look in /etc/init.d, etc. relies on at least some knowledge that not
every Gentoo user will have (esp. the newer variety).  The same is
true in the case above.  Either you didn't know or didn't immediately
think of the consequences of the CONFIG_PROTECT settings.
I'd tend to lend your arguments more merit if the error in question
said something to the effect of:
/etc/init.d/hdparm: line 6: B: command not found
Then a quick "head /etc/init.d/hdparm" would reveal the answer in a
much less obfuscated manner.
As it stands, I think you are wanting to require the user happen to
know some semi-trivial Gentoo knowledge that they won't necessarily.
I'm not requiring anything; i'm *asking*.
For all I know, your example
> /etc/init.d/hdparm: line 6: B: command not found
is no more understandable to a "typical user" than the actual error was, 
and that's what I'm wondering about.

After all, the only difference is that your example is more *direct*, 
not necessarily more *clear*, as Dave indicated in his response.

If the user can read and comprehend that your example indicates that one 
should look in the specific file /etc/init.d/hdparm for a random "B" 
(which is probably a typo, but it even requires some technical knowledge 
or experience to recognize that, doesn't it?), then they can reasonably 
be presumed to be able to comprehend that in the original error they 
should look in the specific file /var/lib/init.d/depcache; the only 
difference between the real error and your example is that they will 
actually *find* the "B" in hdparm, but they will only find calls to 
files in /etc/ in depcache, where they would then have to manually 
search (or, preferably, grep, which is admittedly an advanced skill imo) 
for the file likely to contain the typo. So with the original error, the 
sequence of actions is unchanged (look in the file specified by the 
error output, for the string indicated in the error output), just 
longer-- if you understand the stderr output in the first place.

But would said user be able to succeed if the error message was direct, 
or is the message already too obtuse to be understood, direct or 
indirect? If so, why?

Is the issue that users need to be trained in understanding error 
message syntax because neither the indirect or direct messages are 
understandable if you don't know it, and where should such training or 
basic documentation be presented?

Or is the error message comprehensible, but people don't read it at all?
That's a social engineering issue-- but which one of the several that A. 
Khattri indicated? "Laziness" (users can't be bothered/don't have time 
to read)? Trained lack of confidence (long-term Windows use trains you 
very heavily in the belief that you are incompetent to touch 
system/application files, no matter whether you actually are or not)? 
Trained despair (if people are very used to Windows' incomprehensible 
error messages, they may not even look at stderr output, certain that it 
is similarly useless)? Or is it simply that "average computer users" 
(whoever they are) have no interest in self-reliance and prefer to "ask 
the expert", whether or not that is in fact necessary?

If one or more of these is in fact the problem, how can it be moderated, 
minimized or eliminated?

We can't make Linux "better" and "ready for the desktop"-- which does
*not* mean we have to do everything via a GUI, dagnabit; people can 
certainly use the command-line comfortably *if they know how*-- unless 
we identify where people are falling over it and how to remove the
obstacles to their understanding and ease-of-use. Difficulties using 
error output effectively looks like an obstacle to ease-of-use to me.
Heaven knows I won't know what to do about it if I do find an "answer" 
(or the beginnings of one), unless that answer is "add to the docs", but 
we all contribute what we can, and asking the question in the first 
place is what I can :-) .

Holly
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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread A. Khattri
On Tue, 29 Mar 2005, Dave Nebinger wrote:

> Hmm, I take issue with the inference that the message was understandable.

As Holly said earlier - not really talking about you specifically.

> The error message itself pointed to the depcache file, yet the error was in
> a script in /etc/init.d.  Yes, the depcache file is readable but to approach
> tracking that down you're saying you're willing to dive into the internals
> of gentoo with (but mostly w/o) the knowledge needed to understand and
> follow along.

True, but your original post talked about seeing that error during the
boot process when /sbin/rc runs. This to *me* immediately narrowed down
the general area of investigation to the booting process, boot files and
scripts, etc.

> Many folks, especially gentoo newbies, don't have that foundation.  It's
> easier if you're a seasoned unix/linux user as you don't have the fear of
> digging into the files to find out what's going on, but that experience is
> not shared by all.

Ah yes, the fear of "breaking the computer" - I believe that was user (3)

:-)


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread Nicolas Bailey
> OK, now that the problem has been solved, I'd like to ask a question
> about why this was a problem in the first place. Not getting on you,
> Dave, I'm just curious about a "user psychology issue".

I think what you are seeing is that people will see and respond to
different errors differently.  As was mentioned by most people, it
wasn't necessarily clear what file the hidden "B" might be located in.
 It's the way each person's individual intuition works.

Allow me another example:
 
> 2) I would have noticed something like depcache showing up in etc-update
> for that reason (it would be so unusual), although I would not have edited
> it had it come up, but accepted changes.

When I first read this, my intuition immediately said "why in the
world would depcache ever show up here?"  Why did I think that?  Well,
mainly because the directory it is in is not CONFIG_PROTECTed by
default.  If for some reason you had that directory in /var set to
CONFIG_PROTECT, you'd surely know about it.  Still, it obviously
seemed like it *could* happen to you; thus, you used it in your
example.

I think you are being a little unfair in your judgement.  Thinking to
look in /etc/init.d, etc. relies on at least some knowledge that not
every Gentoo user will have (esp. the newer variety).  The same is
true in the case above.  Either you didn't know or didn't immediately
think of the consequences of the CONFIG_PROTECT settings.

I'd tend to lend your arguments more merit if the error in question
said something to the effect of:

/etc/init.d/hdparm: line 6: B: command not found

Then a quick "head /etc/init.d/hdparm" would reveal the answer in a
much less obfuscated manner.

As it stands, I think you are wanting to require the user happen to
know some semi-trivial Gentoo knowledge that they won't necessarily.

Nick
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RE: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread Dave Nebinger
> > In any case, Dave still had to search for the typo one way or another
> > even with the advice; this was unavoidable. But the error message
> > already contained the information on where to start the search (and in
> > fact what was wrong, by indicating that there was a typo somewhere). So
> > what I am wondering (again, nothing about you personally, Dave, you
> > simply seem to have a fairly typical user issue), is why users have
> > difficulty understanding these messages, and using them effectively.

Hmm, I take issue with the inference that the message was understandable.
The error message itself pointed to the depcache file, yet the error was in
a script in /etc/init.d.  Yes, the depcache file is readable but to approach
tracking that down you're saying you're willing to dive into the internals
of gentoo with (but mostly w/o) the knowledge needed to understand and
follow along.

Many folks, especially gentoo newbies, don't have that foundation.  It's
easier if you're a seasoned unix/linux user as you don't have the fear of
digging into the files to find out what's going on, but that experience is
not shared by all.

> As someone who works in support (ISP), I find a lot of people:
> 
> 1) Dont read the error message given (made worse by the fact that people
>read less these days!). You can send these people FAQs, warning emails,
>whatever and they won't read them. Recent case in point: user was over
>mailbox quota and was sent automated warning when they hit 90% - advice
>on how to clean out their mailbox is given in a URL in the email, but
>does anyone read that???
> 
> 2) Read the error message but simply dont get it - these are the people
>who drive a car but know nothing about the basic mechanics of how the
>engine propels the vehicle (these people also rarely change their oil
>or do any basic maintenance on their cars).
> 
> 3) Too scared to read the error - many people fear technology or fear that
>they may "break the computer" by poking around. (IMHO, poking around
>and tinkering however are the BEST ways to learn anything).
> 
> 4) Read the error message and use it as a starting point to systematically
>track down the problem - these users are very rare (though there's a
>lot of them in the Linux community). Users in groups (1), (2) and (3)
>would consider these people "power users".

The fifth group should include those that know, by experience, that a given
error message actually means something completely different than what's
being reported.

This depcache error was a perfect example; I asked Dave to send me his
depcache file so I could see what it contained - I was going to start
tracking the issue from the source (falling under group number 4, I guess).

Another gentoo person replied that Dave should look for B in /etc/init.d
scripts; obviously he had the experience to know that the depcache error
translated into an invalid command in one of the scripts.

The error message I hate to see is the error coming out of emerge, the
'failed to build' error.  For reference:

> !!! ERROR: net-misc/wget-1.9.1-r3 failed.
> !!! Function src_compile, Line 54, Exitcode 2
> !!! (no error message)
> !!! If you need support, post the topmost build error,
> NOT this status message.

This really doesn't translate into anything useful.  If the failure occurred
during the configure script run, the config.log contents are needed to
understand what the error was.  If the failure occurred during a compile or
link, the full command line before the error is useful as well as other
pertinent information (i.e. gcc version, gentoo version, basic 'emerge
--info' output).

With experience we know that info is necessary to diagnose a failure, but a
generic "post the topmost build error" doesn't suffice.



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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread A. Khattri
On Tue, 29 Mar 2005, Holly Bostick wrote:

> In any case, Dave still had to search for the typo one way or another
> even with the advice; this was unavoidable. But the error message
> already contained the information on where to start the search (and in
> fact what was wrong, by indicating that there was a typo somewhere). So
> what I am wondering (again, nothing about you personally, Dave, you
> simply seem to have a fairly typical user issue), is why users have
> difficulty understanding these messages, and using them effectively.

As someone who works in support (ISP), I find a lot of people:

1) Dont read the error message given (made worse by the fact that people
   read less these days!). You can send these people FAQs, warning emails,
   whatever and they won't read them. Recent case in point: user was over
   mailbox quota and was sent automated warning when they hit 90% - advice
   on how to clean out their mailbox is given in a URL in the email, but
   does anyone read that???

2) Read the error message but simply dont get it - these are the people
   who drive a car but know nothing about the basic mechanics of how the
   engine propels the vehicle (these people also rarely change their oil
   or do any basic maintenance on their cars).

3) Too scared to read the error - many people fear technology or fear that
   they may "break the computer" by poking around. (IMHO, poking around
   and tinkering however are the BEST ways to learn anything).

4) Read the error message and use it as a starting point to systematically
   track down the problem - these users are very rare (though there's a
   lot of them in the Linux community). Users in groups (1), (2) and (3)
   would consider these people "power users".


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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread Dave V

Wow, that was a long read.

Let me first say that I'm a little bit insulted at having my post compared to a 
typical Windows user :P.

With that out of the way, it really wasn't a very clear message. I knew that 
the two lines

/var/lib/init.d/depcache: line 6: B: command not found
/sbin/rc: line 6: B: command not found

must be referring to some other commonly referenced file, but had no idea where 
to start looking. If the scripts had pointed out the actual file where the 
error had occurred, then it would have been a simple resolution.

Everything is a learning experience I suppose. I'm sure next time I have a 
similar "command not found" error, I'll know where to look, but I don't see how 
"command not found" would intuitively lead me to the /etc/conf.d and 
/etc/init.d directories. Of course the meaning of "command not found" is clear, 
but the location of the command in question was the problem.

Dave

On (2005-03-29 12:36), Holly Bostick wrote:
> Dave V wrote:
> > You got me looking in the right places at least. Turned out that the 
> offending file was in /etc/conf.d. I somehow managed to insert a random 
> B character on line 6 of /etc/conf.d/hdparm. Thanks for the help all.
> >
> > On (2005-03-28 12:54), A. Khattri wrote:
> >>On Mon, 28 Mar 2005, Dave V wrote:
> >>
> >>>Every time I emerge I get this message:
> >>>
> >>> * Caching service dependencies...
> >>>/var/lib/init.d/depcache: line 6: B: command not found
> >>>
> >>>I also get this when booting in the middle of the normal service 
> startup messages:
> >>>
> >>>/sbin/rc: line 6: B: command not found
> >>>
> >>>This problem has been hanging around for a while and so far hasn't 
> caused any noticable trouble, but the locations are a bit worrisome. Any 
> idea how I can fix this or what might be causing it?
> >>What does "grep B /etc/init.d/*" say?
> >>
> >>
> 
> OK, now that the problem has been solved, I'd like to ask a question 
> about why this was a problem in the first place. Not getting on you, 
> Dave, I'm just curious about a "user psychology issue".
> 
> The error message is quite clear-- it gives a location and a standard 
> (meaning, well-understood) error: "command not found".
> 
> So, from the error, we already know that there is a "B" command being 
> called, which does not exist (as we also know just from common sense; I 
> certainly don't know every binary name available to Linux, but "B" just 
> doesn't seem likely to be one of them). We also know (hopefully), even 
> from limited experience, that a "Command not found" error is often 
> caused by a typo; the alternative being the program not being installed 
> in the first place if spelled correctly, but in this case, where the 
> command not found is something like "B", which one can easily guess is 
> not a real command, we can pretty much say "typo".
> 
> So we know we've got a typo somewhere, and the error message tells us 
> the beginning of the trail to locate it, /var/lib/init.d/depcache.
> 
> depcache is openable via less (and possibly other text editors), so that 
> would be the first thing to check for this typo. Of course, I don't have 
> this error, but looking at depcache, it's pretty easy to see that the 
> "B" is likely not there-- and I wouldn't have expected it in depcache 
> anyway, since I have a general idea that depcache (given that it has the 
> word "cache" in its name) is something that calls other scripts. 
> Besides, I have never edited depcache (so I could not have inserted a 
> random "B" into it). "Even I" know this, because 1) files in /var/ are 
> not something normally edited or even looked at by a user, and 2) I 
> would have noticed something like depcache showing up in etc-update for 
> that reason (it would be so unusual), although I would not have edited 
> it had it come up, but accepted changes. Which means that 3) if the typo 
> really was in depcache, it was a developer typo which is not so likely 
> for a random "B", and even if it was a developer typo, 4) it's a bug 
> that's going to be fixed by the developers, probably quite soon. So the 
> typo being in depcache itself is still possible, but the greatest 
> possiblility is that I the user made the typo, which means it's not in 
> depcache itself (though, since I'm opening depcache anyway, I'll scan 
> for it). What looking at depcaches does tell me is what scripts/files 
> are likely candidates for the typo, because they're being called by it.
> 
> What I see in depcache is a bunch of calls to services located in 
> /etc/init.d and then calls to configs in /etc/conf.d. (to the config for 
> the listed service for that section, net, and then /etc/rc).
> 
> Hopefully, I have some sense which one of these I may have recently 
> edited, but even if not, I can look in the file list of these two 
> folders (and /etc/rc) and attempt to track down recently edited files, 
> or grep the /etc/ folder for "B\ " (I can use escape characters in grep, 
> can't I?)
> 
> In any case, Dave stil

[gentoo-user] [OT] Users and errors (was: help "line 6: B: command not found" FIXED, user error in config file...)

2005-03-29 Thread Holly Bostick
Dave V wrote:
> You got me looking in the right places at least. Turned out that the 
offending file was in /etc/conf.d. I somehow managed to insert a random 
B character on line 6 of /etc/conf.d/hdparm. Thanks for the help all.
>
> On (2005-03-28 12:54), A. Khattri wrote:
>>On Mon, 28 Mar 2005, Dave V wrote:
>>
>>>Every time I emerge I get this message:
>>>
>>> * Caching service dependencies...
>>>/var/lib/init.d/depcache: line 6: B: command not found
>>>
>>>I also get this when booting in the middle of the normal service 
startup messages:
>>>
>>>/sbin/rc: line 6: B: command not found
>>>
>>>This problem has been hanging around for a while and so far hasn't 
caused any noticable trouble, but the locations are a bit worrisome. Any 
idea how I can fix this or what might be causing it?
>>What does "grep B /etc/init.d/*" say?
>>
>>

OK, now that the problem has been solved, I'd like to ask a question 
about why this was a problem in the first place. Not getting on you, 
Dave, I'm just curious about a "user psychology issue".

The error message is quite clear-- it gives a location and a standard 
(meaning, well-understood) error: "command not found".

So, from the error, we already know that there is a "B" command being 
called, which does not exist (as we also know just from common sense; I 
certainly don't know every binary name available to Linux, but "B" just 
doesn't seem likely to be one of them). We also know (hopefully), even 
from limited experience, that a "Command not found" error is often 
caused by a typo; the alternative being the program not being installed 
in the first place if spelled correctly, but in this case, where the 
command not found is something like "B", which one can easily guess is 
not a real command, we can pretty much say "typo".

So we know we've got a typo somewhere, and the error message tells us 
the beginning of the trail to locate it, /var/lib/init.d/depcache.

depcache is openable via less (and possibly other text editors), so that 
would be the first thing to check for this typo. Of course, I don't have 
this error, but looking at depcache, it's pretty easy to see that the 
"B" is likely not there-- and I wouldn't have expected it in depcache 
anyway, since I have a general idea that depcache (given that it has the 
word "cache" in its name) is something that calls other scripts. 
Besides, I have never edited depcache (so I could not have inserted a 
random "B" into it). "Even I" know this, because 1) files in /var/ are 
not something normally edited or even looked at by a user, and 2) I 
would have noticed something like depcache showing up in etc-update for 
that reason (it would be so unusual), although I would not have edited 
it had it come up, but accepted changes. Which means that 3) if the typo 
really was in depcache, it was a developer typo which is not so likely 
for a random "B", and even if it was a developer typo, 4) it's a bug 
that's going to be fixed by the developers, probably quite soon. So the 
typo being in depcache itself is still possible, but the greatest 
possiblility is that I the user made the typo, which means it's not in 
depcache itself (though, since I'm opening depcache anyway, I'll scan 
for it). What looking at depcaches does tell me is what scripts/files 
are likely candidates for the typo, because they're being called by it.

What I see in depcache is a bunch of calls to services located in 
/etc/init.d and then calls to configs in /etc/conf.d. (to the config for 
the listed service for that section, net, and then /etc/rc).

Hopefully, I have some sense which one of these I may have recently 
edited, but even if not, I can look in the file list of these two 
folders (and /etc/rc) and attempt to track down recently edited files, 
or grep the /etc/ folder for "B\ " (I can use escape characters in grep, 
can't I?)

In any case, Dave still had to search for the typo one way or another 
even with the advice; this was unavoidable. But the error message 
already contained the information on where to start the search (and in 
fact what was wrong, by indicating that there was a typo somewhere). So 
what I am wondering (again, nothing about you personally, Dave, you 
simply seem to have a fairly typical user issue), is why users have 
difficulty understanding these messages, and using them effectively.

Are they perhaps so used to Windows that they don't expect error 
messages to be of any use, thus don't look at them? Does the fact that 
the error message is displayed in some semi-obtuse "term-speak" alarm 
people so much that they're convinced that they don't understand it 
before they even try? Or am I just weird that I can look at a message 
like that, know that I don't "understand" it (I know nothing whatsoever 
about depcache, neither what it says in the script, nor what it is 
"for", never mind how it does whatever it does), yet still see that 
there are two pieces of useful information in the message, and follow on 
from those clues, i