Dear Mandrake:
It would seem to me that Mandrake, a distro I respect and like for its
many user-friendly features, might consider making itself even more
user-friendly by adding the sndconfig sound configuration to the regular
installation procedure. For the life of me, I don't understand why the
installation process leaves the newbie in the dark to try to figure this
out for themselves. I am sure the first thing a newbie wants to do is
get on the Internet and listen to RealPlayer or mp3 or watch some
videos. May I, in all due respect, propose that the sndconfig
configuration be added to the standard installation routine. Just a few
minutes ago, a newbie wrote in to ask how to configure his sound card. I
send him instructions on how to accomplish this very simple task. But he
was in the dark and might have remained in the dark for a long time
before finding out. He might have even given up in frustration and
returned to the arms of Big Brother. The point is: Mandrake, the
user-friendly distribution, should think ahead and put itself in the
position of the newbie, who is its target audience. Ask yourselves: What
is it that I could add to the installation and running process to make
it as automatic and painless and inclusive as possible? Surely,
configuring your sound card is a top priority.
Another suggestion. Both Update and Appfinder should start automatically
be default the moment the user enters KDE or Gnome or else a screen
explaining these key features should be included. The user will want to
see what applications are available to him/her. Update will bring him up
to date and Appfinder will bring up all her applications together and
place them in their respective menus. But, if my experience (and I was
quite conscientious and made an effort at least to read my Linux books,
is any indication, it may be some time before the user will find out
about it. And it may be too late by then.
Make a list of all such top priority items that will help the newbie,
then either include them in the install or inform the user about them ON
THE SCREEN (not just in the help files or in some manual) the moment
he/she logs on into KDE and provide specific instructions on how to
implement them. First, the Update button, next, sound configuration,
then the Appfinder, etc.
Mandrake is Red Hat plus, that is Red Hat customized for the newbie with
user-friendly features designed to make life easy for him/her. That's
why I switched from Red Hat proper to Mandrake 6.1 and I am glad I did.
For those, like me, who have made the transition from Windows to Linux,
it has been, even with a graphical GUI, a traumatic experience, and for
those starting fresh on Linux, it still presents a serious learning
curve.
What I appreciate about Mandrake is that it meets the needs of both the
newbie and the professional. A great distro. I am also pleased to see
the first serious security precautions in place by default in the
/etc/inedt.conf file. That's a great idea. You might consider having a
pop-up screen suggesting to the user that he/she configure the
hosts.deny and hosts.all files (a breeze and a very critical file but
one that most users will not know about right away and might find out
about too late after their Linux boxes have been cracked) and
suggestions on installing sentry for some serious security.
Mandrake should not rest on its Editor's Choice laurels. It must
continue to make the installation and running of its Linux distro as
smooth, user-friendly and professional as possible. That's its very
raison d'etre, its reason for being, what makes it, by its own admission
and self-promotion, different from Red Hat. Why not consider my
suggestions above. Perhaps others will have suggestions of their own.
There is no reason in the world why a newbie, full of excitement for
Linux and used to multimedia out of the box in Windows and Mac should
have to send a letter to our list asking for help in configuring his
sound card. That should be automatic. And that would make Mandrake the
distribution of choice.
Yours,
Benjamin
-
Benjamin and Anna Sher
Email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sher's Russian Web
http://www.websher.net
