On Sunday 29 March 2009 11:56:18 Piero Faustini wrote: > Uwe Stöhr <uwesto...@...> writes: > > Why is it hard to use? You sing the mailing list and then get the emails > > as > > described here: > > http://www.lyx.org/MailingLists > > The whole list is archived at various websites. > > How many people use mailing lists? How many use forums? Say 1 lister every > 20 forumers? Say 1 to 10 (and I'm fair)? It's not me who says lists are > difficoult, it's people. I never used lists before knowing LyX. > > > I don't see an advantage. At forums I always have to log in before I can > > post > > and I have to open the > > > webpage to reply. That means I every time have to enable cookies in my > > browser, then enter my user > > > name and password and then write afterwards I have to delete my browser > > history and disable cookies. > > > With a mailing list I only have to subscribe once and get the emails > > whenever > > I want to. I can also > > > store important mails at my PC, forward messages, compose messages out of > > several other ones, CC and > > > BCC people, .... All this is not possible with a forum. > > It's 10 years since last time I disabled cookies. I'm a Windows (95% of > time) "integrate" internet user as millions more. I use cookies in my > Xandros OS too. Integrate doesn't mean computer-pro. Sometimes it's > opposite to pro. Children use forums. They always had, because they are > very, VERY simple. Lists are not that simple, comparing to forums (unless > you care about cookies, which 99% of people don't). Everything has its > thumb up and down. I believe you that with lists you can do many things > which a forum can't. But that's not the point. Lists are difficoult to use > comparing to their advantages, so they are for PRO users, almost always > have been, and in future I guess they will be ONLY for pro. Their worst > difficoulty is to LEARN how it works (I spent some days puzzling and > puzzling and sending messages to wrong addresses till I went to GMANE and > used its forum-like interface) > > > I think that LyX is one of the best documented projects and our user > > support > > is outstanding. When > > > you have a problem with LyX you'll usually get a solution within a day or > > two. So I'm interested why > > > you think LyX lacks information. > > 100% agree with you. I didn't want to say LyX lacks information. LyX > information is GREAT and of 1st quality and fast and reliable and sincere. > Just that if you can't have access to this information, it's value is ZERO, > no matter why you didn't have access. > Let's say my name is Joe Average and I'm one of those 1000 potential LyX > users who weekly crash in site. I use Windows and used MS Access at basic > level once. I know something about html. I'm smart so I use OOo Writer with > styles. I use the internet everyday. FULL STOP. > I found Lyx.org just because I read something, in a forum ;) of students. I > try to use it and I get it working but that very day I get stuck trying to > use some pics. Guide says I have to learn how to install it properly, and > the basics of LaTeX. That's fair. Then I have to tweak something in the > preamble. Ok. I have to change completely my Word-formatted mind. HARD, BUT > I CAN. I just need some help, and LaTeX forums are not for LyXers and > they're always with all that \$%. Then, they say me that I have to learn > how to use a list (something I heard of at the beginning of the internet). > I try once, twice. I give up lists. I give up LyX. > Hope will be better for next 999 users but I don't believe it. > > Against common Scientific-pro based opinions, I think LyX strategy should > be "GO TO THE PEOPLE", to students, to humanists, to people who are not > computer- pros which are millions. They still have to learn something > aboute code etc. but the LyX community should ban everything which could > stay between them and LyX and of course between them and LyX information > (and is not strictly needed). Lists are just one of these little annoying > things. I didn't say we have to use Facebook or a social site or something > like that. Just a simple, plain forum. In a modern forum you can use a lot > of features, but you need cookies, of course ;) . > If the entire discussion moved there, everything would be better for new > users. > > Well this is my idea. > thanks for your opinion > Piero
Like Uwe, I am not quite sure I understand what's so difficult about lists. That is, unless you are used to reading mail in a browser and never used a mail client. Lists have also many advantages, which Uwe summed up nicely. However, I am also old enough to have used e-mail for years before browsing came into existence, so what Piero is saying may just be a pointer to a generational gap. The issue though, is that the great support Lyx provides is (mostly) in the hands of a relatively small group of people who very generously share their time and expertise---Uwe himself being perhaps the most active member of this group. What they prefer is the law of lyx-land! Cheers, S. ______________________________________________________________ Stefano Franchi Department of Philosophy Ph: (979) 862-2211 Texas A&M University Fax: (979) 845-0458 305B Bolton Hall fran...@philosophy.tamu.edu College Station, TX 77843-4237
