Hi Guys, Just as point.
I am NOT pro-MS and neither against Linux. As said already .. From what I see out there the Linux community IS trying to get home users to move from Windows to Linux. That is in fact one very tough battle! In my opinion, until the Linux community starts accepting the fact that for HOME USERS (notice CAPS and see definition of HOME USERS below) Linux is NOT usable then no improvement will be done. This is because if they do not see problems .. Then obviously they will not do solution .. Easy logic. When the Linux community stops bragging about Linux, try to remove their over-rated Linux bias-ness and start to look closely on REALLY WHY home users still use Windows, then there will never be improvement in this are. PLEASE NOTE: I am ONLY talking about user usability here from a HOME USER point of view. So please .... Do not come back to tell me that Linux is much better when it comes to server applications etc etc .. Because I know that already:) So please stick to the point:) HOME USERS Definition: 1. Does not work in IT 2. Sees the computer as #1 enemy 3. Receives/Send files to/from her/his online friends 4. Does a lot of web browsing 5. Uses Instant messaging 6. Chats a lot on IRC 7. Does not know what an exploit/vulnerability is and leaves Windows Update do the job automatically. 8. Wants to download applications and click and install (and ready) 9. Still calls the Tower case the CPU 10. and more ... regards, David Vella - GFI Software Ltd. - www.gfi.com Messaging, Content Security & Network security software GFI: FAXmaker - LANguard - MailSecurity - DownloadSecurity -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Philip Serrracino Inglott Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 11:38 AM To: Malta Linux User Group - general list Subject: Re: [LINUX.ORG.MT] Linux/Windows Sorry but I cannot hold back replying even if it means repeating myself! David Vella wrote: >Hi All, > >I just turned full time Linux (RH9) on my home PC a month ago however I >still use Win2k at work. > >I guess I can say I am a Win power user and a basic Linux user. Before >that I installed Linux last month, it was only in 1998 that I had used >it last (RH7x) and I must say that it has improved a LOT from the >usability side. > >Anyway, so at home I need mostly a web browser, irc client, email >client and IM (MSN/ICQ) client. For IM I tried both Gaim and also >AMSN. Amsn sucks UI wise and Gaim is good. I needed to install Gaim - >just that took me a week or so (just evenings) of downloading rpm's and sources. >A lot of dependencies and at some point I was just going to throw the >towel however I persisted. Now it is working - except that receiving >files does not work. > > Hmmm Gaim does NOT support file transfers via MSN AFAIK. On the other hand has any of you geeks tried Jabber?! I do have an account, but no buddies :-( >I still think that the Linux I have (RH9 - KDE) is not yet available >for the home user. I try to imagine my gf use it .. And that >terrorizes me >- no thanks .. I don't want to spend my free time supporting a linux >machine. > >I still didn't try to connect by USB stick, my P800 or my Clie to my >RH9 ... Do not even know if such drivers exist for them, does USB work >well on Linux? I mean .. Is it really plug and play? I am scared of >trying them out ... > > USB support itself is fine under linux, Even hot plugging works, depending on the device you are attaching. My el-cheapo web cam works without a hitch (almost). Plug it in and the driver is loaded! >Ohhh ... And when it comes to server configuration, the default tools >provided by KDE suck .. only webmin saves the day. > >My Kmail email client still crashes, and has some quit quirky issues, >still cannot find a decent email client. Best email no-frills emails >client out there is MS Outlook Express .. From what I saw obviously. >Why is it that from all the Linux email clients I used, they persisted >into adding the signature at the VERY end of the email (i.e. after all >the replies etc...).... > > Have you tried evolution? >When browsing using Mozilla my fonts do not show well .. May need to >get reading glasses soon it seems. > >The User Interface of linux applications is 'designed' by geek devs. >Sorry .. But in most cases, geek devs are good for development and not >for usability. Do any standards exists as how to program user >interfaces with usability in mind? > > http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/ >Also .. Why is it that by default, when you click a window title bar it >rolls up instead of maximizing/sizing it? YES .. I KNOW that just >because Windows does that then it does not mean that Linux interfaces >has to be like that .. However .. Hey, if you want to start 'migrating' >users from Windows to Linux then you have to make the process as less >painful as possible. Too much is expected from home users (non-linux >geeks). > > What if you are migrating from mac? what if you are not migrating at all? NO that is not too much to expect from home users! Windows make such changes themselves from one version to the next, compare the start menu/control panel of XP to that of 2000. This is the same mentality shown when leaded petrol was stopped. "Why should I change what I'm used to? Never mind the advantages I just do not want to change a thing! And do not try explaining thing ... I will not listen!" >Why not have a Linux distro/app which absracts the Linux file folders >view and makes them look like windows ? No /sbin and stuff .. > >It CANNOT be expected that Normal home users learn everything from >scratch. Microsoft won already in that respect, what Linux should do >at this point is to make itself look and FEEEELL much more than windows!! >Basically .. Same look and FEEL (notice CAPS) however totally different >internals. > > Well if you find that windows look and FEEL is so comfortable, why should you change to linux? No one is saying that linux is the best solution for everyone! Windows will always have some advantages, as will linux. I do not thing that linux is in a competition trying to WIN against windows. Linux happens to be (in my humble opinion) a better Operating System than Windows in very many ways. X window applications and desktop enviroments also tend to be of higher quality in many respects, but are still rather cumbersome in terms of ease of use for the quasi-computer-illiterate person. Anyway my gf started liking linux when she found out all the standard card games, which came for free! Another plus was that every time someone saw my matrixGL xscreensaver hack they would invariable ask where they can get it from for their computer. Being able to reply "Sorry, that's for linux only!" made her feel good about not using windows. Philip >Just some rants and raves .. Which can go on for ever ... > >(boring mode) > >regards, > >David Vella - GFI Software Ltd. - www.gfi.com Messaging, Content >Security & Network security software >GFI: FAXmaker - LANguard - MailSecurity - DownloadSecurity > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ramon Casha >Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:59 AM >To: Malta Linux User Group - general list >Subject: Re: [LINUX.ORG.MT] Linux/Windows > >On Thursday 27 May 2004 08:42, Raphael Borg Ellul Vincenti wrote: > > >>The problem as I see it with the standardization of RPMs is that >>different distros have different dependencies for the same rpm. >> >> > >Precisely... and that's where the main work lies. They *could* make >RPMs distribution-independent. It would take some coordinated effort though. > > > >>BTW.... the added traffic on this mailing list is a welcome change. >> >> >> > >LOL yes. One moment it's as if the list was lifeless, the next a >zillion new messages fall on my mailbox like a nice soft feather tied >to a truckload of bricks. > >Ramon Casha >_______________________________________________ >MLUG-list mailing list >[email protected] >http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > >This mail was checked for malicious code and viruses by GFI >MailSecurity. GFI MailSecurity provides email content checking, exploit >detection, threats analysis and anti-virus for Exchange & SMTP servers. >Viruses, Trojans, dangerous attachments and offensive content are >removed automatically. >Key features include: multiple virus engines; email content and >attachment checking; an exploit shield; an HTML threats engine; a >Trojan & Executable Scanner; and more. > >In addition to GFI MailSecurity, GFI also produces the GFI >MailEssentials anti-spam software, the GFI FAXmaker fax server & GFI >LANguard network security product ranges. >For more information on our products, please visit http://www.gfi.com. >This disclaimer was sent by GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP. > >_______________________________________________ >MLUG-list mailing list >[email protected] >http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > > _______________________________________________ MLUG-list mailing list [email protected] http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list This mail was checked for malicious code and viruses by GFI MailSecurity. GFI MailSecurity provides email content checking, exploit detection, threats analysis and anti-virus for Exchange & SMTP servers. Viruses, Trojans, dangerous attachments and offensive content are removed automatically. Key features include: multiple virus engines; email content and attachment checking; an exploit shield; an HTML threats engine; a Trojan & Executable Scanner; and more. In addition to GFI MailSecurity, GFI also produces the GFI MailEssentials anti-spam software, the GFI FAXmaker fax server & GFI LANguard network security product ranges. For more information on our products, please visit http://www.gfi.com. This disclaimer was sent by GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP.
