>
>To everybody's objection (and to some's surprise), I would have to say
>that I personally do not believe Linux is ready for the desktop for the
>majority of people.
No, not *everybody's* objection - I also do not believe that Linux is a viable
alternative desktop environment for EvilWare yet - and I do stress YET !!
Leaving aside the installation and configuration process, and assuming for
a moment a fully functioning X-Windows desktop (or KDE / Gnome / E
/ <gui of choice>), there is one fundamental problem - the populace at
large has been indoctrinated into the EvilWare mentality and way of doing
things. They accept the quirks and foibles of Windows with little question.
Or, rather, they have LEARNED to accept them - the same way they can
LEARN to accept Linux' little pecadilos as well.
And that's the crux of the whole "Linux-on-the-Desktop" issue - LEARNING.
If, as an example, I configure the workstation I am currently using, when it
is running Linux (yes, I have to use EvilWare as well some times !!) to look
exactly like Windows, do I achieve any benefit when the Mrs uses the
machine - and she hates *nix with a passion, having to use it at work
(a Government department where they know not what they do as far as
system administration is concerned!).
No... All I achieve is a little peace and harmony (not altogether a bad
thing),
but I do not promote the "Linux Desktop" as such, only that it can be
disguised as Windows.
If I insist that she use, for example, KDE, and am willing to educate her in
such, I achieve a wider acceptance of Linux as a viable desktop environment.
The whole thing revolves around her LEARNING a new desktop environment,
or rather having the desire and motivation to learn, which sadly many
people do not have.
>I use StarOffice. It's a little slow, but it works. Compatibility is
>fairly good, however, StarOffice -WILL NOT- open password protected MS
>Office documents.
Very true - and it also will not read Access databases.
>Linux games support is lacking tremendously. Most of this can be blamed
>(too harsh a word perhaps) on XFree86. It was "designed" for 1 and 2Mb
>video cards, NOT for 32Mb 3D OpenGL compatible cards. As a result, there
>has been many small projects like GLX and DGA to try and bring more
>graphics handling to XFree86, however, there were still issues which could
>not be fixed by at least a partial rewrite, thus XFree 4.0. Unfortunately
>I have to say, although XFree 4.0 (3.9.17) is faster in 2D, I still can't
>get 3D stuff to work reliably and when I do, at a decent speed. I think
>the X server still has a little way to come before it will be accepted on
>the whole. Also *WHERE ARE ANTIALIASED FONTS*. Appearance means
>everything, and anti-aliased fonts make a ***BIG*** difference to the
>user.
>
>Umm, where was I? Oh yes, game support. There is very limited game
>support for Linux although this is rapidly increasing (thanks Loki), but
>until XFree 4.0 is finalised and perhaps it may take till XFree 4.5 or
>something to get everything working right, gaming will still fall behind
>Windows.
Sadly, I have to agree - lacking a machine with sufficient grunt to run things
like Total Annihilation and Command & Conquer under WINE, I have to
resort to a removable drive system, with one small 4Gb drive dedicated to
EvilWare/98 and those games mentioned above (plus Flight Simulator and
my GPS and Radio software, only until I can find a Linux version !!).
Am I betraying "the cause" ? Not entirely, I am using EvilWare for what it
is good for - wasting time and playing games.
>As for everything else? Linux applications are being written and
>perfected every day. You can't argue about availability of appropriate
>tools since if you can't find it, you can usually find somebody or some
>group interested in doing it for you.
And here is the inherent beauty of the "open source" system - if the
application doesn't exist, write the damn thing, then release it to
everyone so that all may benefit. Only by doing this will we ALL
learn and grow in expertise.
Example: I needed to manipulate some HTTP log data in a particular
manner (largely irrelevant here), and perform a DNS lookup on certain
addresses that matched certain criteria. This was accomplished, in
part, by a C program that a friend wrote for me to run under EvilWare/NT.
Seeing that the speed of said program was abysmal, I copied the
source to my Linux box and "played around" with it (being strictly a
newbie in both the Linux and C areas myself). After a few false starts,
I got it to compile and di what I wanted - 5 times faster than EvilWare
could manage it. I sent it back to the friend who wrote it with my
(admittedly inelegant) modifications, and he learned something
from what I did. A co-operative process.
Ever tried that approach in a dedicated Windows environment ? Most
of the Windows programmers I know (and appologies to any SLUGgers
who are in this category) are anally-retentive about their code, their
precious API programming, and generally won't share - their thinking
being something like "it was hard for me to write - why should you get it
easy ?".
>There also needs to be a tiny little more work in the area of software
>installation. GnoRPM is a nice little tool for the newbie, perhaps a
>little work on that and some other similar tools will fill this void.
I have no problems with Linux installations under Redhat / Macmillan /
Mandrake or even "Easy Linux", but then I've done it probably 30 times
since RH5.0 - largely as a result of trying something that I either didn't
understand or didn't research enough. EVERY one of those installs,
from initial boot-up to PPP connection (with the exception of the first
5 or so) was completed well within 1 hour.
By contrast, re-installing NT 4.0 Workstation with all the necessary
video, sound, printer and scanner drivers last week took me 5+
hours !! And I wasn't doing anything fancy, except GHOSTing the
drive before every change !! OK, leaving the GHOST time out,
probably 3 hours max.
A new user is often daunted by the installation process - although
the SERVER / WORKSTATION option in Redhat is a pretty good
compromise for a newbie. What we need is some enterprising
SLUGger to write *the* installation script, a real no-brainer for
first time users - yes, I know how hard it would be...:-)
Something like;
* What video card do you have (select from list)
* What sound card do you have (ditto)
* What mouse (ditto)
* Do you have a modem
* Do you have an internet account (enter details)
* Same for Printer / Scanner / what-have-you
* Bugger off and have a coffee while I work
All prettied up accordingly...
>Anyhow, enough on my ranting, I'll shutup now and hope nobody gets too
>offended by this message as these are my feelings in general.
Please don't. This is a forum for discussion and, if necessary, dissention.
It's
the only way we learn !! I can't remember, since I have been reading this
list,
of anyone spitting the dummy because someone critisised their methods /
desktop choice / modem, etc. I've certainly disagreed with some of the things
that have been said, but I've also learned one hell of a lot from this
list, and
I'm still only scratching the surface.
One day I'll get it all together !!
>Personally tho, I try to do everything under Linux. If it's remotely
>possible via a hard to setup program or even if I have to write a program
>myself I will spend 8 hours installing / writing software rather than
>spending 5 minutes booting to Windows. My friends can verify this,
>because they have had to wait for me to do things sometimes :)
A brave man, and an attitude I think most Linux users would aspire to at
some point. Personally, it's not practical for me, YET. I have to run
EvilWare/NT for several reasons; 1 - there is no PCAnywhere client
for Linux, 2 - I manage a large NT / Netware / Unix network in Sydney,
and this helps me pay for toys (like the LandCruiser I bought yesterday !!)
and 3 - I like to eat !!!
<pontification mode off>
Jon
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux Users Group Mailing List - http://www.slug.org.au
To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe in the text
