Before I composed this message, I browsed through the list archive to see where it had been previously discussed.
Strangely I found no such discussion. So I'll just start one now. :-) This package replaced x-screensaver in GNOME and unlike x-screensaver there is no way to adjust settings on individual screensavers. They can only be used in the default settings. As you know most screenaver authors write screensavers with these options built in. It's a function that pre-dates X-Window and was (and still is) in Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. Therefore users (those who bother wish screensavers that is) have come to expect it. GNOME has essentially "broken" that feature. The only way to "fix it" is to install gnome-screensaver and reinstall x-screensaver. The problem with the fix is gnome-screensaver is part of GNOME and therefore has a dependency on it. Uninstall gnome-screensaver and a metapackage (or two or three - depending on who packaged it) goes with it (this can be potentially problematic during upgrades). It seems to defeat the purpose of having an integrated desktop environment when users have to yank part of it out and replace it with something else in order to get functionality that's been usual and customary for GUI users for two decades (or more). A bug was filed over a year ago ( http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=316654 ). The author of gnome-screensaver responded with: "I don't have any plans to support this. My view is that any screensaver theme that requires configuration is inherently broken." BROKEN? So then most all screensavers on all operating systems going back 20 years have been "broken". The gnome-screensaver author, in h is infinite wisdom figured this out and "fixed it" in GNOME. -- Scott http://angrykeyboarder.com © 2006 angrykeyboarder™ & Elmer Fudd. All Wights Wesewved _______________________________________________ Usability mailing list [email protected] http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/usability
