Re: Desktop productivity with Debian GNU/LINUX
#include <hallo.h>
* Hal Vaughan [Tue, Jan 21 2003, 01:52:40AM]:
> > Linux, being an OS by geeks for geeks, up until just recently, needs a
> > geek to get it set up properly. Mandrake and others have made vast
> > improvements, but it's not automatic. If you expect it to be, you'll be
> > disappointed. Wait another couple of years. Until then consider yourself
> > a consumer; as a general rule, consumers get their computers
> > pre-installed with an operating system and don't do their own OS
> > installation (although they might do a "restore" using the System
> > Restore disk that came with their computer).
>
> At the risk of sounding like a troll, I have to take issue with this. To be
> even more blunt, this paragraph is, in my view, an example of some of the
> worst geek snobbery and elitism I've seen online.
Bullshit. Truth is truth, even if it may hurt.
> I also have to ask how long it's been since you tried Mandrake last. I found
> Mandrake 8.0 to be great at detecting EVERYTHING on my system. There was
> basically NO post-install to deal with. Printer drivers were there --
> everything I needed was there.
Maybe what you needed because your average system with carefully
choosen, linux-compliant hardware, perfectly matched the system that
Mandrake may support. But do you really think that a newbie is able to
compile a driver (module) manually if there is no free driver for it? Do
you really think a newbie is able to setup channels for a TV card
manually (seen last week on SuSE, nice GUI but braindead package pool,
no zapping, no scantv, broken xawtv, only old xawtv able to show at
least one channel). There are lots of things that are _not_ simple and
not prepared by some upstream/distributor/vendor. You can workaround
simple when you have some experience and are able to RTFM, but a newbie
looses.
> This is a user who obviously wants to learn more about computers and Linux,
> but does not have the time to mess with selecting the necessary kernal
> modules or with spending hours online tracking down drivers. This does not
> mean he is not ready for Linux.
When he posts such a large thing with only whinning instead of saying: I
tries this, this and this, and failed on those things, what's the
problem - then I cannot agree with you.
> I would STRONGLY recommend trying Mandrake. While I have not had any problems
> with Mandrake 9.0, I have heard of some people who have. I found Mandrake
Mandrake is not the cure of all problems.
> 8.2 to be solid and stable. It's basically your choice -- I would think
> either one would work fine. One nice addition or change to Mandrake 9.0 is
> that it does not require the user to mount/umount cd-roms when they are put
> in or removed from a drive.
Fascinating, a new feature, hooray. I would be happy as windows user,
but that's something I would define as bugfix for a good distribution,
not more.
> While I don't think Linux is just for geeks anymore, I do think Debian is.
> And, to be honest, I think the Debian developers and maintainers (and
> administrators and others in charge) prefer it that way -- sort of a last
> retreat for geeks as the Linux world goes more and more mainstream.
Who does pay us for this job? I guess you never tried to optimise
something for "end-user". It is painfull, time-expensive and does not
help your reputation. If you need a Mandrake-like Debian, get Xandros.
So, yes, Debian will be the most smooth distribution for people that can
_read_ and understand Unix concepts. I do not know many people that are
willing to create id^w(windows-user)-proof frontends for it.
Gruss/Regards,
Eduard.
--
Was ist grün und wenn man auf den Knopf drückt rot?
Ein Frosch im Mixer.
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