Ron Johnson wrote:
For instance, if Linux would just say, "Hey, you plugged in a USB device that I don't really know how to use. I can tell it's a mouse of some sort, but I don't know how to use it. What's the name of a module that I should try for it?" then it would be a lot more like my Windows experience.You should not use Debian. Find a less geek-oriented distro. We won't mind. Honestly.
Heh heh - I was waiting for an email like this. Et tu, Ron? ;)First off, I was talking about a distro that non-techies could use. My initial inquiry was (to paraphrase):
Is the need for manual configuration of devices a consequence of the basic Linux hardware model, or is it something that can be made easier for users?I was trying to understand wherein the difficulty arose. Because that suggests differing courses of action when making a user-friendlier distro: (a) revisit Linux's whole hardware model, or (b) revisit the way udev is typically setup, etc.
Also, if it was a basic issue with the kernel's approach to hardware, I would know to not recommend Linux at all to non-techies that occasionally plug in the new device. If it's a higher-level issue (which I think it is), then perhaps it's just a matter of finding the right distro for my parents, friends, etc.
Secondly, I think it's helpful to occasionally compare the way things are vs. the way things will ideally be with software. This is what I'm asking about. If the answer is, "This is the ideal form of the software for geeks, and our ideal will never be easy for non-techies to use", then so be it. But I don't think it makes sense to just say, "Linux 2.6.9+udev. Love it or leave it, 1d10t." Because, I assume, there remain useful enhancements we can make to device handling under Linux, that will make the experience easier for non-techies.
-- Christian Convey Computer Scientist, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport, RI