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Re: [LUG] Farseer enterprises - continued
Matt Lee wrote:
Personally, I don't find GNU/Linux all that easy to use.
Thank you, glad I'm not the only one. Don't get me wrong, I love linux -
just not (yet) as a desktop. I try various distributions now and then,
but generally come up against the same problems. Bad or non-existent
drivers for hardware (even common stuff, sometimes) and a large amount
of hoop-jumping before you can even begin to do profitable work.
Eg: 6 days on and off trying to install a usb HP scanner under FC2. XP =
2 minutes (not even a reboot). PnP WORKS on Windows, and sometimes for
Linux.
* A decent browser and only one browser. Firefox is this.
Agreed.
* A decent email client, doesn't need too many features. I've not seen this.
Apple OS X Mail is this.
Thunderbird. Same stable as Firefox, easy to use, standards aware
(Unlike Opera's client that broke every list I was on), lovely
filtering, *FREE*.
* A media player that just works. Works in the browser as a plugin too -
plays media from Windows Media, Real, QuickTime, plus the free formats
(Theora, etc). Think QuickTime.
Can be done, but it's a whole lotta time to get it setup right. But even
here, Windows has a lot of growing up to do. Realplayer, Quicktime and
WMP all install far too much crap and spyware. All those install startup
hooks that slow things down unneccessarily.
One day this'll be smooth running for all formats, but it ain't there yet.
* A music jukebox that rips, organises and plays a variety of common music
formats. Think iTunes.
Loads of stuff for both OS's, cddb aware too.
* Debian on crack packaging - use deb to deliver updates in a way that's
simple. I don't care if perl 4.4.232.32.23.3.23.23.32.131.3.5343.43 is out.
I just want it wrapped in with a bunch of other updates nicely packaged as
'Software Update for 10th Dec 04'
Yes. Redhat's good for this, but rpm-based.
* Plug and play for things like USB keys, Firewire drives, iPods, Flash
memory cards
Huge problems. This is always going to cause major strife until the
manufacturers support it themselves. 3rd party driver support is all
very well, but it's prone to slow, late and buggy software. (Personal
experience)
What Linux needs to do is talk to a specific hardware manufacturer and
persuade them to develop linux stuff, then SUPPORT THAT COMPANY BEYOND
ANY OTHER. Only that way will other companies see that it's worthwhile
supporting linux.
Maybe some form of happy penguin sticker "Linux supported" on the
packaging could help, licenced by Linux HQ. (Think little-red-tractor on
food)
* Fast User Switching - XP and OS X have this. It's cool.
KDE 2 also, session-saving et al.
--
Simon Avery
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