Re: Re: graphical file managers

> Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 01:30:37 -0700
> From: Reilly Burke <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [Annoyances] graphical file managers
> To: "Seeking Linux annoyances for a book."
> 	<[email protected]>
> Message-ID: <[email protected]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
> 
> Pablo Vieira wrote:
> > I'm sure it's your honest opinion, but calling Explorer "totally
> > unusable" must be a joke.
> >
> > Linux definitely lacks a holistic definition of user interaction.
The
> > current mess is keeping too many people from even trying this OS.
> >
> > p
> >
> >
> >
> 
> This goes back to many peoples' original annoyances with Linux (before
> this thread became YALHTTR (Yet Another Linux Holier-Than-Thou Rant).
> Face it, Linux is confused and grumpy.  From Cut'n'Paste, to floppy
> mounting, to RPM confusion, to pppd, to how-to mans, Linux has too
much
> confusion.  It's essentially thoughtless.  The folks who do all the
work
> have no idea what it's like to live with this infernal OS.
> 
> Before going on a geek rant, please accept that we use lots of Linux
in
> our office. But only for tasks which require no human intervention.
> Just try dealing with CorelDraw files, DOS accounting systems,
thousands
> of spam messages daily, files on floppies, Excel files, on-line video,
> laptop computers, dot matrix printers, broken Linux applications etc,
> for just a week, and you'll be ready to throw Linux into the river.
> Don't tell me that these problems are not Linux, they're X or
whatever.
>   My mind is made up. I don't want to hear it.  Windows, and Windows
> applications like Explorer or CorelDraw or Word, are way more
> thoughtful. Like you can't even put a Google button on a Linux
browser,
> for crying out loud!  Now what's that all about?  

Because you don't have to...

To set up Searching in Mozilla:

1.  Click on the Edit drop down menu
2.  Click on Preferences
3.  Click the "+" next to the Navigator section to the left
4.  Click on Internet Search
5.  Choose Google from the drop down list
	- You can choose a different search service if you like.
Dmoz.org and Netscape Search are also available.
6.  Click the OK button.

To use the search features, just type a Boolean (or simple) search
phrase in the address field.  Mozilla will recognize that it isn't a
proper address and will bring up a link to "Search Google for '<your
search phrase here>'".  Just Click it, or Click the Search button to the
right that appears or hit Tab and then Enter (to select by keyboard) and
you will be brought to your search results.

Even more handy is the option to have those results appear in a "Search
Sidebar" which allows you to get your search information without leaving
the page that you are currently looking at.  This is a GODSEND for
online research... ESPECIALLY when you can open those search links in
tabs (and not in extra windows) that load to the front (or BEHIND) the
page that you are reading.  These features alone make the Mozilla
browser far superior for anyone who does serious research and has to use
the Web (or more likely) web-based, discipline specific, search tools
and archives.

IE just doesn't do this by default and (from tech support experience)
doesn't handle multiple add-ons with grace.  

IE is a fine browser... I'm not going to argue that.  I use it every
day.  But Opera and Mozilla are equally fine browsers and (in some
areas) they are better than IE and each other.

> Or how about trying to
> set up an outgoing email with that clueless Mozilla mail package?  

If you know how to configure mail settings and it isn't done for you,
then this isn't a big deal.  If you are used to an Exchange or Lotus
Notes (non-IMAP, non-POP) environment, then a lot of this configuration
happens for you at the gateway servers.

Everybody else knows how to do this.  Or you can ask your ISP/IT
department for the information and it will work for you.

>Or what about the goofy calendar dates in Linux applications?  

Huh?  This doesn't even make sense.  How the date is displayed is
completely configurable, just as it is in Windows.  Specifics would be
helpful.

> Or what
> about the Linux developers who tell you to get lost if you have a
> problem with a component? 

I have never had this problem for a well thought out explanation of a
problem that I have discovered and logged with a well-reasoned bug
report with repeatable examples that consistently cause "breakage."
Many times I have even got a personal Thanks or at least a nod in the
bug report.

Now, if you are demanding that something be fixed right away by
developers that might be hacking away at a project in their spare time
and offer no help and only attitude.  Yeah... they are going to tell you
to blow off.

But at least it is personal.

There is an address [email protected] that You can send enhancement
ideas and problems that you discover in projects.  I have yet to hear
anything from them on any request or problem that I have pointed out
through this avenue.  Maybe you have had better luck.  I like that the
address exists... and I use it, AND sometimes some of the problems and
features that I noticed or wanted do come out in subsequent releases of
the software... 

But it isn't personal.

Microsoft makes decent usable software.  Getting them to make decent
usable software for you is going to be just as hard as getting an Open
Source/Linux programmer to make decent usable software for you.

It is the same problem... I think you may be giving proprietary
developers (who are wonderful hard working people I am sure) more credit
and taking credit away from Open Source developers (who are wonderful
hard working people I am sure, as well).

> Yuck! Honestly, trying to interface with Linux
> is like trying to interface with a bad-tempered drunk with a hangover.
> 

>
> But for other stuff not requiring human interaction, Linux is OK, I
> guess.  At least it works for us.  But it sure is annoying!
> 

What do you use Linux for?

How is the alternative better, the same, worse?

Thanks

Jim

> --
> RJ Burke
> 
> 

*All opinions are my own and don't belong to anyone else or any other
institution.  No one else would want them anyway*