Re: Re: Call It "Linux that WORKS for Everyone ELSE, too"

GLL wrote:
> How about tons of GUI-based tools to replace the incomprehensible and/or 
> tedious stuff that holds back Linux form taking over the heartland?

I'm sure that you're just talking about wrapping the incomprehensible 
and/or tedius stuff in an ugly GUI right?  'Cus lots of us think that 
incomprehensible stuff is what makes Linux great.  It sure is easier to 
script incomprehensible stuff than it is a GUI app. :)

> 
> - Install a tar.gz with a double-click.

I think nautilus can already do this. I'm using xfce4 and just tested 
it's filemanager, it was able to handle tar.gz files with a right click 
and and "extract" option.  Not bad, though I still like the command line.

> 
> - Add/remove hardware without kernal-rebuilding hassles.

udev + build every module under the sun.

> 
> - USB that 'works': I plug in one device, OS finds it and tells me what it is, 
> then I pass files around, press ONE 'disconnect ' button, and jack in some 
> other USB device. Maybe a mouse this time, or a drawing tablet. NO command 
> lines, no typing in meaningless groups of consonants interspersed with 
> numbers nobody cares about. Someone hands me a USB stick - I plug it in - I 
> shouldn't need to know the manufaturer, the size, or format (ext3 or fat?) 
> That's the computer's job - I just want to see the files.

udev

> 
> - Same goes for adding a new printer. What's the difference between Postscript 
> and Ghostscript? Doesn't matter, I just need to print a .doc file someone 
> e-mailed me. Or a .pdf, or an .sdw.

OK, I know that ESR gripped about the CUPS interface and how hard it was 
to configure a printer, but I really don't understand that one.  Sure, 
it's not Start->Control Panel->Printers->Add new printer, but 
localhost:631, follow some prompts isn't much worse.

> 
> That's the way most people use computers. If we can make Linux THAT friendly, 
> things could get awesome.

Have fun!

-John