You know...it's great to try to standardize but the problem we face is that which you're all complaining about so much - the Windoze monopoly.
The problem with standardizing is that it kills competition and creativity, flexibility for the user, and improvement. The idea behind multiple OS's/install progs/ways-to-do-things is that there is someone who has a different idea and likes something different and is going to try to beat out the rest because they are, in someone's opinion, worse. So how do we decide how to standardize anything? Answer: democracy. It's what most people like or are willing to deal with and will therefore work most of the time for most of the people. This always leaves someone who dislikes what the majority has chosen for him and strikes out to make a difference for at least himself.
However, where does this leave us? The only thing to do is to let things take their course. What is happening is what people are making happen. So you don't like how a product is turning out? Sure, complaining here is great, but how does that help you in the long run? If you don't like attribute foo about product bar then go out and do something about it. That why there is Linux and GNOME and all the different options for controlling these popular masses of silicon and plastic.
Anyway, I do practice what I preach. I don't like the Windoze interface, so I use WindowBlinds to skin and customize all the buttons, and use the "Quick Start" toolbar instead of the Start menu and the Desktop, and I'm working on getting Linux to run. So I'm doing something. Go out and do something yourself, and then and only then will you be satisfied with what you end up with, and if you aren't, then blame yourself, because you made it that way. That goes for all of you.
P.S. BTW, all your comments are great, so lets do something with it, ok? ------------- really / nothing really ever matters / so the only things that matter are what you make matter / i am in control
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The problem with standardizing is that it kills competition and creativity, flexibility for the user, and improvement. The idea behind multiple OS's/install progs/ways-to-do-things is that there is someone who has a different idea and likes something different and is going to try to beat out the rest because they are, in someone's opinion, worse. So how do we decide how to standardize anything? Answer: democracy. It's what most people like or are willing to deal with and will therefore work most of the time for most of the people. This always leaves someone who dislikes what the majority has chosen for him and strikes out to make a difference for at least himself.
However, where does this leave us? The only thing to do is to let things take their course. What is happening is what people are making happen. So you don't like how a product is turning out? Sure, complaining here is great, but how does that help you in the long run? If you don't like attribute foo about product bar then go out and do something about it. That why there is Linux and GNOME and all the different options for controlling these popular masses of silicon and plastic.
Anyway, I do practice what I preach. I don't like the Windoze interface, so I use WindowBlinds to skin and customize all the buttons, and use the "Quick Start" toolbar instead of the Start menu and the Desktop, and I'm working on getting Linux to run. So I'm doing something. Go out and do something yourself, and then and only then will you be satisfied with what you end up with, and if you aren't, then blame yourself, because you made it that way. That goes for all of you.
P.S. BTW, all your comments are great, so lets do something with it, ok?
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really / nothing really ever matters / so the only things that matter are what you make matter / i am in control