I count Open Office (at least, version 2, which is LIGHTYEARS in usability ahead of 1)
Do you really think so? For me, version 2 is a step backward in usability. I mostly see movement to be more like MSOffice UI-wise, and the addition of endless rows of toolbars and buttons. One outstanding example of less usability is that it's no longer possible to have single row tabs. I'll have the old StarOffice UI over OOo2 any day.
Its favorites feature also is an improvement over Firefox's classic-style of bookmarks which is just impossible to use when you get into hundreds of bookmarks. I like being able to tag bookmarks and search/browse them by tags.
Have you ever looked at GNOME's Epiphany web browser? It has sported topic-based bookmarking for about three years now! Also, an epiphany-extension exists that synchronizes the Epiphany bookmarks with del.icio.us.
However, isn't there a potential backlash when new users bring their shiny new Ubuntu laptops home and figure out that there's no easy way to install a printer?
You'll be relieved to know that Mandriva has provided a graphical printer installation wizard for years. Those people buying Dell/Mandriva laptops shouldn't have any problems with that.
Most of my time wasted was looking through incomplete docs and mailing lists for something that should be -- I believe -- somehow made obvious.
Since GTK 2.6 at least, the path entry in the file chooser will appear when you just begin typing a path by entering a slash. How much more obvious do you want to have it?
I really like the browser now that they've added a relative URL button bar, but it's so.. well.. less powerful than having a text bar where you can simply type the location and instantly go there.
I guess you mean the file manager, not the browser:-)
Anyhow, try pressing Ctrl+L, you'll be able to enter a location like you used to. That key combo also works in the filepicker, the web browser and maybe even more places in GNOME.
Epiphany, a browser that I like but don't think is good enough yet.
If there are any specific things you would like to see changed so that it becomes "good enough" for you, you're free to file a bug, post to the mailing list or visit us on the #epiphany channel on GNOME irc.
In GNOME, on the other hand, anything except cancel might be on the far right: Whatever the developers think that is the "most common action":
Not quite: the affirmative button to whatever you told the computer to do, is always on the far right. Very comfortable, I might add. The default button however, (the one that gets activated when the user presses Enter) is always the one that minimizes risk of data loss.
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Mandriva always had the possibility of installing from the first CD and installing the rest over the network; the last few versions even offer a Mini-ISO for download for exactly this purpose.
The closest I came was here, which took me to distro link, then to a list of alphabetical packages, then to a description of the package with a link of where to download the package (similar to rpmfind.net), and then you get to install it and hope you have the dependencies required for the package.
Apparently you missed the 'URPMI setup' links next to the list of download locations. If you had clicked it and followed the instructions, you could have installed any package with urpmi or rpmdrake, and the dependencies would have been sorted out for you.
I have to say IMO that Debian/Ubuntu has a much larger package selection than Mandrake does (Debian's package list vs. Mandrake's package list)
Really. Mandriva offers thousands upon thousands of packages in their main and contrib repositories, and then we haven't counted 3rd party repositories yet. What packages could you possibly be missing?
"For $$ we have the enterprise-level edition, and for free, we have the cut-down, shaved-off, download version"
Are you now actually blaming Mandriva for trying to make a bit of money to be able to employ fulltime Linux hackers? Hello?!
The download version (iso's) can be extended to be equal to the enterprise-level edition by simply adding the free urpmi repositories to the media manager.
I can't say anything about Mandriva as I've not gone near them since a support fiasco way back with Mandrake 8.2. I haven't trusted them since then, and its likely I won't again.
That must be an awful long time ago.
Regardless, I never needed any more support for Mandriva than the free newsgroups, lists and fora offered. Besides, the technical qualities of the distro have nothing to do with the level of support from the company that produces it.
The free download edition indeed consists of three ISOs. Like I said: in the Software Media Manager, remove the CD4 media and add the main and contrib repositories as explained on the Easy URPMI website. Then you'll have access to the same amount of RPMs as anyone else, except for the packages that don't come with a Free license- you'll have to be a Mandriva Club member for access to those.
Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. Mandriva has urpmi, which is equally powerful as apt-get or yum when it comes to easy software installation.
And if you don't think KDE looks professional, well that might be personal taste, but you can choose from more than just that one desktop with Mandriva.
My recent upgrade from 10.0 to 10.1 is riddled with problems
You have recently upgraded from 10.0 to 10.1? You might have gone with LE2005 as well instead. And if you encounter any problems, there are countless Mandriva fora where people are eager to help you.
do the people who download FREE versions of the distro get screwed?
Have Mandriva ever "screwed" the people who download the Free versions of their distro? What makes you think they might do so now?
I noticed that some software in RPM format asks you for a disk you never got in the download version
Go to the Software Media Manager and remove any references to installation CD's. Then, add any random FTP mirror for Mandriva's main and contrib repositories (you might want PLF too) and you're all set. Quick instructions on how to do this: Easy URPMI.
I realize the point is to provide stability and not upgrade willy-nilly like Mandrake or some of the other distributions
Could you provide examples to back up your assertion that Mandrakelinux (Mandriva now) does "willy nilly" upgrading?
Last time I checked people were complaining that their newest release doesn't comtain the latest KDE/GNOME incarnations (this was decided exactly for stability reasons...)
OS2Warp ran Windows applications better than Windows 3.1 did. It multithreaded and multitasked, and was pretty stable... an impressive feat for a Dos-based system.
While still an impressive feat, OS/2 Warp most definately is not a DOS-based system. It is a full fledged 32-bit OS which offered the ability to run native OS/2 applications, and in addition DOS and 16-bit Windows programs. If desired, each of those programs could have their own VM which prevents them from crashing each other.
"FF specific" already implies that the plugin is, well, specific to Firefox. Epiphany does support all generic Mozilla plugins that are installed on your system.
Completely agree. Epiphany has a really intergrated feel, but I miss the FF plugins (specifically Scrapbook, Dictionary Search, Plain Text Links... actually there are a lot of them).
The latest epiphany-extensions package contains a dictionary lookup extension that integrates with gnome-dictionary. For the other functionality you mention, we welcome more extensions. They can even be written in Python now!
I thought the Mandrakelinux graphical package management tools weren't so great UI-wise, but my god, judging from the screenshots, SMART could really use some HIG love!
Slashdot Mirror
Do you really think so? For me, version 2 is a step backward in usability. I mostly see movement to be more like MSOffice UI-wise, and the addition of endless rows of toolbars and buttons. One outstanding example of less usability is that it's no longer possible to have single row tabs. I'll have the old StarOffice UI over OOo2 any day.
That's strange. Last time I checked, OO.o2 Writer couldn't import SVG images, which I found very annoying. But Draw can export them?!
Use DejaVu. Based off Bitstream Vera but with all the central-europe glyphs included!
So have you reported this to GNOME bugzilla yet? Or do you expect developers to simply read slashdot for bug reports?
Anyhow, try pressing Ctrl+L, you'll be able to enter a location like you used to. That key combo also works in the filepicker, the web browser and maybe even more places in GNOME.
The download version (iso's) can be extended to be equal to the enterprise-level edition by simply adding the free urpmi repositories to the media manager.
I guess you missed this story?
There is also a request in GNOME bugzilla to implement this in GTK+.
The free download edition indeed consists of three ISOs. Like I said: in the Software Media Manager, remove the CD4 media and add the main and contrib repositories as explained on the Easy URPMI website. Then you'll have access to the same amount of RPMs as anyone else, except for the packages that don't come with a Free license- you'll have to be a Mandriva Club member for access to those.
Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. Mandriva has urpmi, which is equally powerful as apt-get or yum when it comes to easy software installation.
And if you don't think KDE looks professional, well that might be personal taste, but you can choose from more than just that one desktop with Mandriva.
Try nautilus --no-desktop sometime.
Could you provide examples to back up your assertion that Mandrakelinux (Mandriva now) does "willy nilly" upgrading?
Last time I checked people were complaining that their newest release doesn't comtain the latest KDE/GNOME incarnations (this was decided exactly for stability reasons...)
While still an impressive feat, OS/2 Warp most definately is not a DOS-based system. It is a full fledged 32-bit OS which offered the ability to run native OS/2 applications, and in addition DOS and 16-bit Windows programs. If desired, each of those programs could have their own VM which prevents them from crashing each other.
Completely agree. Epiphany has a really intergrated feel, but I miss the FF plugins (specifically Scrapbook, Dictionary Search, Plain Text Links... actually there are a lot of them).
The latest epiphany-extensions package contains a dictionary lookup extension that integrates with gnome-dictionary. For the other functionality you mention, we welcome more extensions. They can even be written in Python now!
I thought the Mandrakelinux graphical package management tools weren't so great UI-wise, but my god, judging from the screenshots, SMART could really use some HIG love!