Here are my recent re-installation recollections (recently moved from unstable to testing via re-install): 1. Kernel module selection is a pain. How about being able to select a group of modules vice just one at a time. And if you hit enter once too often on a selection, the installer goes to the next section without being able to restart kernel modules (gotta reboot to re-enter kernel module selection). 2. Add better hardware detection. 3. Better integrate help screens. Background: I'm a MSWindows-free, non-computer field desktop user of debian testing and unstable for 6 months after using Redhat/Mandrake for 4 years. Still use Mandrake on a laptop because of ease of installation and hardware detection.
Here's a slashdot reader who is not in the computer field and has no special expertise except being willing to RTFM and use google when stumped (happens a lot). I've been a linux user for over 4 years and been MS-free for 2. I use linux because I like having the freedom to control MY computers, like not having to pay monopoly prices for a shoddy, virus ridden operating system, and like not having to spend $30-$100 for closed source applications when linux apps are free for downloading. Linux (especially if pre-installed like MS-whatever) IS ready for Mom and Pop.
I've been using linux exclusively for two years on two home computers. I find it hard to believe I'm the last living non-programming, non-computer science, non-engineer, age over 50, with three kids older than the average age on slashdot and four grandkids, person to do so. Someone not knowing that would lump me into the "point and click, gotta have Microsoft, Mom & Pop" crowd. Perhaps we're too quick to throw in the towel, expecially after the frustrations following the bursted linux hype bubble. Lots of folks lost either money or bragging rights (or both) and the fall back to earth was painful.
Linux' strength is its non-commercial, sharing nature. Using business models or metrics appropriate for commercial entities (market share, etc.) to measure linux' value is like putting a round peg in a square hole.
Can't believe I'm the oldest reader here. I remember the heated debate on whether slide rules could be used on tests. Portable, battery powered calculators where still a gleam in TI's eye. My dad used to do square root problems in his head to keep awake while driving... Soon the debate will be over if wireless devices connected to the Web will be considered essential (open Internet vice old fashioned open book).
Dont' get your hopes up. The judge leading the fight on this was on a talking head show the other day. His main argument was that the judicial employees are higher caliber than us run of the mill employees and therefore should have special rights. The other heads on the show were so wrapped up in getting their prepared soundbites stated that they didn't pick up on the hypocracy.
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Here are my recent re-installation recollections (recently moved from unstable to testing via re-install):
1. Kernel module selection is a pain. How about being able to select a group of modules vice just one at a time. And if you hit enter once too often on a selection, the installer goes to the next section without being able to restart kernel modules (gotta reboot to re-enter kernel module selection).
2. Add better hardware detection.
3. Better integrate help screens.
Background: I'm a MSWindows-free, non-computer field desktop user of debian testing and unstable for 6 months after using Redhat/Mandrake for 4 years. Still use Mandrake on a laptop because of ease of installation and hardware detection.
Here's a slashdot reader who is not in the computer field and has no special expertise except being willing to RTFM and use google when stumped (happens a lot). I've been a linux user for over 4 years and been MS-free for 2. I use linux because I like having the freedom to control MY computers, like not having to pay monopoly prices for a shoddy, virus ridden operating system, and like not having to spend $30-$100 for closed source applications when linux apps are free for downloading. Linux (especially if pre-installed like MS-whatever) IS ready for Mom and Pop.
I've been using linux exclusively for two years on two home computers. I find it hard to believe I'm the last living non-programming, non-computer science, non-engineer, age over 50, with three kids older than the average age on slashdot and four grandkids, person to do so. Someone not knowing that would lump me into the "point and click, gotta have Microsoft, Mom & Pop" crowd. Perhaps we're too quick to throw in the towel, expecially after the frustrations following the bursted linux hype bubble. Lots of folks lost either money or bragging rights (or both) and the fall back to earth was painful.
Linux' strength is its non-commercial, sharing nature. Using business models or metrics appropriate for commercial entities (market share, etc.) to measure linux' value is like putting a round peg in a square hole.
Can't believe I'm the oldest reader here. I remember the heated debate on whether slide rules could be used on tests. Portable, battery powered calculators where still a gleam in TI's eye. My dad used to do square root problems in his head to keep awake while driving... Soon the debate will be over if wireless devices connected to the Web will be considered essential (open Internet vice old fashioned open book).
Re. #5: Just opened up a second instance and had no problems typing in the url box (running linux on COMPAQ laptop).
Dont' get your hopes up. The judge leading the fight on this was on a talking head show the other day. His main argument was that the judicial employees are higher caliber than us run of the mill employees and therefore should have special rights. The other heads on the show were so wrapped up in getting their prepared soundbites stated that they didn't pick up on the hypocracy.
Using Netscape 4.77 on Mandrake 8.0 I tried to to to Terraserver with this error msg:
Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a000d'
Type mismatch: 'cint'
/includes/BrowserSniffer.inc, line 47
Anyone else not get throug?