If you have sound with ALSA but only for one app at a time then it's not being mixed properly. You can set it up however, just configure your/etc/asound.conf to something like this:
That is my asound.conf for optical out with AC'97 on a K8ne deluxe mobo. Of course yours will probably be different. Also you need to configure your apps to use ESD (preferably) or alsa as sound output. Works like a dream in Ubuntu and has never crashed!
Windows 98 was running my machine into the ground so I made a complete switch to mandrake 10.
Linux makes the most of whatever old hardware you've got: Printing with my LPT1 BJC-4200 is MUCH better quality that in windows which feeds the paper too fast causing white stripes through text. In was also fairly easy to setup (detected first time).
In fact my only real problem is that my mom likes to play a shockwave game called "fowlwords" from kewlbox and it's too slow in crossover. Bear in mind this is with a celeron 400mhz.
Window managment is an important issue, and one I have thought about deeply. Multiple document interfaces are awkward to use because they based on a program orientated approach rather that a document centered approach. For example: If I am creating a webpage I need to see it in a browser and an text editor, maybe even a WYSIWYG editor.
Rather than simply being able to change my program I may have these additional steps: Opening my document again Changing the selected window
Both of these are disorientating (since you're concentrating on the document) and difficult. Changing the selected window is a common activity in MDIs. In my example I may also have an online manual open in the browser. And I could easily have another webpage open in the text editor that I'm using to figure out how to do something.
Using MDIs is a also confusing because they're inconsistent in different programs. Different size, shape, position.
Good luck if your using MS Windows, minimized windows (In MDIs) often disappear entirely! They take two are three clicks to rescue if you can remember that they're they at all. And XP adds extra inconsistency: IE stacks it's windows in the toolbar occasionaly (where did my windows go?).
Another problem is that changes to a document in one program are not shown for the same document in another program. You need to use commands like refresh\reload (And if you forget: that bug just won't disapear).
Bruce "Tog" Tognazzini comments on MDIs: http://www.asktog.com/readerMail/2000-07ReaderMail.html
And also writes about it in "Tog on software design" which I recommend.
I use Windows98se and MDIs, because I can manage more windows than with the taskbar. They're still a pain.
Currently, I'm working on a new GUI\OS to solve all these problems and more.
People don't like to feel manipulated. Whenever I see a popup window I'm not expecting, I close it before it even loads.
This is the same for everything, how do you feel when someone talks to you or shouts, forcing their own view?
The only reason companies get away with this on T.V is because people expect it, they think it's "Normal".
This is the exciting thing about the internet, there is no point in companies advertising because it is completely voluntrary. If you want to find out which digital camera is the best you go to google and type "digital camera reviews". You don't need to be told about all the cameras available because you can look for yourself. Honestly, would you go to a website just to look at it's own adverts? If you want to sell cameras, make a good camera. Other people will make pages saying what a good job it does, so there's your no effort, zero cost, highly targeted advertising.
Think about it. If someone is told even 10 times that "If you push the doorbell a bell will ring" and cannot remember it, you'll assume they are brain damaged and treat them as such.
When you do something you base your actions on a number of assumptions: here a few I can see in your (above) statement.
They understand english
They know what a doorbell is
They what a bell is
They know what ring means in conjunction with bell
Repetition helps you recall something
If you can't recall something after being told 10 times you are brain damaged.
You mom isn't brain damaged, it's just what you are saying isn't relevant to her.
It's egotistical to think that it does (The world revolves around me!!). You need to listen to the situation if you want to help.
"There are no settings. There is nothing to remember. You drag the mouse to highlight the text you want to copy. You press the right mouse button and choose "copy". You move to the new document and right-click and choose "paste" HOW is that more complex than what you just did with the copier over at the drugstore? HOW is that more complex than tying your shoes?"
Did you mean "Drag the mouse to highlight" or "Click and drag the mouse highlight" or "Left click at the begging of the area you want to highlight, keep the button depressed, move the mouse to the end of the area. Press the right mouse button over the now selected area. Move the mouse down to select the copy function and left click."? Things seem complicated when you don't understand them, remember that they don't think in the same way as you.
"Those who ask us 200 times how to copy/paste and cannot remember simply because their mindset is that computers are scary complex things that do not make sense."
So help them understand computers so they become simple and harmless.
Bicycles are not "User friendly" to begginers, but the interface is designed appropriately because it lets you operate the bicycle effectivley. If you want to simplify the interface you need to add to the bicyle itself. Like a computer operated universal gearing system with gyroscopic sensors to remove the gear widgets. Or training wheels so you don't need to maintain your centre of balance.
I can use an example with a computer program.
When I install old dos games on my computer (C&C, KKnD, quake, etc.) They all need to ask me about my sound card set up. More recent programs can figure it out without bothering me at all.
So do things the best way you can see, and listen to other people. Usefullness is sure to follow.
- Alysander.
Bicycles are not "User friendly" to begginers, but the interface is designed appropriately because it lets you operate the bicycle effectivley. If you want to simplify the interface you need to add to the bicyle itself. Like a computer operated universal gearing system with gyroscopic sensors to remove the gear widgets. Or training wheels so you don't need to maintain you centre of balance.
I can use an example with a computer program. When I install old dos games on my computer (C&C, KKnD, quake, etc.) They all need to ask me about my sound card set up. More recent programs can figure it out without bothering me at all.
Slashdot Mirror
If you have sound with ALSA but only for one app at a time then it's not being mixed properly. You can set it up however, just configure your /etc/asound.conf to something like this:
pcm.card0 {
type hw
card 0
device 2
}
pcm.!default {
type plug
slave.pcm "dmixer"
}
pcm.dmixer {
type dmix
ipc_key 1025
slave {
pcm "hw:0,2"
period_time 0
period_size 2048
buffer_size 32768
rate 48000
}
bindings {
0 0
1 1
}
}
That is my asound.conf for optical out with AC'97 on a K8ne deluxe mobo. Of course yours will probably be different.
Also you need to configure your apps to use ESD (preferably) or alsa as sound output. Works like a dream in Ubuntu and has never crashed!
Linux makes the most of whatever old hardware you've got: Printing with my LPT1 BJC-4200 is MUCH better quality that in windows which feeds the paper too fast causing white stripes through text. In was also fairly easy to setup (detected first time).
In fact my only real problem is that my mom likes to play a shockwave game called "fowlwords" from kewlbox and it's too slow in crossover. Bear in mind this is with a celeron 400mhz.
Window managment is an important issue, and one I have thought about deeply.
l .html
Multiple document interfaces are awkward to use because they based on a program orientated approach rather that a document centered approach. For example: If I am creating a webpage I need to see it in a browser and an text editor, maybe even a WYSIWYG editor.
Rather than simply being able to change my program I may have these additional steps:
Opening my document again
Changing the selected window
Both of these are disorientating (since you're concentrating on the document) and difficult.
Changing the selected window is a common activity in MDIs. In my example I may also have an online manual open in the browser. And I could easily have another webpage open in the text editor that I'm using to figure out how to do something.
Using MDIs is a also confusing because they're inconsistent in different programs. Different size, shape, position.
Good luck if your using MS Windows, minimized windows (In MDIs) often disappear entirely! They take two are three clicks to rescue if you can remember that they're they at all.
And XP adds extra inconsistency: IE stacks it's windows in the toolbar occasionaly (where did my windows go?).
Another problem is that changes to a document in one program are not shown for the same document in another program. You need to use commands like refresh\reload (And if you forget: that bug just won't disapear).
Bruce "Tog" Tognazzini comments on MDIs: http://www.asktog.com/readerMail/2000-07ReaderMai
And also writes about it in "Tog on software design" which I recommend.
I use Windows98se and MDIs, because I can manage more windows than with the taskbar. They're still a pain.
Currently, I'm working on a new GUI\OS to solve all these problems and more.
- Alysander
People don't like to feel manipulated. Whenever I see a popup window I'm not expecting, I close it before it even loads.
This is the same for everything, how do you feel when someone talks to you or shouts, forcing their own view?
The only reason companies get away with this on T.V is because people expect it, they think it's "Normal".
This is the exciting thing about the internet, there is no point in companies advertising because it is completely voluntrary. If you want to find out which digital camera is the best you go to google and type "digital camera reviews". You don't need to be told about all the cameras available because you can look for yourself.
Honestly, would you go to a website just to look at it's own adverts?
If you want to sell cameras, make a good camera. Other people will make pages saying what a good job it does, so there's your no effort, zero cost, highly targeted advertising.
When you do something you base your actions on a number of assumptions: here a few I can see in your (above) statement.
- They understand english
- They know what a doorbell is
- They what a bell is
- They know what ring means in conjunction with bell
- Repetition helps you recall something
- If you can't recall something after being told 10 times you are brain damaged.
You mom isn't brain damaged, it's just what you are saying isn't relevant to her. It's egotistical to think that it does (The world revolves around me!!). You need to listen to the situation if you want to help."There are no settings. There is nothing to remember. You drag the mouse to highlight the text you want to copy. You press the right mouse button and choose "copy". You move to the new document and right-click and choose "paste" HOW is that more complex than what you just did with the copier over at the drugstore? HOW is that more complex than tying your shoes?"
Did you mean "Drag the mouse to highlight" or "Click and drag the mouse highlight" or "Left click at the begging of the area you want to highlight, keep the button depressed, move the mouse to the end of the area. Press the right mouse button over the now selected area. Move the mouse down to select the copy function and left click."? Things seem complicated when you don't understand them, remember that they don't think in the same way as you.
"Those who ask us 200 times how to copy/paste and cannot remember simply because their mindset is that computers are scary complex things that do not make sense."
So help them understand computers so they become simple and harmless.
Don't Forget! A Practical Guide For Improving Your Memory.
Bicycles are not "User friendly" to begginers, but the interface is designed appropriately because it lets you operate the bicycle effectivley. If you want to simplify the interface you need to add to the bicyle itself. Like a computer operated universal gearing system with gyroscopic sensors to remove the gear widgets. Or training wheels so you don't need to maintain your centre of balance. I can use an example with a computer program. When I install old dos games on my computer (C&C, KKnD, quake, etc.) They all need to ask me about my sound card set up. More recent programs can figure it out without bothering me at all. So do things the best way you can see, and listen to other people. Usefullness is sure to follow. - Alysander.
Bicycles are not "User friendly" to begginers, but the interface is designed appropriately because it lets you operate the bicycle effectivley. If you want to simplify the interface you need to add to the bicyle itself. Like a computer operated universal gearing system with gyroscopic sensors to remove the gear widgets. Or training wheels so you don't need to maintain you centre of balance.
I can use an example with a computer program.
When I install old dos games on my computer (C&C, KKnD, quake, etc.) They all need to ask me about my sound card set up. More recent programs can figure it out without bothering me at all.
- Alysander.