OK...I got your point(s). Now I believe you will agree with me, that defining what a "decent default" is may take lots of effort around here. There are too many skill sets and tastes when it comes to Linux and its desktop environments.
It possible to create theme and menu packages that reflect various "decent defaults" to users. This is especially so in KDE. The users can run a script that would ask questions and later create a package that satisfies them. Think of it as similar to what takes place when one has to compile a kernel.
Question is: Where do we start? Or will this idea be dead on arrival?
I just tried out the Ubuntu and Kubuntu 9.04 betas earlier today, and I think my interest in both GNOME and KDE is just about worn out.
For KDE, why won't you then customize it to your heart's desire? At least it gives you the option. I do not know much about GNOME. Heck, KDE can even be made to have only those features that XFCE or GNOME have.
We all know it is impossible to please everyone. OK, tell us what a desktop should be and we'll do it. The trouble is everyone complains but does not put up a solution.
My submission is that Google should respond in a classic Linux/KDE/Gnome format as follows:
"While we acknowledge receipt of your concerns, the points raised are a feature of our product(s) and not bugs. Google takes security and privacy seriously and are committed to ensuring that all our users continue to enjoy products and services we provide."
Or even better, they should label these so called security feature with a tag: "Won't fix." I know I will tagged a "troll" but I must say this: The "Won't fix" label, though not unusual in both the KDE and GNOME worlds, it is more common in the GNOME world than KDE. What it does not tell is whether there is lack of expertise or resources to fix it on both teams or it's because of incompetence, some other factor(s) or both.
I know because I counted them the (Won't fixes) on the 19th of March this year: GNOME score: 121, KDE score: 43. You do the math.
...for this will breathe life into the issue of making KDE the default desktop on Redhat. But as of now, the idea of KDE on Redhat (as default) is always dead on arrival.
Doing this for the big three would also save them. Money would be generated from taxes on selling things like gasoline and servicing these cars/trucks at dealerships.
I wonder for how long these companies can last given that for GM, which owned almost 75% of the market, has seen share dwindling to less then one-third. Sad indeed.
To defeat this system, all I need to do is to "share" my email account with other folks, or just setup an account just for game purposes. What about that?
...that the cohesion that is characteristic of the Linux kernel as a "final product" gets to visit its desktop environment as well.
This is not to suggest that it's all a bed of roses within the Linux kernel development process. I have been to the kernel mailing list and I know what goes on there. What I see in the kernel as a final product is manifestation of strong leadership and the ability to see beyond the time in which we live.
My hope is that we get to merge efforts to produce a desktop product that is not only beautiful to look at, but also a joy to work with. Sadly, we have the manpower and the tools to do just that but we fail because of politics and egos.
Let's recognize that these two "poisons" do nothing in advancing the ideology of "world domination."
It won't compete on dynamics or quality with European or Japanese city cars, but it doesn't have to.
That is precisely how the Japanese "came from behind" in the late seventies and ended up capturing the American mindset when it comes to quality.
I know what I am talking about because I was around at that time. No body would even think of touching a Japanese front wheel drive car! Guess what! It is second nature to most auto manufacturers now.
I guess it's the time for the Indians this time round. Let's just watch out after all, Tata's direction on quality can only be up.
Sadly, I have some bad news for Linux lovers (myself included) when it comes to the netbook. The fact is that hopes for Linux on the netbook is all but dead now that Windows owns more than 90% of this market.
I still have some hope though. KDE 4.2.1 is convincing many folks in my small world. If KDE programmers do what they have to do in terms of multimedia and the browser (read KHTML/WebKit), there is a future.
While the list is no longer available online, analysts fear that the document still lives on in various cache and online history services."
I would like to know whether my details are on that list. Question is: How do I get a hold of that list? How do I access data from the so called caches?
I think I heard that somewhere. Here is my hope: -
As Google releases these betas, those capable keep up and push out a native QT (and therefore KDE) based "Google Chrome" browser. I hope this is not too much to ask for.
On a side note, I wonder why they have to call it "Google Chrome" on Windows and "Chromium" on Linux.
The fact that Novell folks, who are in bed with Microsoft sponsored this study is s suspect in itself.
Asked what factors would accelerate Linux deployments, respondents said "reducing costs and stronger interoperability with Windows" as the two top issues.
What about creating a distro that users want to use, which distro will work exactly as advertised? Heck what is the use of having Gnash installed yet it will not [properly] play *all* videos on sites like YouTube? We should not install half baked apps on our systems.
The white paper said Linux "has failed to successfully capture a substantial share of traditional client deployments," but new form factors, such as netbooks running Linux, and the growing number of Web-based Linux applications may result in more use of Linux on the client...
This is my opinion, and would not like to start a flame war of any kind. I used to be a GNOME user but find the latest offer from the KDE folks quite compelling. So let's strip out the "fat" in KDE, convince GNOME folks to join KDE in creating a wonderful desktop for the Linux kernel. The license that used to be of great hindrance is no longer a fact in KDE.
I am not saying that GNOME should be abandoned but let's have a fully functional desktop. This can easily be achieved in QT and KDE.
TomTom should be able to license FAT without violating the GPL. And if that is the case... TomTom needs some serious explaining to do as to why they aren't licensing FAT. That said, Microsoft still needs to explain why it just cannot say that folks won't violate the GPL if they license FAT under its terms."
Ohh yes they will violate the GPL. I have lifted the comment below (in bold), from this informed user who I trust on these issues. He also drives home the motivation behind Microsoft's actions. Take a read.
Samba maintainer Jeremy Allison pointed out in a recent blog posting by writer Glyn Moody that companies who sign up to Microsoft's licensing cannot continue to distribute their code under GPLv2.
Section seven of GPLv2 - called the "Liberty or Death" clause - states that you cannot distribute code if outside restrictions have been imposed.
"What people are missing about this is the either/or choice that Microsoft is giving TomTom," Alison posted.
"It isn't a case of cross-license and everything is ok. If TomTom or any other company cross licenses patents then by section 7 of GPLv2 (for the Linux kernel). they lose the rights to redistribute the kernel at all."
In other words, Microsoft is eroding Linux and open source and slowing their development. A deal with Microsoft prevents GPL'd code from returning to the ecosystem whence it came, with any improvements or updates, as companies that do patent licensing deals with Microsoft must keep it in-house.
I doubt these folks will be allowed to present their stuff. As a lay man, I cannot see a genuine use of this technology without breaking the law. I hope they will present.
When a product based on this technology is manufactured, the manufacturer could face a law suit on these grounds:
The defendant manufactured a product which on usage as intended by manufacturer, breaks the law. That's tough.
When I am to buy anything from stores like Office Depot, and happen to be coaxed into these service plans, I tell them:
"Look, this is a gift. If I must purchase a service plan before walking out with this product, then I will leave it. Now, can I have this product without a service plan or not?"
This script has worked remarkably well at all times. I have never been disappointed.
This is the problem with most slashdotters. Most of them put up unsupported comments. What I would like you to do is to support your claims by pointing us to websites that have made the "mistake" of first running MySQL and later discovering the "light" in adopting PostgreSQL or otherwise.
Alternatively, you could websites that use MySQL; which websites can be branded as "toy websites" by extension.
This study would have carried more weight if it had included PostgreSQL and IBM's DB2. These two databases do more serious work than MySQL although many believe MySQL is more widely deployed.
Whenever "Linux" is being evaluated on the desktop, Ubuntu is fronted...so my question is: Is Ubuntu equal to Linux? The last time I checked it was not the case. So why does it [seem] to be the case?
I guess when the economy is down, the slashdot crowd gets fired up! Otherwise why do I get this message?
Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@smari.yaxic.org and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.
More information about this error may be available in the server error log.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
The problem that the poster put forward is a serious one. I must say I have no solutions for the poster! Sad indeed.
But what is troubling is the fact that the first 61 comments offered *no* solution to the problem at all! What does that say about we slashdotters?
Many of us are Linux advocates. My first thought for him was KDE's Kiosk tool. It turns out he knew about it and it does not meet his needs.
Let's be serious on this matter...please. By the way, there is money to be made in creating a tool to accomplish what he wants done. Extending KDE's Kiosk Tool to do the job should not be hard.
While I am very concerned about this, I am not surprised at all. It is by coincidence that I was reading this website and found out that despite perceived Russian problems, the USA is at least a decade behind Russia in missile technology!
Below are two snippets of the whole article. Scary!
"Despite the Pentagon's development of a new generation of hypersonic missile, the U.S. is still a decade behind Russia in high-speed cruise-missile design, according to defense analysts. According to the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, the U.S. military is developing a new hypersonic robot missile reported to be capable of traveling in excess of six times the speed of sound and armed with its own miniature smart bombs. The new weapon, called the Advanced Rapid Response Missile Demonstrator, or ARRMD, is designed to cruise at over 4,000 miles an hour and strike targets hundreds of miles away in only a few seconds. "
"Nevertheless, defense analysts agree that the U.S. is fully a decade behind Russia in high-speed cruise missile designs. Russia currently deploys and exports the supersonic SS-N-22 Moskit cruise missile, NATO codenamed "Sunburn." The SS-N-22 is considered the most lethal anti-ship missile in the world, and flies at over 2.5 times the speed of sound only a few feet from the surface of the water." [This speed amounts to almost 1,700 miles per hour, or 28 miles per minute]."
Slashdot Mirror
OK...I got your point(s). Now I believe you will agree with me, that defining what a "decent default" is may take lots of effort around here. There are too many skill sets and tastes when it comes to Linux and its desktop environments.
It possible to create theme and menu packages that reflect various "decent defaults" to users. This is especially so in KDE. The users can run a script that would ask questions and later create a package that satisfies them. Think of it as similar to what takes place when one has to compile a kernel.
Question is: Where do we start? Or will this idea be dead on arrival?
I just tried out the Ubuntu and Kubuntu 9.04 betas earlier today, and I think my interest in both GNOME and KDE is just about worn out.
For KDE, why won't you then customize it to your heart's desire? At least it gives you the option. I do not know much about GNOME. Heck, KDE can even be made to have only those features that XFCE or GNOME have.
We all know it is impossible to please everyone. OK, tell us what a desktop should be and we'll do it. The trouble is everyone complains but does not put up a solution.
We're waiting for your input.
My submission is that Google should respond in a classic Linux/KDE/Gnome format as follows:
"While we acknowledge receipt of your concerns, the points raised are a feature of our product(s) and not bugs. Google takes security and privacy seriously and are committed to ensuring that all our users continue to enjoy products and services we provide."
Or even better, they should label these so called security feature with a tag: "Won't fix." I know I will tagged a "troll" but I must say this: The "Won't fix" label, though not unusual in both the KDE and GNOME worlds, it is more common in the GNOME world than KDE. What it does not tell is whether there is lack of expertise or resources to fix it on both teams or it's because of incompetence, some other factor(s) or both.
I know because I counted them the (Won't fixes) on the 19th of March this year: GNOME score: 121, KDE score: 43. You do the math.
Now you go ahead and mod me down.
...for this will breathe life into the issue of making KDE the default desktop on Redhat. But as of now, the idea of KDE on Redhat (as default) is always dead on arrival.
To me, this product from Samsung is better in every way compared to the latest iphone.
Doing this for the big three would also save them. Money would be generated from taxes on selling things like gasoline and servicing these cars/trucks at dealerships.
I wonder for how long these companies can last given that for GM, which owned almost 75% of the market, has seen share dwindling to less then one-third. Sad indeed.
To defeat this system, all I need to do is to "share" my email account with other folks, or just setup an account just for game purposes. What about that?
...that the cohesion that is characteristic of the Linux kernel as a "final product" gets to visit its desktop environment as well.
This is not to suggest that it's all a bed of roses within the Linux kernel development process. I have been to the kernel mailing list and I know what goes on there. What I see in the kernel as a final product is manifestation of strong leadership and the ability to see beyond the time in which we live.
My hope is that we get to merge efforts to produce a desktop product that is not only beautiful to look at, but also a joy to work with. Sadly, we have the manpower and the tools to do just that but we fail because of politics and egos.
Let's recognize that these two "poisons" do nothing in advancing the ideology of "world domination."
It won't compete on dynamics or quality with European or Japanese city cars, but it doesn't have to.
That is precisely how the Japanese "came from behind" in the late seventies and ended up capturing the American mindset when it comes to quality.
I know what I am talking about because I was around at that time. No body would even think of touching a Japanese front wheel drive car! Guess what! It is second nature to most auto manufacturers now.
I guess it's the time for the Indians this time round. Let's just watch out after all, Tata's direction on quality can only be up.
Just curious to know what your take is on the latest KDE. Do you see anything positive in it to help out the Linux cause in your opinion?
Sadly, I have some bad news for Linux lovers (myself included) when it comes to the netbook. The fact is that hopes for Linux on the netbook is all but dead now that Windows owns more than 90% of this market.
I still have some hope though. KDE 4.2.1 is convincing many folks in my small world. If KDE programmers do what they have to do in terms of multimedia and the browser (read KHTML/WebKit), there is a future.
While the list is no longer available online, analysts fear that the document still lives on in various cache and online history services."
I would like to know whether my details are on that list. Question is: How do I get a hold of that list? How do I access data from the so called caches?
I think I heard that somewhere. Here is my hope: -
As Google releases these betas, those capable keep up and push out a native QT (and therefore KDE) based "Google Chrome" browser. I hope this is not too much to ask for.
On a side note, I wonder why they have to call it "Google Chrome" on Windows and "Chromium" on Linux.
The fact that Novell folks, who are in bed with Microsoft sponsored this study is s suspect in itself.
Asked what factors would accelerate Linux deployments, respondents said "reducing costs and stronger interoperability with Windows" as the two top issues.
What about creating a distro that users want to use, which distro will work exactly as advertised? Heck what is the use of having Gnash installed yet it will not [properly] play *all* videos on sites like YouTube? We should not install half baked apps on our systems.
The white paper said Linux "has failed to successfully capture a substantial share of traditional client deployments," but new form factors, such as netbooks running Linux, and the growing number of Web-based Linux applications may result in more use of Linux on the client...
This is my opinion, and would not like to start a flame war of any kind. I used to be a GNOME user but find the latest offer from the KDE folks quite compelling. So let's strip out the "fat" in KDE, convince GNOME folks to join KDE in creating a wonderful desktop for the Linux kernel. The license that used to be of great hindrance is no longer a fact in KDE.
I am not saying that GNOME should be abandoned but let's have a fully functional desktop. This can easily be achieved in QT and KDE.
...when libel is defined as a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person?
Note: Bold mine...
TomTom should be able to license FAT without violating the GPL. And if that is the case ... TomTom needs some serious explaining to do as to why they aren't licensing FAT. That said, Microsoft still needs to explain why it just cannot say that folks won't violate the GPL if they license FAT under its terms."
Ohh yes they will violate the GPL. I have lifted the comment below (in bold), from this informed user who I trust on these issues. He also drives home the motivation behind Microsoft's actions. Take a read.
Samba maintainer Jeremy Allison pointed out in a recent blog posting by writer Glyn Moody that companies who sign up to Microsoft's licensing cannot continue to distribute their code under GPLv2.
Section seven of GPLv2 - called the "Liberty or Death" clause - states that you cannot distribute code if outside restrictions have been imposed.
"What people are missing about this is the either/or choice that Microsoft is giving TomTom," Alison posted.
"It isn't a case of cross-license and everything is ok. If TomTom or any other company cross licenses patents then by section 7 of GPLv2 (for the Linux kernel). they lose the rights to redistribute the kernel at all."
In other words, Microsoft is eroding Linux and open source and slowing their development. A deal with Microsoft prevents GPL'd code from returning to the ecosystem whence it came, with any improvements or updates, as companies that do patent licensing deals with Microsoft must keep it in-house.
I doubt these folks will be allowed to present their stuff. As a lay man, I cannot see a genuine use of this technology without breaking the law. I hope they will present.
When a product based on this technology is manufactured, the manufacturer could face a law suit on these grounds:
The defendant manufactured a product which on usage as intended by manufacturer, breaks the law. That's tough.
...It looks the same on the surface, but there are many changes under the hood."...
Will Joe Public be in position to notice them? The new engine might be indeed faster but I wonder whether an ordinary user will see a difference.
When I am to buy anything from stores like Office Depot, and happen to be coaxed into these service plans, I tell them:
"Look, this is a gift. If I must purchase a service plan before walking out with this product, then I will leave it. Now, can I have this product without a service plan or not?"
This script has worked remarkably well at all times. I have never been disappointed.
Exactly, MySQL is nothing but a toy database.
This is the problem with most slashdotters. Most of them put up unsupported comments. What I would like you to do is to support your claims by pointing us to websites that have made the "mistake" of first running MySQL and later discovering the "light" in adopting PostgreSQL or otherwise.
Alternatively, you could websites that use MySQL; which websites can be branded as "toy websites" by extension.
This study would have carried more weight if it had included PostgreSQL and IBM's DB2. These two databases do more serious work than MySQL although many believe MySQL is more widely deployed.
Whenever "Linux" is being evaluated on the desktop, Ubuntu is fronted...so my question is: Is Ubuntu equal to Linux? The last time I checked it was not the case. So why does it [seem] to be the case?
I guess when the economy is down, the slashdot crowd gets fired up! Otherwise why do I get this message?
Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@smari.yaxic.org and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.
More information about this error may be available in the server error log.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
The problem that the poster put forward is a serious one. I must say I have no solutions for the poster! Sad indeed.
But what is troubling is the fact that the first 61 comments offered *no* solution to the problem at all! What does that say about we slashdotters?
Many of us are Linux advocates. My first thought for him was KDE's Kiosk tool. It turns out he knew about it and it does not meet his needs.
Let's be serious on this matter...please. By the way, there is money to be made in creating a tool to accomplish what he wants done. Extending KDE's Kiosk Tool to do the job should not be hard.
While I am very concerned about this, I am not surprised at all. It is by coincidence that I was reading this website and found out that despite perceived Russian problems, the USA is at least a decade behind Russia in missile technology!
Below are two snippets of the whole article. Scary!
"Despite the Pentagon's development of a new generation of hypersonic missile, the U.S. is still a decade behind Russia in high-speed cruise-missile design, according to defense analysts. According to the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, the U.S. military is developing a new hypersonic robot missile reported to be capable of traveling in excess of six times the speed of sound and armed with its own miniature smart bombs. The new weapon, called the Advanced Rapid Response Missile Demonstrator, or ARRMD, is designed to cruise at over 4,000 miles an hour and strike targets hundreds of miles away in only a few seconds. "
"Nevertheless, defense analysts agree that the U.S. is fully a decade behind Russia in high-speed cruise missile designs. Russia currently deploys and exports the supersonic SS-N-22 Moskit cruise missile, NATO codenamed "Sunburn." The SS-N-22 is considered the most lethal anti-ship missile in the world, and flies at over 2.5 times the speed of sound only a few feet from the surface of the water." [This speed amounts to almost 1,700 miles per hour, or 28 miles per minute]."
Folks, we can't let this happen.