The "correct" way? WTF? Like there is only one way to deal with a problem, and all others except for the one you choose are wrong? So tell me, what makes this way "correct" and others "wrong"?
But those aren't the only two possible solutions. I call false dichotomy. Why not make it so that all cars have to have a minimum MPG of much more than 35MPG? Because that figure (remember, we are talking 2020 here, not today) is pathetic. And that's why it's a whitewash. It's totally insignificant. There's no reason even a big SUV shouldn't be able to exceed 35MPG.
it might have been some other management or business book, that said that a company listens to its customers, becomes successful and grows
I don't see how that applies to Microsoft. Their first big customer was IBM, who they promptly screwed over. After that, comes a long history of screwing over their OEM customers, software partners, and so forth. I don't think the idea of serving the customer has ever entered the collective mind of Microsoft.
I think you need a clue there. Just because New York doesn't have laws against invasion of privacy, doesn't mean people can't complain about invasion of privacy. I can complain about somebody talking too loud at the cinema, even though that is a legal act. By your logic, I am being "paranoid" and shouldn't complain about it because it's legal. Well guess what? Legal is not the same thing as "good." By the way, what's inaccurate about the summary? What's paranoid about complaining of instrusions and annoyances?
I think it's actually a case of The Onion imitating reality. Although, I can see how it might seem the other way around to people who don't spend much time outside, and instead live on the internet.
Well, it is probably possible (almost anything is possible with enough effort) - but the market for it is likely to be so small that it's not economically feasible. As for technical reasons, Firewire and USb work on completely different paradigms when it comes to sharing bandwidth, streaming data, etc. So you'd basically need a very complex translator to manage it - a programmed CPU, basically.
As for the "average user", I don't think it's a myth. Most people I know are using their computer in their personal life for four things, gaming not withstanding : internet browsing, checking/writing emails, writing stuff in Word (or Open Office if they use Linux), and managing their iPod/mp3 player.
But how much of that is social engineering? What I see again and again, is that people aren't confident to do other things, because they've been told it's too hard and complex. iPod/iTunes is a good example of this. Before that came along, listening to MP3s and portable players was a "geek" thing. But then that became accessible to them, was no longer something daunting. Likewise - a LOT of people have digital cameras now, so they will want to use Photoshop and Lightroom-like applications.
Basically, it's not that people don't want to do other things than browse the web and send email - it's that they've been taught a mindset (often by computer nerds) that they can't do those things.
The rest doesn't even WANT to do anything else but those four tasks with their computer.It's not like they couldn't learn, they just aren't interested, and there is nothing wrong with that. From my point of view, those are they are "average users"
Not in my experience. Maybe we just hang around different types of people? Most users I know would LOVE to do those things. How many people aren't interested in art or music? How many people aren't interested in photos of their friends?
a multi language programming editor, a GUI editor, a ~colour matcher~ (gives you all sorts of complementary coloursets for a given colour), a TrueType font editor, and.. well.. just a display panel, though this last thing was really a cheap shot at the customizability of Gnome compared to OS
Ok, those are pretty well covered. I figured that the display control panel was going to be a snark. There is something called Shapeshifter for Mac, but I haven't used it. I'm generally not into cutomizing the interface - mostly because it can cause confusion when training new users, and my interface deviates from the standard, or problems working with other machines because familiar customizations aren't there. The Finder is pretty sucky sometimes.
i think you'd find more driver complexity in supporting such a device, as well as sub-optimal performance. I'm not sure of what driver complecity you are referring to, as all major Operating Systems have native Firewire support these days, don't they?
Right. But only a small minority of computers and external HD cases have the physical connector. Therefore, eSATA not widely supported. There's a reason it has that name - it refers to a specific connector, which is not widely found on today's equipment. It doesn't refer to making your own ad-hoc connector to extend the ATA connection outside the box, it refers to a specific standard.
The point of my posts was not to say that the Mac is superior in every way, or has all software covered. My point was that the way that the "finding and installing applications" argument was presented was too simplified, and out of touch with reality. It's not a task that something like a package manager can solve. It requires social solutions, like support networks, and reliable software review sites.
The other thing i disagree with is the idea of "the average user." I don't think such a person exists. If so, I've never met him. Most people have their own interests and tastes, and don't want to be constrained by what's "average." I think it's this attitude that stops many people from trying new things. I think some of these average users are pushed into that role, because of talk about "complex or specialized" software. What is special to one person, is normal to another. If you grew up playing a musical instrument (and having never used a computer) then music composition software might seem completely normal to you - but seem weird and specialist to somebody else. Likewise, Excel is considered "normal" software by many - but if somebody has never had any need for a spreadsheet, it wouldn't really make any sense to them.
I think the "average user" is a myth that should be abolished. It's insulting to both people and software. It's the kind of thing perpetuated by the corporate world, who want every employee to fit a mold, and for everybody to use the same thing.
Consider this though : these applications (except perhaps for Photoshop which is ubiquitous) are highly specialized commercial software packages. most users will never touch them
You'd be surprised. It's this area where the "computer nerd" parts ways with other nerds (and non-nerds) who are technically skilled or creative, but are not computer enthusiasts. I've known many, many people who are artists, photographers and filmmakers who practically live inside these "advanced" applications - even though they have very little other experience with computers. They are technical whiz-kids - in their chosen field, just not in computers.
And there are those who aren't even whiz kids. There are plenty of ordinary people who are getting into things like Lightroom, because they are very powerful and easy to use.
Lightroom: honestly, no idea. Never had any use for this kind of application so never searched for it... My guess is that there are alternatives.
I'd be very surprised. Lightroom is a Raw image processing, workflow management, and file organization tool for photographers. Until Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom hit the market (quite recently) - there was nothing like them around at all. yet they were exactly what photographers the world over had been waiting for. These applications alone, have restored many people's passion for photography, after it was burned out in a post-digital world of inadequate software.
I want an alternative for Geany, Glade, Agave, FontForge.. oh.. and just to round it up... the "gnome display panel" for the Mac. Any suggestions?
That analogy sucks even more than the sucky VHS/Beta analogy. Wait a minute, why are people trying to make analogies in this case, when there is no analogy needed?
Oh right, this is slashdot. I forgot that you need to reach your daily analogy quota. BMW vs. Chevy FTW!
Gosh, a whole 2 meters? Did you ever stop to think that many people need a lot more than that? P{articularly in things like entertainment and video production. You said it yourself, eSATA is really only good for one thing. Firewire is far more versatile. So, if anything should die, it should be eSATA for the sake of Firewire. eSATA is just yet another not-widely-supported protocol that is helping take oxygen away from superior standards. The end result of this is that shit like USB ends up winning, because the less-well-known standards keep fighting among themselves, so USB has nothing to contend with.
I guess eSATA is like the Ralph Nader of protocols - not so bad in itself, but a pain in the ass for everyone else. It's a pity there wasn't more cooperation and suppport for Firewire in the first place, because it is a really well thought-out protocol - with many more applications and a lot more room for growth than most others.
For an OEM to add a firewire port costs about $1.50 more than a USB port. Not exactly a huge difference.
To the OEM it is. They are cheap bastards. And of course, customers are cheap bastards, who tend to care more about price than quality. Keep adding "only $1.50 more" to other companents, and soon you don't have that $300 PC. Not that anybody should be buying a shitty $300 PC, but people like cheap junk, as I said.
The next step is to read the description, install what he thinks is best suited (or just everything that might remotely be interesting), click apply.
But the package's description is not enough. The user will still have to research which applications are actually any good. And again, where can I find the equivalent of Photoshop/Lightroom/Final Cut Pro in that package manager? I can't because it doesn't exist on Linux.
New Ubuntu users tend to get into an install frenzy easily;) You don't have to drag any files around, you don't have to search the web... it's just there.
Well, that's a huge problem right there. Going on an "install frenzy" is not the best way to find out which applications are suited to you. And how is dragging a file to Applications (which actually isn't even necessary in 99% of cases) a bigger step than starting a package manager, entering password, and searching? It's not. What you are describing takes more steps, if you don't include searching the web and doing research on user feedback - but you'd have to do that on Linux, anyway. Randomly trying apps is not an efficient way to go about things. Especially as so many descriptions from the author(s) are misleading or don't give the full picture.
GIMP is not in Photoshop's leauge. It's fine for what it is, but it isn't a professional-class app, and doesn't meet industry standards. Now, aside from Photoshop, where is the Linux equivalent to Adobe Lightroom, or Apple's Aperture? Those are two incredible apps which are taking over photographers' workflows. I don't know of any other applications that do what they do so well.
That's an interesting assertion, is that your point of view or is it an actual survey that was performed?
Just personal experience. From my trying various Linux apps, the documentation was almost non-existent, and they were fraught with UI problems. There are often large holes missing in functionality, and particularly a lack of support for a wide range of file formats. They are fine for tinkering, or as a free alternative, but most I wouldn't use in a serious production environment. The exceptions are things like FIrefox, or course, but how much can you do with a web browser?
It's unavoidable when an OS X upgrade fails (which they do from time to time), when the system disk fails, and when installed software makes the system slow or unstable.
So, why didn't you make a backup before the upgrade? Applications can be migrated from the backup. All the instructions say to backup before an upgrade.
Anyway, wasn't this about a new user? If they are new, upgrading the OS is unlikely to be the first thing they do. I'm not sure I understand your line of reasoning.
Unlike Mac, which comes only with iLife, Linux comes with a full set of desktop applications. What do you mean? There are many, many distributions of Linux. Some of them come with applications, some don't. And different users need different applications, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. Someone into graphics and photography is not going to be happy with the Linux offerings, no matter how complete, since the apps don't even exist for the platform.
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The "correct" way? WTF? Like there is only one way to deal with a problem, and all others except for the one you choose are wrong? So tell me, what makes this way "correct" and others "wrong"?
But those aren't the only two possible solutions. I call false dichotomy. Why not make it so that all cars have to have a minimum MPG of much more than 35MPG? Because that figure (remember, we are talking 2020 here, not today) is pathetic. And that's why it's a whitewash. It's totally insignificant. There's no reason even a big SUV shouldn't be able to exceed 35MPG.
I don't see how that applies to Microsoft. Their first big customer was IBM, who they promptly screwed over. After that, comes a long history of screwing over their OEM customers, software partners, and so forth. I don't think the idea of serving the customer has ever entered the collective mind of Microsoft.
You'd think someone as wealthy as Gates could afford OnStar or some other GPS system.
It was beamed into your head via ultrasonic speakers in your local grocery store.
I think you need a clue there. Just because New York doesn't have laws against invasion of privacy, doesn't mean people can't complain about invasion of privacy. I can complain about somebody talking too loud at the cinema, even though that is a legal act. By your logic, I am being "paranoid" and shouldn't complain about it because it's legal. Well guess what? Legal is not the same thing as "good." By the way, what's inaccurate about the summary? What's paranoid about complaining of instrusions and annoyances?
I think it's actually a case of The Onion imitating reality. Although, I can see how it might seem the other way around to people who don't spend much time outside, and instead live on the internet.
Space. The iPods were getting smaller, so less room for extra chipsets, so they had to pick the most common, even if it was inferior.
Uh, to produce it?
Is it EVE, Eve, or EvE? The slashdot title, summary, and related links say three different things.
Well, it is probably possible (almost anything is possible with enough effort) - but the market for it is likely to be so small that it's not economically feasible. As for technical reasons, Firewire and USb work on completely different paradigms when it comes to sharing bandwidth, streaming data, etc. So you'd basically need a very complex translator to manage it - a programmed CPU, basically.
But how much of that is social engineering? What I see again and again, is that people aren't confident to do other things, because they've been told it's too hard and complex. iPod/iTunes is a good example of this. Before that came along, listening to MP3s and portable players was a "geek" thing. But then that became accessible to them, was no longer something daunting. Likewise - a LOT of people have digital cameras now, so they will want to use Photoshop and Lightroom-like applications.
Basically, it's not that people don't want to do other things than browse the web and send email - it's that they've been taught a mindset (often by computer nerds) that they can't do those things.
The rest doesn't even WANT to do anything else but those four tasks with their computer.It's not like they couldn't learn, they just aren't interested, and there is nothing wrong with that. From my point of view, those are they are "average users"Not in my experience. Maybe we just hang around different types of people? Most users I know would LOVE to do those things. How many people aren't interested in art or music? How many people aren't interested in photos of their friends?
a multi language programming editor, a GUI editor, a ~colour matcher~ (gives you all sorts of complementary coloursets for a given colour), a TrueType font editor, andOk, those are pretty well covered. I figured that the display control panel was going to be a snark. There is something called Shapeshifter for Mac, but I haven't used it. I'm generally not into cutomizing the interface - mostly because it can cause confusion when training new users, and my interface deviates from the standard, or problems working with other machines because familiar customizations aren't there. The Finder is pretty sucky sometimes.
Awaiting moderation in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... And you're outta here!
Oh, ok. I thought you said "romo".
i think you'd find more driver complexity in supporting such a device, as well as sub-optimal performance. I'm not sure of what driver complecity you are referring to, as all major Operating Systems have native Firewire support these days, don't they?
Right. But only a small minority of computers and external HD cases have the physical connector. Therefore, eSATA not widely supported. There's a reason it has that name - it refers to a specific connector, which is not widely found on today's equipment. It doesn't refer to making your own ad-hoc connector to extend the ATA connection outside the box, it refers to a specific standard.
P.S:
The point of my posts was not to say that the Mac is superior in every way, or has all software covered. My point was that the way that the "finding and installing applications" argument was presented was too simplified, and out of touch with reality. It's not a task that something like a package manager can solve. It requires social solutions, like support networks, and reliable software review sites.
The other thing i disagree with is the idea of "the average user." I don't think such a person exists. If so, I've never met him. Most people have their own interests and tastes, and don't want to be constrained by what's "average." I think it's this attitude that stops many people from trying new things. I think some of these average users are pushed into that role, because of talk about "complex or specialized" software. What is special to one person, is normal to another. If you grew up playing a musical instrument (and having never used a computer) then music composition software might seem completely normal to you - but seem weird and specialist to somebody else. Likewise, Excel is considered "normal" software by many - but if somebody has never had any need for a spreadsheet, it wouldn't really make any sense to them.
I think the "average user" is a myth that should be abolished. It's insulting to both people and software. It's the kind of thing perpetuated by the corporate world, who want every employee to fit a mold, and for everybody to use the same thing.
You'd be surprised. It's this area where the "computer nerd" parts ways with other nerds (and non-nerds) who are technically skilled or creative, but are not computer enthusiasts. I've known many, many people who are artists, photographers and filmmakers who practically live inside these "advanced" applications - even though they have very little other experience with computers. They are technical whiz-kids - in their chosen field, just not in computers.
And there are those who aren't even whiz kids. There are plenty of ordinary people who are getting into things like Lightroom, because they are very powerful and easy to use.
Lightroom: honestly, no idea. Never had any use for this kind of application so never searched for itI'd be very surprised. Lightroom is a Raw image processing, workflow management, and file organization tool for photographers. Until Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom hit the market (quite recently) - there was nothing like them around at all. yet they were exactly what photographers the world over had been waiting for. These applications alone, have restored many people's passion for photography, after it was burned out in a post-digital world of inadequate software.
I want an alternative for Geany, Glade, Agave, FontForgeI'll look into those.
That analogy sucks even more than the sucky VHS/Beta analogy. Wait a minute, why are people trying to make analogies in this case, when there is no analogy needed?
Oh right, this is slashdot. I forgot that you need to reach your daily analogy quota. BMW vs. Chevy FTW!
Gosh, a whole 2 meters? Did you ever stop to think that many people need a lot more than that? P{articularly in things like entertainment and video production. You said it yourself, eSATA is really only good for one thing. Firewire is far more versatile. So, if anything should die, it should be eSATA for the sake of Firewire. eSATA is just yet another not-widely-supported protocol that is helping take oxygen away from superior standards. The end result of this is that shit like USB ends up winning, because the less-well-known standards keep fighting among themselves, so USB has nothing to contend with.
I guess eSATA is like the Ralph Nader of protocols - not so bad in itself, but a pain in the ass for everyone else. It's a pity there wasn't more cooperation and suppport for Firewire in the first place, because it is a really well thought-out protocol - with many more applications and a lot more room for growth than most others.
To the OEM it is. They are cheap bastards. And of course, customers are cheap bastards, who tend to care more about price than quality. Keep adding "only $1.50 more" to other companents, and soon you don't have that $300 PC. Not that anybody should be buying a shitty $300 PC, but people like cheap junk, as I said.
But the package's description is not enough. The user will still have to research which applications are actually any good. And again, where can I find the equivalent of Photoshop/Lightroom/Final Cut Pro in that package manager? I can't because it doesn't exist on Linux.
New Ubuntu users tend to get into an install frenzy easilyWell, that's a huge problem right there. Going on an "install frenzy" is not the best way to find out which applications are suited to you. And how is dragging a file to Applications (which actually isn't even necessary in 99% of cases) a bigger step than starting a package manager, entering password, and searching? It's not. What you are describing takes more steps, if you don't include searching the web and doing research on user feedback - but you'd have to do that on Linux, anyway. Randomly trying apps is not an efficient way to go about things. Especially as so many descriptions from the author(s) are misleading or don't give the full picture.
GIMP is not in Photoshop's leauge. It's fine for what it is, but it isn't a professional-class app, and doesn't meet industry standards. Now, aside from Photoshop, where is the Linux equivalent to Adobe Lightroom, or Apple's Aperture? Those are two incredible apps which are taking over photographers' workflows. I don't know of any other applications that do what they do so well.
That's an interesting assertion, is that your point of view or is it an actual survey that was performed?Just personal experience. From my trying various Linux apps, the documentation was almost non-existent, and they were fraught with UI problems. There are often large holes missing in functionality, and particularly a lack of support for a wide range of file formats. They are fine for tinkering, or as a free alternative, but most I wouldn't use in a serious production environment. The exceptions are things like FIrefox, or course, but how much can you do with a web browser?
So, why didn't you make a backup before the upgrade? Applications can be migrated from the backup. All the instructions say to backup before an upgrade.
Anyway, wasn't this about a new user? If they are new, upgrading the OS is unlikely to be the first thing they do. I'm not sure I understand your line of reasoning.
Unlike Mac, which comes only with iLife, Linux comes with a full set of desktop applications. What do you mean? There are many, many distributions of Linux. Some of them come with applications, some don't. And different users need different applications, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. Someone into graphics and photography is not going to be happy with the Linux offerings, no matter how complete, since the apps don't even exist for the platform.