Provide a standard keyboard switching method
on
Advocating Dvorak
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· Score: 1
A possible solution to getting more people to adopt Dvorak is to make a standard key sequence to enables switching between the two layouts. I was thinking about this when I learned to type on a Thai keyboard layout recently. There are two standards and they are just like Dvorak and Qwerty. You can guess which one is widely used. But even for a foreigner learning to type, it is better to learn the inferior standard layout in case one has to use a computer in the country. The absurdity here is that everyone using a Thai keyboard can switch to the English Qwerty layout for typing in English, but there's no standard to switch between the two Thai layouts. Contrast this with Japanese. There is a special faster layout that can be used for typing one kana at a time with symbols on each key, including the numbers. Most people prefer to type using Roman letters, which is slower. However there's no downside to learning the faster method, because all Japanese computers have standard keys to switch between the input methods. If Dvorak/Qwerty switching worked in a similar standard way on all computers, it would solve the problem of using other people's computers and making learning Dvorak worthwhile.
Some of you seem to believe the only "stupid" users would suffer from this bug. In fact the installer made it easy for a user to install to the wrong directory:
Misconception #2: Users know better than to install Firefox into the root of Program Files rather than a subdirectory, so those who do it wrong deserve their fate.
The installer's UI makes performing the correct action very difficult: 1. The user who wishes to install Firefox to D:\Program Files\Firefox must first navigate to D:\Program Files and then press "Make New Folder", click on the created folder named "New Folder", rename this folder "Mozilla Firefox", and then select this Folder. *Note*: this is unlike any other Windows installer. 2. Windows 98 users cannot perform the "Make New Folder" step because this button does not exist on the Windows 98 file dialog. See this thread for a screenshot and more info: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3669 60 3. Other installers automatically create a named installation folder, and users expect Firefox to do the same thing. 4. Some users may attempt to type the name "Mozilla Firefox" into the text box in the file selection dialog. Doing so does not result in the creation of this folder. *Note*: This is unlike standard Windows intallers, where it does.
Recently I learned of a bug in Windows Firefox versions prior to 1.01 which was fixed in this version. This bug wipes user's hard disks. I've located 15 users who've suffered from this bug. Why did it take over *one year* to fix this serious bug? http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=2257 31
The bug only occurs when a user uninstalls Firefox. A user who uninstalls version 1.0 to prepare for installing version 1.01 is vulnerable. Why has the Firefox homepage not been updated to warn all users about this fact, and to offer a safe remedy?
At least 15 people reported the bug. Assuming that 5% of victims would post publicly about it, this would leave around 300 actual victims. Even 5% is probably too high; a 1% estimate would leave around 1,500 total victims. Since the bug only occurs when Firefox is uninstalled, many hundreds or perhaps even thousands of potential future victims exist.
The bug was reported in bugzilla and discussed without fixing for over *one year*. At one point a developer didn't remove the dangerous code because he said "This is not an acceptable solution to force on all users because some people make bad assumptions and then don't read dialogs." Is Firefox truly ready for "the masses" when developers maintain this sort of attitude towards users?
(copy, remove spaces, and paste bugzilla links since they won't work from Slashdot)
Original bugzilla bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id =23362 5
Here's links to a few people who suffered from this bug: 1.http://computercops.biz/postp82180.html Thu Feb 12, 2004 "Using the Firefox uninstaller has deleted almost everything in the Program Files directory..."
2.http://www.terryfrazier.com/1391 10/5/2004 "What idiot writes an uninstall routine that wipes out everything in the parent folder?!" "This is not some minor issue. This is a show stopper. I mean, damn!" "..every last vestige of that vile firefox has been eradicated from my registry. "
5.rajarajan.sampath final bugzilla victim to post. 2005-02-04 "The uninstaller wiped off, 2/3rd of my programs. This shouldnt be the case, no matter what."
6. Thomas Passin (original buzilla poster) 2004-02-09 "This is DANGEROUS."
7.https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2 42 118 2004-04-29 "...I uninstaled the whole directory "E:/Program Files"!! It wasn't very nice for me..."
8. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=26969 9 2004-11-13 "All my backups and irreplaceble files are now lost.....Thank you for making a shitty uninstaller....i fucking hate you now"
9.https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2 71 805 2004-11-25 "Firefox will deleted all my other program in c:\program files. very unlucky,I did it!!"
Slashdot Mirror
A possible solution to getting more people to adopt Dvorak is to make a standard key sequence to enables switching between the two layouts.
I was thinking about this when I learned to type on a Thai keyboard layout recently. There are two standards and they are just like Dvorak and Qwerty. You can guess which one is widely used. But even for a foreigner learning to type, it is better to learn the inferior standard layout in case one has to use a computer in the country.
The absurdity here is that everyone using a Thai keyboard can switch to the English Qwerty layout for typing in English, but there's no standard to switch between the two Thai layouts.
Contrast this with Japanese. There is a special faster layout that can be used for typing one kana at a time with symbols on each key, including the numbers. Most people prefer to type using Roman letters, which is slower. However there's no downside to learning the faster method, because all Japanese computers have standard keys to switch between the input methods.
If Dvorak/Qwerty switching worked in a similar standard way on all computers, it would solve the problem of using other people's computers and making learning Dvorak worthwhile.
I'm the person who asked the original question: http://interviews.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=142 551&threshold=1&commentsort=0&tid=154&mode=thread& cid=11945799
9 60
Some of you seem to believe the only "stupid" users would suffer from this bug. In fact the installer made it easy for a user to install to the wrong directory:
Misconception #2:
Users know better than to install Firefox into the root of Program Files rather than a subdirectory, so those who do it wrong deserve their fate.
The installer's UI makes performing the correct action very difficult:
1. The user who wishes to install Firefox to D:\Program Files\Firefox must first navigate to D:\Program Files and then press "Make New Folder", click on the created folder named "New Folder", rename this folder "Mozilla Firefox", and then select this Folder.
*Note*: this is unlike any other Windows installer.
2. Windows 98 users cannot perform the "Make New Folder" step because this button does not exist on the Windows 98 file dialog. See this thread for a screenshot and more info:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=366
3. Other installers automatically create a named installation folder, and users expect Firefox to do the same thing.
4. Some users may attempt to type the name "Mozilla Firefox" into the text box in the file selection dialog. Doing so does not result in the creation of this folder.
*Note*: This is unlike standard Windows intallers, where it does.
Recently I learned of a bug in Windows Firefox versions prior to 1.01 which was fixed in this version. This bug wipes user's hard disks. I've located 15 users who've suffered from this bug.
,MBX Eudora mail files"
Why did it take over *one year* to fix this serious bug?
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=2257 31
The bug only occurs when a user uninstalls Firefox. A user who uninstalls version 1.0 to prepare for installing version 1.01 is vulnerable. Why has the Firefox homepage not been updated to warn all users about this fact, and to offer a safe remedy?
At least 15 people reported the bug. Assuming that 5% of victims would post publicly about it, this would leave around 300 actual victims. Even 5% is probably too high; a 1% estimate would leave around 1,500 total victims. Since the bug only occurs when Firefox is uninstalled, many hundreds or perhaps even thousands of potential future victims exist.
The bug was reported in bugzilla and discussed without fixing for over *one year*. At one point a developer didn't remove the dangerous code because he said "This is not an acceptable solution to force on all users because some people make bad assumptions and then don't read dialogs." Is Firefox truly ready for "the masses" when developers maintain this sort of attitude towards users?
(copy, remove spaces, and paste bugzilla links since they won't work from Slashdot)
Original bugzilla bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id =23362 5
Firefox advocate ivanii attempts to raise concern about this bug (10/07/2004)
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=node/view/2808
Here's links to a few people who suffered from this bug:
1.http://computercops.biz/postp82180.html
Thu Feb 12, 2004
"Using the Firefox uninstaller has deleted almost everything in the Program Files directory..."
2.http://www.terryfrazier.com/1391
10/5/2004
"What idiot writes an uninstall routine that wipes out everything in the parent folder?!"
"This is not some minor issue. This is a show stopper. I mean, damn!"
"..every last vestige of that vile firefox has been eradicated from my registry. "
3.http://sillydog.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4062 6
04 Aug, 2004
"After un install Firefox lost all
4.http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic. php?t=64 871&sid=2d93836acbfea243769078b48c3eff90
2004-03-28
Also posted on Bugzilla as user "Cy"
"This is not a minor inconvience. This is CARNAGE!!! Uninstalling a browser and ending up wiping out almost your entire hard drive."
"This is ruining mozilla's reputation. I now have a distrust of any win installer release by mozilla"
5.rajarajan.sampath final bugzilla victim to post.
2005-02-04
"The uninstaller wiped off, 2/3rd of my programs. This shouldnt be the case, no matter what."
6. Thomas Passin (original buzilla poster)
2004-02-09
"This is DANGEROUS."
7.https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2 42 118
2004-04-29
"...I uninstaled the whole directory "E:/Program Files"!! It wasn't very nice for me..."
8. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=26969 9
2004-11-13
"All my backups and irreplaceble files are now lost.....Thank you for making a shitty uninstaller....i fucking hate you now"
9.https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2 71 805
2004-11-25
"Firefox will deleted all my other program in c:\program files. very unlucky,I did it!!"
10. https://bugzil