From: "Joe Barr" 

On Tue, 26 Nov 2002 08:03:53 +0000, Antti Kurenniemi wrote:

> Having just a while ago installed Mandrake 9.0 as a complete nuubie,
> perhaps I should comment a few things. Note that these are from a
> Linux-rookie, who happens to pretty much like Windows 2000 the way it is
> now.
>
> 1. The installation was good. Only thing, it was a bit over-decorated, so
> the real information seemed to be a bit difficult to find from under all
> that cute stuff (a few lines of text at the bottom of the screen, while a
> huge part of the screen displayed flashy pictures).

Just last week I had done the Xandros install, which hides almost
everything.  I noted some things I wish had been explicitly stated, like
the amount of free space available, but in general I think it walked a
consistant path.  Too much information is the usual rookie complaint.

> 2. After the installation, this thing is a mess. There are three zillion
> of everything, and nothing has been named so that it would mean anything.
> No documents are easily available, but everything must be dragged out from
> under rocks. It's very cool that I have three fax programs and seven text
> editors, but what are their differences and *why* do I need so many of
> those? Confusing, and definately geared for Linux-enthusiastics.

I'm afraid that one part of Linux that is never going to change is choice.
Mandrake offers plenty of choices.  For those who are used to not having to
choose, it can be a problem.  But maybe the first time you pick a tool, use
it for awhile, and then find another one for the same task that is much
more to your liking, you'll change.  After all, once you've made your
choice, you can get rid of the others.  The point being that you have
decided instead of having some idiot in Redmond deciding for you.

You know those idiots, I presume.  They are same buttstupid insipid
assholes who designed email and browser clients that are nothing more than
greenhouse incubators for viruses and worms.  They made those choices for
you.  And since most states won't allow you to smash their frigging heads
in without a license to kill vermin, you're pretty much stuck.

> 3. Try changing your network card, and the fun ends. I can't believe this
> thing doesn't have anything like plug'n'play, not even a plug'n'pray. It
> took a person who is used to fiddling with Linux a good hour to wake it
> up, and after the next startup it was gone again (the new network card,
> that is).

I'm really surprised that Mandrake doesn't have automatic hardware
detection like Red Hat's kudzu.  For example:

http://www.msu.edu/service/sns/linux/redhat_ethernet_config.html

addresses exactly the situation you are speaking about.

I'll have to remove my PCMCIA NIC later today and replace it with my
wireless card to see how Mandrake handles that change in environment.

> What Linux (or more specifically, Mandrake 9) needs, IMO, is to be cleaned
> of all the extra stuff (six of the seven text editors must go), and the
> geeky naming has to be changed (KPager? KRuler? I see that KDVI is a DVI
> viewer, but what the hell is DVI and why would I want to view it?) to
> something that makes sense to the user.

Those names are from KDE, I think.  That's why the theming with K in front,
like Gnome apps sometimes come as Gwhatever: GPhoto, GAIM, Getc. I think
George also complained about the names being funny in Linux.  I gather it
is part of the culture shock involved in moving to a free software
environment.

> I think the initial installation time is a moot point, if the rest is a
> mess. Also, this thing is a lot slower in normal use than W2k, at least on
> this computer.

I agree that in your case it probably is moot.  Ditto with those who have
similar reactions.  But all around the world people are moving to Linux in
great numbers, and for them the installation is a critical part of that
migration.  Then too there is all the FUD around Windows being easier to
install.  That's a lie that I am enjoying smashing to smithereens in this
series on installations.

See ya,
Joe Barr


>
> Antti Kurenniemi
> (not completely a happy camper)
>
> Joe Barr wrote:
>>
>>  The pluses for Mandrake installation are its speed and the absolute
>>  ease of obtaining and applying updates. It completely obliterates the
>>  Windows contenders in both the update category and the installation of
>>  attached devices.
>>
>> http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2002/1125.barr2.html --

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