TerminusEst wrote:
I'm not the community spokesman, and I like the way Linux is built up. As one example, editing a text file is far easier and enjoyable job than editing some registry. But I remember the days when Windows itself also had text files to edit the configs of the system and of the programs. Then, 'cause of technical issues, they created the registry to unify the way to edit those config files. It was wonderful! After that, they screwed up the registry creating those CLSI or something like that. Since this moment the registry became a painful way to edit something on Windows. I prefer the text files and, I think so, most people will find easier to edit a text and humanly (humanly? Not sure if this is the correct way to write it) readable file than the Windows registry. What I'm trying to say is that Windows evolves, though it evolves badly sometimes. I hate Windows myself. I have seen that BSOD more times than the very Bill Gates. And the installation process... oh! God, I think that installation screen has been burned on my retines, 'cause I see it everywhere. In truth, I do not know why Windows has became what it is today. It should have been OS/2 or Mac OS, they are so superior.
I understand, from what I read, that you are afraid of Linux becoming just a Windows clone. This is not my goal. Take Mac OS: it is friendly like Windows (IMO far more friendly) and have the strenghts of the Unix systems. Can you say it is just a clone of Windows? If you someday took a kext file on your hands you won't say that. Linux won't be ruined if, someday who knows, there be a GUI for every command it has on CLI. Why not? If someone here wants a Linux that doesn't have these tools, but just a CLI, well we know there are more Linux distros out there than ants in the world. Some of them will be the way you like. If you don't like a friendly OS, man you are wasting time using Mint, 'cause it IS friendly. The most friendly Linux I have seen in my entire life (no, I don't think Suse of Fedora are more friendly).
Lastly, but not less important, I would like to apologize for the way I acted on my previous post with AK DAVE. Sorry for that.
Thx in advance.
I can agree with all that!
What I do not get is the point that Windows evolves said like Linux does not? Man, how long have you been around? Have you read the nostalgic Linux review that Exploder posted a couple days ago? Here:
http://www.tuxradar.com/content/archive ... stros-2000
This was right around the time I started with Linux. I started with debian and really couldnt figure it out, but I tried. I managed to install it but...A couple years later I moved to RH8. I would say that was really about the first "usable" distro in my experience. I distro hopped until Fedora core 4 when I really got into Linux 100%. I dropped Windows completely, switched my business over from XP, and basically never looked back. I have been very active in the Fedora forum community ever since and I have watched Fedora grow into what Linux is now.
Your impression of what some (including me) are saying is wrong. We want Linux to become easier, more user friendly. You miss the point. Easier does not mean like Windows. You seem to picture us as these grumpy old curmudgeons who dont even use a WM/DE or if we do just use openbox or something. This is so far from the truth, we do use Mint because it is polished and easy. Fedora is NOT an easy distro to use, debian is easier than Fedora despite Linus' opinion. Fedora, by nature is cutting edge and will break quite often. Any given update will leave you without X. Debian is the perfect, vanilla Linux. It is as stable as the day is long. Gentoo is a model of total control, it may be a lot more involved, but the rewards are worth the effort. You want to see what Linux used to be like? What a pure Linux distro would be like? Try slack. You see, it is not one size fits all. Each distro has its place. Yet they are all Linux and with little effort I can pretty much turn one into any other. Maybe excepting package management which would become way too involved. You can use Fedora as a server, you just have to tweak it and accept that you will not be using the latest updates. Debian can be very exciting and cutting edge, just try sid for yourself! A kid can use Gentoo...once it is installed.
I think what you are reading with some of our posts is a sadness because of the lack of some folks perspective. Some have an irrational fear of even opening a terminal; terminalitis. I have seen this so much and I surely do not understand. What is so hard about opening a terminal and pasting a line of code in? Yet this is the roadblock for so many. Should we do away with the terminal in Linux? This question will usually receive a resounding "yes" in certain forums. This is so sad. The terminal is the reason why I moved to linux. The power to fix anything via command line to a config file. What we are saying is just be careful which way Linux evolves. Catering to those with a limited "Windows" mentality just because they perceive a certain way is easier is a huge mistake. There has to be a meeting in the middle of the user and the OS. Like it or not nothing in this world is truly idiotproof, and an OS will never come close.
edit: I have already been long winded but I want to say something else. You know why I left Fedora? It was because of all the new "user friendly" crap they are starting to build. Packagekit, policykit, pulseaudio, going from xorg.conf to HAL policy on everything...This is the result of "trying" to make Linux easier!
Fedora is cutting edge so it sees the first implementation of all this stuff, and let me tell you brother, it is SO screwed up! What used to be a simple gedit in xorg.conf is now a convoluted walk into policyland. What used to be an easy entry into fstab is now an hour long process of trying to get all the separate pieces "talking" to each other. Auto-everything is great until your stuff is not recognized. This is the price for things getting "easier" and this is the reason for my pessimistic outlook in threads like "what will Mint be like in 10 years?" See, I have been there before most Mint users. It is coming to this distro too! Just wait! Hopefully things will work better, be more stable, by the time Ubuntu gets them. But it is all coming. Back in the old days you may have had to google a problem, but then the solution was simple. You typed some cryptic gobbly-gook into a terminal and presto, your new automatic bread butterer was recognized and worked. That was what Linux was all about. I sure am losing sight of what it is these days.