While I am not advocating the removal of programs as the subject of the thread does
I am:
1) As a KDE distro, then KDE apps should be the defaults ie: web: Konqueror, email: Kmail, etc..
2) Include other clients all you want. Fill up the DVD with 5-6 email, browsers, etc.. that's fine with me. Everyone can easily make their choice from the programs included.
3) If the aforementioned programs were not on the distro, I wouldn't miss them.
There's an underlying point in all this....
Is the
user community of the distro going to have any input at all in what direction the distro heads or is it strictly Boo & the dev team? Input here and the suggestions thread...what amount of that "community" input was used?
While I vehemently disagree with the poll results here
, the "community" has spoken.
Fine, so be it. KControl and correct it.
Its not going to take to long before the minority of the community will say "this distro no longer meets my needs/goals" and moves on.
KMint utpo Elyssa meets my needs for the most part, a few customizations like Kmail and some Konqi settings and things are back to "right."
I am very grateful of the time, effort, blood, sweat, tears that Boo and others put into the KMint version. I suggest KMint any chance I get for newcomers and old timers of Linux.
Unfortunately I will be parting ways come Felicia it appears from the comments I am seeing, that's depressing. I moved desktops at home, office and laptop to Elyssa and/or Darnya, but Felicia KMint and I are not compatible
(4.x
).
As a community member I and others (I don't speak or post for others, I am taking a guess based on posts) would like to have at least a modest amount of input on what happens in the KMint Distro (so your understand my perspective there is only one Linux Mint, KMint, the KDE Version, the other version I am sure is a fine distro, but its not for me due to many things starting with that g word
)
Theres a few things I think Boo & The KMint Devel team should decide such as ISO Image will be a DVD.
Community decided items:
OpenOffice Version - I prefer to have the latest released, 3.x
KDE - NOT TOUCHING THIS. My position is well known here, and I am in the minority.
Programs - I am of the opinion I've got ~ 3G of space after the base distro stuff, FILL IT UP!
Codecs - decss, MP3, WMA, etc. MUST be on the DVD. And no I don't support having a version that doesn't have these.
At least put up a poll and take into account the view point of the "community."
If the decision is not that same as the community, EXPLAIN IT. Don't "We decided KMail will not be added to the ISO."
Same here. "Xyz likes thunderturd, so its the default. Use KControl and change to your preferred client."
Explain why! COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION. Lack of it is just as bad as too much. I may not agree with your decision, opinion or reasons for your decision, but at least the facts are out on what happened. Not some dark back room secret that this or that theory, some anon post "I am on the dev team, but can' t post, but abcde1234 hates Kmail and despises rec9140, so NO KMAIL FOR YOU!" Even if thats the truth, post it. Take a number on my despised list,
I think the next is 6billion and some change.
I missed the day when "how to win friends and influence people" was the topic.
(ok ok, I know, you have the possibility for changing everything after install if you want, but the default config, apps... are very important and they can make a user will like or not the distro and so if he/she will use it for example... The first impression is an important thing)
I'm saying that all opinions, propositions are important and welcome, that users must be able to give their opinion etc and this is not good for you? Of course I can give only my opinion, but maybe you, you can talk for someone else than for you...? (it's a little joke, not be taken too seriously 
)
I should of checked better. I must of been in a big hurry that day. Its been awhile and I cant remember exactly what I said before, so I will try again to contribute. Again my apologies. 