Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:03:31 -0500 From: <dashevil@sympatico.ca> To: <freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Re: Desktop FreeBSD Message-ID: <20040308210331.CDPV20549.tomts14-srv.bellnexxia.net@smtp.bellnexxia.net>
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> > From: Joao Schim <j.schim@netmaniacs.nl> > Date: 2004/03/08 Mon AM 06:38:41 EST > To: dashevil@sympatico.ca > CC: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org > Subject: Re: Desktop FreeBSD > > On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 1:39:52 -0500 > <dashevil@sympatico.ca> wrote: > > > [This isn't offtopic, I just rant a bit first, sorry :p] > > > > Like Joe Sixpack is ever gonna install an OS by himself. > Why concentrate on the installer bit when talking about GUI enhancement ? > Yes, when using windows (or redhat for that matter) you get to reinstall > your OS quite often, with FreeBSD on the other hand it is a rare occasion. > So why spill so much energy on something so little used ? > I am against Joe Sixpack using FreeBSD. The reason I would argue for a GUI installer is that it makes the whole package appear to be more polished. No I don't need it, no I don't have a problem with sysinstall, nut if we were to make a seperate Desktop/Workstation FreeBSD ISO A GUI installer would definately give the whole package more value. Remember this, the installer is the FIRST thing a new user sees of the OS, it is his/her first impression. Undermining it's importance is a mistake, I believe. > I'd say you need to concentrate on a desktop environment when you want > more userbase. Kick out crashy KDE and must-be-1337 gnome and create a > decent environment created around the user instead of around technology. > I really doubt the gnome or kde guys ever heard of usability. > I'm not saying windows is all that, definitely not, but kde/gnome are just > a nightmare for not-so-technical users. > I am of the belief that this is because they are too used to Windows. Most of the problems I've found people having are 'Where is this?' and 'How can I do this?'. Why are they complaining? Because it's not layed out the same way Windows is. I think KDE and GNOME are steps up from the Windows GUI in terms of usability, and that if you were to have someone start with Linux/GNOME or Linux/KDE and use that for a few years, were they ever to touch the Windows UI they would curl back in disgust. > Besides that i can't really imagine why anybody would still believe that > the 'windows method' of seeing files as icons and such are the way to go. > After all those years there must have been a better method developed. > I personally can't think of one. Do you have any ideas? > Lets just take that and put it in a new BSD licensed desktop environment. > Or atleast build a solid API for UI calls system wide. > > Yeah yeah, i'll go back to sleep now, continue dreaming. :) > As much as I'd love to see that happen, I doubt we'll find anyone to do it.
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