Re: Improvement in Freeview tuning functionality

In article <rq2a86lctbgr1au1rnhkbbqmkcn6a0blkp@xxxxxxx>, Java Jive
<java@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In the light of my experiences both then and since with both Windows and
Linux installations, most particularly my struggle over the last two
days to get DNS working in Suse 11, I really don't see it 'inflicting'
as a fair word, no matter how humorously intended!

Your response does indicate a sense-of-humour failure. :-) You have my
sympathy if you've had problems.

FWIW I've installed a number of different Linux distros here on three
different machines. They all connected out-of-the-box.

My current Win2k build can be put on a PC via the network or from
another drive or partition within about 20 - 40 mins depending on the
method and its speed, and after a further 5-10mins of fully automated
self-configuring is ready to go on the internet. At the time it was
built it was fully updated, but inevitably since there have been a few
patches that would now have to be installed on first connecting. Say
1-2 hours for a complete rebuild, with all relevant OS and software
updates, with, most importantly, existing data remaining intact.

This level of automation just doesn't seem to be possible with a Linux
build.

When was the last time you tried, say, Unbuntu? The order of an hour seems
about right IIRC for installing something like Ubuntu here. So comparable
with what you say above. Although small distros like Crunchbang are far
quicker.

For one thing there are at least 3 different disk formats in
use, many or most of which are only partially supported even by the
different Linux distros,

Maybe it is being acclimatised to Windows that leads you to react in that
way. :-)

Yes various Linux disros can be asked to use a very wide range of disk
formats. And with many distros almost any other disk formats and filing
systems can be run and recognised if you wish. The point is that you have a
*choice* in the matter. Not that the people who sold you the OS are
controlling/restricting what you may do.

But the chances are that by default you'd let the automated installer use a
common one like ext3 if you use a popular distro. And although many are now
suggesting ext4 or some other format, my understanding is that you can
generally say you want ext3 (or whatever you prefer) if wary of other
formats. But it is *your choice* of distro, etc.


Most hypocritically of all, the various criticisms that Linux fans often
ascribe to Microsoft are often copied by Linux installations ...

Have to pass on that as I haven't said anything about it and you are just
making a sweeping assertion. So I guess you are arguing with someone else!
:-)


And just as Microsoft is accused of 'DLL Hell' where different pieces of
software require different, incompatible versions of ostensibly the same
DLL, so in Linux, when I tried to upgrade FF2 to FF3 on my previous
Linux build, I ended up in a dependency hell I could not resolve except
by installing a newer version of Linux.

Without examining the details of how you "tried to upgrade" I can't comment
on that. Nor am I an expert on such matters. But standard methods like
apt-get, etc, should resolve such problems.

And just as Microsoft is accused of 'bloatware', of numerous unnecessary
applets and facilities that aren't really needed, so this problem is
compounded to absurd extremes in Linux, where you have a choice of many
different desktops, with all their dependant files which duplicate many
functions which more properly should belong with and be standardised as
part of either the OS or the Office Suite. So much choice, and yet
there still isn't a decently intuitive text editor that compares with,
say, Textpad.

Not sure if you are complaining about choice here, or simply that you like
one thing and want something identical you haven't found. I can sympathise,
though, because my favourite general file editor is DeskEdit (RISC OS) as
this makes it easy to examine and edit all kinds of fine - text, raw data,
etc. Not yet found anything as simple and flexible on Linux yet. But still
keeping my eye open. And Gedit seems OK to me for simple text or 'C'.
Although I only write fairly simple programs, etc.

Which text editors have you tried?

And just as Microsoft's GUI now substitutes 'style' for 'substance' as
defined by ergonomic usability, so we see the most prominent of such
stylistic features of Windows, such as menu animations and
two-dimensional Start Menus, being aped in Linux, often even more
tastelessly, if that's possible. For example, at least, AFAIAA, Windows
has never gone in for that ultimate in unnecessary absurdity, that f*ing
irritating bouncing mouse pointer!

Ah, the paper clip effect, eh? ;->

Maybe you should try CrunchBang. I agree with you that the latest fads in
Gnome, KDE, etc for flashy effects are daft. So I don't use them. Have you
not noticed that the choice Linux provides means you don't need to install
or use such effects? When I install a distro, if it has fancy effects I
just switch them off, choose furniture I like, and use ROX, etc.

But my comment was *humourous*. Since you are not an American I guess you
won't think that "irony" means "contains iron". :-)

FWIW My recent experience with Ubuntu and other debian based distros has
been much easier than what you report. [1] No problems installing
'automatically' and quickly. No problems with connecting. And a range of
software that is quite impressive. Similar for other distros I tried. In
general they all worked, but didn't all have the features, etc, I
preferred. Hence I chose on the basis of what seemed to suit me best.

So far as I can see, my main problems have been looking though the options
for distro and programs to find the best from the rest as there are so many
options.

Example. I didn't think I'd be able to find a desktop scientific graph
plotting package I'd like as much as !Tau (RISC OS). But then found Veusz
which I think is excellent. However it did mean I had to keep an eye out
and try various possibilities until I discovered the one I liked. So far as
I can see, this is simply that different people prefer different things.
Hence choice is good - but the users do have to look if they aren't simply
going to accept the Lowest Common Denominator of software.

Slainte,

Jim

[1] FWIW I have stuck with the 2009 versions of Ubuntu, etc.

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
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