One of the reasons Linux is making compratively little progress in the
destop is because distributions act like if they wanted using Linux on
the desktop being a nightmare.
For instance let's take a look at a common task for the desktop user:
since he could have coworkers who still use an MS box he could want
mount Windows shares . The first thing we notice is that the
application for doing so is nowhere to be seen in the user's desktop.
In fact it is not part of the default installation and in fact it is
not even part of the base distribution. It is buried at the deepest,
deepest end of PowerTools.
The second thing you notice is that the application shipped (Gnomba)
is completely brain damaged: it probes one by one a range of
addresses. This can only work on very small networks like in family
networks. However if you happen to be in a big network (I am in a
class B one) or if many addresses are not responding because you are
in a DHCP-controlled network or some of the boxes are powered down
then Gnomba will need hours to scan the network
So please next time instead of Gnomba ship one of the real
applications for this task: Knetmon and LinNeigborhood who happen to
use sensible methods, ie asking the master browser, for finding
Windows or Samba boxes around. And please put it under the spotlights
like Corel did.
--
Jean Francois Martinez
Project Independence: Linux for the Masses
http://www.independence.seul.org
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