[PLUG] Re: tangent warning - newbie POV

[jeff <jeffv@op.net>]

Good day.  My name is Jeff and I've been here for exactly two days.  I 
figured there was no time like the present to stick my [insert body part] 
into things...


> aside, there is absolutely a place for graphical
> interfaces. In fact, if it weren't for the often maligned 'GUI',
> computers would be nothing more than an interest of introverts and

Agreed in triplicate.


> geeks. You're falling into a dangerous mindset. Just because _you_ don't
> personally use something, or like it, doesnt mean it has no place on a
> 'real' computer.

Hell, people even use MACS :)


> This allows them to get on with the real objective.
> Getting their work done with minimal fuss (for them) and without having
> to learn a myriad of commands/switches.

extremely well stated and reasoned.



> The hatred for the GUI shown by the 'hardcore' self proclaimed 'real
> unix' users disgusts me.

It's kinda funny to me.
I've been messing with computers since back before the 8088.  I hated 
Windows when it came out because the GUI was a resource hog.  However it 
was inevitable.  These days I'm thankful for Mr Gates because his shoddy 
products enable me to make a living.

I've been curious about linux for years.  The latest editions of Windows 
confirmed for me that it's worth whatever I have to do to get free from the 
Redmond Menace.  I have managed to get RH7.3 and Mandrake 8 up and running 
on 2 boxes (the installation interfaces have improved incredibly).  If I 
didn't have a computer background and good instincts I don't think I would 
have made correct decisions though (so what if I install it over my Windows 
partition?).

So I have a box with linux and it's running.  Checking through the 
networking, I manage to get it working with my cable modem, prompting the 
purchase of a router.  Every time I need to do something I wind up 
researching it, making it a great learning experience but slow in general.

It's stable, looks vaguely familiar, and I even use the terminal inside the 
GUI a bit.  I'm tempted to say that `they' need to improve the usability if 
they want the Great Unwashed to use it, but let's face it - the Unwashed 
have a lot of trouble with Windows by itself.


> useful to an admin or a kernel hacker, doesnt mean it has no merit. Not
> everyone _wants_ to be an admin.

I really love computers, but ultimately they're a device to get things 
done.  I made a list of important things I do on my W2k box and am trying 
to see if I can do them all on the RH box without major grief.  So far so 
good.  And so slow.


> It makes new users feel inferior and appologetic.

:)


> Arguing the
> superiority of the commandline vs the GUI is absurd. There is a reason
> we have both.

Sure is - the GUI serves to slow down the computer :)


> You walk into Wawa to get a sandwich. You're confronted by a terminal

grep sandwich
less onions
cat nutrition | more


> Who cares if your sandwich ordering system has an uptime of 500 days and you
> can remotely admin 1000 of them from your bedroom

Damn, there's *another* great job for me!



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