On 19-Jun-07 14:51:03, Ruth Bygrave wrote:
How's Linux for UI and consistent keybindings? You realise this will have a big influence on whether I feel 'at home' in it, even practising with a LiveCD.
Regards, (...fights the urge to say 'Or do you all live inside emacs and have four hands apiece?' <gd&r>...) Ruth
Well, I live *with* vim, and have four *fingers* (OK, I have others too, but they're vestigial when it comes to typing).
Consistent keybindings in Linux: When you install, you're asked what kind of keyboard you have (not just the national version, but also e.g. how many keys, plus possibly other variants), and once set up this should work silently. You can always change or add to key-bindings on a per-key basis if you want to.
Perhaps you're referring to use of short-cut key-bindings in a GUI? This tends to depend on which application you're working in, and/or on which window-manager in X you're working with. No fixed rules here, and if you're expecting the kind of uniformly consistent bindings associated with Microsoft and Apple then it will be a bit of a culture shift. However, it's often possible to change these so as to bring them more in line with each other in your own setup.
Since it's beginning to appear that you're new to Linux, Ruth, I have to quote a piece from some years ago, which puts things in perspective.
What if Operating Systems Were Airlines? ======================================== DOS Airlines ------------ Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again, then they push again jump on again, and so on.
Windows Air ----------- The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.
Windows NT Air (Also XP, Vista Airlines) ---------------------------------------- Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.
Mac Airlines ------------ All the stewards, stewardesses, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look the same, act the same, and talk the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are told you don't need to know, don't want to know, and would you please return to your seat and watch the movie.
Unix Airlines ------------- Each passenger brings a piece of the airplane and a box of tools to the airport. They gather on the tarmac, arguing constantly about what kind of plane they want to build and how to put it together. Eventually, they build several different aircraft, but give them all the same name. Some passengers actually reach their destinations. All passengers believe they got there.
Linux Airlines -------------- Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself. When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is: "You had to do what with the seat?"
[OS/2 Airlines, Wings of OS/400, Mach Airlines, Newton Airlines, and BeOS Air omitted since they are no longer flying. However, cannot resist quoting the remaining defunct airline]:
VMS Airlines ------------ The passengers all gather in the hanger, watching hundreds of technicians check the flight systems on this immense, luxury aircraft. This plane has at least 10 engines and seats over 1,000 passengers. All the passengers scramble aboard, as do the necessary complement of 200 technicians. The pilot takes his place up in the glass cockpit. He guns the engines, only to realise that the plane is too big to get through the hangar doors.
So now you know where you are!
Ted.
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