oms101@freeuk.com writes:
So why do I think we stand a chance of fixing the situation? Simple - KDE and GNOME. KDE and Gnome both solve the basic problem of making writing GUIs for applications on Unix a lot easier, making the applications look good and providing all the mod-cons that users expect (internationalisation, drag-drop, object linking etc).
Uh, did we need KDE or Gnome to provide them? Yes, they make some of them rather easier, but the core problems (translators, choice) aren't addressed by those hooge wedges of code in the current top desktop environments. Others (drag-drop) are perfectly possible just from the toolkit level.
- bigots are bad
Agreed.
* pragmatists and enthusiasts are good.
Wrong! Pragmatists are the most terrible thing that we have ever been cursed with. Realists are good, but most pragmatists would sell all the progress we've made with Free software down the river in order to overtake the market leader. Thank $DEITY for fundamentalists to keep the balance.
- The Unix/X desktop has been a mess for the last 10 years+ * Finally there is some movement but there is a long way to go.
Has the movement been in the correct direction, or just following the Jones's though? One of the most innovative interfaces I use is the "wily" text editor, which breaks nearly every "rule" in the accepted traditions of user interface design, but still works because it is very efficient to use.
- For many applications Linux or Unix is a very good choice.
Even some applications on the desktop can be very well fulfilled with Linux. It is difficult to convince people - to the bigots I say don't just argue with people - show them what it can do! And if it can't do what people need retire gracefully and make sure the writers of the applications know about the shortcoming or help add features yourself!
Again, very very true. Remember to scratch your itches, people!