On Jan 24, 2008 9:04 AM, feba thatl febaen@gmail.com wrote:

On Jan 24, 2008 8:32 AM, Jon Pruente jdpruente@gmail.com wrote:

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On Jan 24, 2008 6:40 AM, Luke -Jr luke@dashjr.org wrote:

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http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/423-Yanking-the-Window-Shade...

I saw that pop up yesterday in my RSS feeds. It's an interesting exploration for the Windows-bias in the repair industry. "But, Microsoft wouldn't allow it!"

Jon.

Very interesting read. But permit me to hijack this thread a bit...

What is needed to get this spinning cube effect? I'm not really interested in it myself but some people seem to love it, and i'm hosting an installfest this saturday.

Thanks

On Jan 24, 2008 9:55 AM, Arthur Pemberton pemboa@gmail.com wrote:

Very interesting read. But permit me to hijack this thread a bit...

What is needed to get this spinning cube effect? I'm not really interested in it myself but some people seem to love it, and i'm hosting an installfest this saturday.

Generally, it needs acellerated 3d drivers and Compiz. There is an option in the "Advanced Desktop Effects Settings" Pref item on my Ubuntu install that lets you set the key/mouse combos that activate features. I've got it set for Ctrl-Alt+left click'n'drag to use the mouse to spin the cube, and Ctrl-Alt&left or right to spin from the keyboard. The cube is really just a fncy way to switch virtal desktops but the effect is VERY powerful for people who've never seen it. I can run a video in one desktop, open a browser in another and more and use the mouse to partially spin the cube so you can see that all are still running at all times, even while int he middle of the spin. I think it's a very powerful demonstration of multitasking.

Jon.

On Jan 24, 2008 10:54 AM, Jonathan Hutchins hutchins@tarcanfel.org wrote:

Yeah, neat, but it's not for everybody. I have a good friend, used to do HOWTO's for Comp Services at UMKC - far from computer illiterate. She doesn't want a computer that can do all that sixteen-desktop stuff. Niether does my dad. She uses a Mac and he uses Windows, and they're not going to change. They don't want to, they don't need to.

The issue isn't so much that people may or may not need it, but rather that many people are under the impression that it's not even *possible* if it's not on Windows too. It was happy day for me when Apple put Spaces in 10.5. I like being able to jump around by screens instead of just programs. When you learn what it really does it makes life easier for multitasking. I didn't think I would like tab for browsing, now I use them all the time. I can't stand using Safari because it doesn't have the nifty "Save Windows and Tabs" option. I tend to run with at least 4-5 tabs open at all times. Stack that up with multiple desktops and, well, I start sounds like a power user. I'm not, really, I just have found uses for those features.

For the vast majority of computer users - certainly three out of four - the power and control of Linux are unwanted and unneeded. Windows is fine for them, and I don't want to see Linux dumbed down and crippled so that we can "sell" it to those people - only to have to support, maintain, configure and explain it to them. Let them run Windows.

I put a Ubuntu 7.10 system in a friends home (incidentally the AthlonXP machine Rick gave me replaced the P3 I gave them a few months ago and all I did was swap the HDD over, no reinstall). If I showed them the Compiz effects they could do they'd be very impressed. They are coming from the world of the low-end Win98 machine that the cable company wouldn't even hookup to the cable modem. Personally, they are at a point where it doesn't matter if it's Windows or not, so long as they can run basic games and FireFox. I did absolutely no dumbing down from the Ubuntu install straight off the disc. They have yet to have any transition issue aside from knowing the FireFox gets on the web instead of Explorer. They also have zero fears of viruses, spyware, and other junk. They would normally be a part of the "Let them run Windows" crowd if I hadn't taken the chance to upgrade them to Linux as an experiment.

Me, when I have to try to use a Windows box, I'm twitchy about how little control I have over what's happening. It's actually worse on XP than it was on Mac OS8.

I get the same way. At least on older Mac OS you can know mostly what is going on. i hate having to be wary of the OS I'm running.

Jon.

On Jan 24, 2008 10:54 AM, Jonathan Hutchins hutchins@tarcanfel.org wrote:

On Thu, January 24, 2008 09:04, feba thatl wrote:

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On Jan 24, 2008 8:32 AM, Jon Pruente jdpruente@gmail.com wrote:

http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/423-Yanking-the-Window-Shade...

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I saw that pop up yesterday in my RSS feeds. It's an interesting exploration for the Windows-bias in the repair industry. "But, Microsoft wouldn't allow it!"

Yeah, neat, but it's not for everybody. I have a good friend, used to do HOWTO's for Comp Services at UMKC - far from computer illiterate. She doesn't want a computer that can do all that sixteen-desktop stuff. Niether does my dad. She uses a Mac and he uses Windows, and they're not going to change. They don't want to, they don't need to.

For the vast majority of computer users - certainly three out of four - the power and control of Linux are unwanted and unneeded. Windows is fine for them, and I don't want to see Linux dumbed down and crippled so that we can "sell" it to those people - only to have to support, maintain, configure and explain it to them. Let them run Windows.

Me, when I have to try to use a Windows box, I'm twitchy about how little control I have over what's happening. It's actually worse on XP than it was on Mac OS8.

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That site seems to be down. I found an apparent mirror on google http://www.chineselinuxuniversity.net/news/20935.shtml

Still down.

While I do not want to see Linux dumped down like that either. But seems to me a properly configured Linux desktop is virtually indistinguishable from a Windows desktop to an avg. user