On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 20:53:42 +0000, 0versight wrote:

> J Boehm wrote:
>> Which is an intuitive X-windows setup for a user who has grown up in the
>> Microsoft world. I need to configure a box for kids and they are not used
>> to Linux. What should work is: USB, camera connection, MP3 player
>> connection, printer, a messenger and, of course, a browser. It would be
>> best just clicking on some icons.
>> Sorry for asking, I am used to the commandline in X-terminals and may be
>> too demanding when I configure the box.
>>
>> Thanks / JB
>
> Sounds like gnome or KDE would be a perfect fit for you. But since there
> is speculation that Slackware might not include gnome in the future, you
> might be better off using KDE. KDE has alot of programs that should
> handle what you need, although Im not sure about the mp3 player, but if
> it is popular then there should be something for it.

I cut my teeth on fvwm2, I've tried gnome, I've tried KDE, I've tried
fluxbox, and about the only difference I've noticed is the attributes of
the widgets and how much less or more of a PITA each is to get it to
behave the way I like it.

I've settled on KDE, mostly because it's just easiest. I could mention
"bloat," but I haven't had to wait for anything yet other than large
image loads, which have nothing to do with the desktop manager, and
I can keep my desktop as tidy as I like.

And there _are_ features that $UNMENTIONABLE has, that make the 'pute
act more like your servant[0] - little convenience features, which, after
all, that _has_ been the primary focus of their entire marketing strategy
- throw programmers at the GUI. I _like_ being able to right-click my
taskbar, or system tray, or panel, or whatever you call it, and add/remove
apps and stuff. And I like being able to drag icons around on toolbars.
And KDE gives me all those things, and more. And it's free!

Interestingly, they're not even paying me. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich
[0] Yeah, I know - just tell it what you want with .rc files. Well,
I mean, more like a servant that I don't have to go to school to
learn how to give orders to. :-)
R.

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_.-In alt.os.linux.slackware, notbob wrote the following -._
> Is the problem you or the kids?

I was thinking the same thing. If adults can learn linux then kids
can too.

> In India, a major computer company stuck bullet-proof computers in
> the security walls surrounding their mega-mfg
> campus so that just a keyboard and a monitor faced outward into the the
> crippling poverty stricken surrounding neighborhood. No instructions, no
> user's manual, just a keyboard and a screen in a mud motif kiosk. Those
> kids were all over those terminals like white on rice. Some kids were
> already doing serious low-tech hacking within days.

The "Hole in the Wall" project. Dispite being featured on Slashdot it
was a really good project.

- --
.-')) asciipr0n.com/fp ('-. | It's a damn poor mind that
' ..- .:" ) ( ":. -.. ' | can only think of one way to
((,,_;'.;' UIN=66618055 ';. ';_,,)) | spell a word.
((_.YIM=Faux_Pseudo :._)) | - Andrew Jackson
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_.-In alt.os.linux.slackware, Rich Grise wrote the following -._
> I cut my teeth on fvwm2, I've tried gnome, I've tried KDE, I've tried
> fluxbox, and about the only difference I've noticed is the attributes of
> the widgets and how much less or more of a PITA each is to get it to
> behave the way I like it.

The problem wasn't the amount of time it took you to tweek the setup
of each one to the way you like. The problem was that you had the
ability to tweek them and so you did. People who know Windows
exclusivly would never think of doing anything other than changing the
colors and the size of the widgets. People who started on Win XP
might get the idea that they can use different "themes" but they still
only have the four following options:
________ ________ ________ ________
| ____ | | \ / | | | | |
| | | | | \../ | | () | | |
| |____| | | /'`\ | | | | ====== |
|________| |_/____\_| |________| |________| :F_P:

original_content_ratting++

- --
.-')) asciipr0n.com/fp ('-. | It's a damn poor mind that
' ..- .:" ) ( ":. -.. ' | can only think of one way to
((,,_;'.;' UIN=66618055 ';. ';_,,)) | spell a word.
((_.YIM=Faux_Pseudo :._)) | - Andrew Jackson
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Thanks to all for the advice. KDE seems to win for useability. The problem
with kids is also peer pressure so they have a natural tendency to use
what most other people use.
JB

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J Boehm <danube@cwcom.delete.net> trolled:
>
> Thanks to all for the advice. KDE seems to win for useability.
> The problem with kids is also peer pressure so they have a
> natural tendency to use what most other people use.

Kids prefer the OS that works for them. Far more kids software,
esp. games, have been written for windoze than linux.

Remember, the best OS is the one that runs the software you want to
run.

cordially, as always,

rm

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