[SATLUG] Video Drivers

[Geoff]

Daniel J. Givens wrote:
> pixelnate wrote:
>   
>> Even editing an xorg.conf or sources.list file is beyond the average
>> computer user. As long as even this kind of minor editing of
>> configuration files exists, linux will not gain mainstream attention for
>> the desktop.
>>     
>
> When was the last time you had to edit an xorg.conf by hand? Also,
> sources.list can be managed with a GUI in most cases. If desktop linux
> is the goal, then a distro that is aimed at that goal should be used.
>   

last week, when I was trying valiantly to get gnome, or kde to work in 
ubuntu. 

Linux isn't for the technologically challenged.  Not yet, anyway.

>   
>> But to install software on Windows all you need to do is double-click
>> the .exe file. To get rid of the app you use add/remove. You don't have
>> to worry about dependencies, and you never have to compile anything.
>> Linux packaging geeks really need to unite under a universal autopackage
>> type of system that make software installation as easy.


>> As of Ubuntu 6.10 (Dapper, i.e. the last release before Feisty), you had
>> to recompile the kernel to get the latest nVidia drivers installed.
>>     
>
> I never did. The only thing I recompiled my kernel for in the past three
> releases was to add POSIX ACL support to NFS.
>   

But, isn't that the point?  The simple fact that you had to, is -light 
years- ahead of -some- people, and therefore enough to turn someone who 
would otherwise be glad to be away from a M$ product, yet are 
technically intimidated by editing config files, or running update 
programs that aren't done automatically for them, or (heaven forbid!) 
compile their kernel!  Oh, the SHOCK AND HORROR!

THESE are the people that Linux developers need to cater to, -if- they 
want to achieve -any- of the market share that M$ so enjoys these days.  
Don't get me wrong - it's getting better all the time, but since 1991, 
it seems to be a long time in coming.

(as an aside, I just saw bits and pieces of 'Swordfish' the other night, 
and fired up bttorrent-curses, got the file, and watched in on my XP box 
(*.avi) and noted that they used Linux Torvolds name as the #1 hacker in 
the country... who eventually got shot - good movie!)