From: uaturoff@mcs.drexel.edu (Adam Turoff) Subject: Re: Do you want to see linux replace MSW? Date: 7 Jun 1993 23:19:21 GMT
In article <1993Jun7.170548.26424@klaava.Helsinki.FI> lukka@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Tuomas J Lukka) writes:
>I had a thought about this recently: the reason Ms-windows is so
>much more popular and will be, instead of X is because it's easy.
>There are 'good' (meager) defaults that are well documented.
>
>X-windows is a beast to use if you can't understand resources or so on.
>(Just think about the poor secretary...) so what I propose is:
>form a working group for making a 'polished' X-windows with good
>defaults and documentation about them. Pulling this off would
>greatly aid making linux a 'real choice' in words of the one thread.
In one word, NEXTSTEP.
>I'll shut up now and don my asbestos garments.
>
>NOTE: I don't have time for this effort... however, if someone wants
>to volunteer, I suggest making a mailing list at linux-activists
>and posting info here. I hope someone does.
>
>
> TJL
I agree. Linux could use something better than a programmer friendly, user
hostile windowing system. Look at the Mac. Look at the NeXT. If you insist,
look at Windoze. Each system has a bulletproof GUI that hides the internals
unix-dweebs love so much. They pour a lot of money into R&D and reap a helluvalot
in terms of support and such.
UNIX in general and Linux in particular could stand such a front end. It helps
that X is already available. All that really has to be done is finding a
commited group of people (or a group of people who should be commited!) who are
willing to donate their time and software to make a user-friendly,
programmer-friendly front end to Linux. Can it be done? I don't know, so let's
do it and find out!
The first thing we need is a decent X-based login console, followed by a default
environment of easy-to-use, full featured apps. Just like the NeXT. Just like
SlowWindows on the Sun. Just like HP/UX. Just like nearly everything that's
polished and sold for too much money.
Any takers? I'll start as soon as I upgrade my portable to run Linux.
Adam Turoff.
uaturoff@mcs.drexel.edu