Advocacy vs Technical advice[Was: Software Installs]

[Duston, Hal]

Ray Holmes [mailto:raymond.holmes at communitech.net] wrote:

--snip info about where the applications are stored on the fs--

> when you can, break away from kde/gnome and come into the light 
> with windowmaker or ice. they are super lightweight. kde and 
> gnome are getting as heavy and resource-piggish as windows. wm 
> will also give you a better sense of the filesystem.

Ray, I'm not really picking on you here, but rather the replies to 
some of the last few threads, and you are convenient.  :-)

But you didn't answer his question.  You advocated he change his 
window manager.  

I suspect his problem is that the application _is_ installed, and 
isn't present on any menu anywhere in the window manager he is 
already using.  There is a fine line between when advocacy is 
called for and when technical advice is called for.  Unfortunately 
I am unable to provide the technical advice Rick needs here, but 
perhaps as I have (I hope) accurately restated his problem, someone 
else will be able to assist him.

Oh, and by the way, I am using something that is _much_ lighter 
weight than windowmaker or ice.  It's called "console" :-)
 
> Rick wrote:
> > 
> > I consider myself a seasoned "newbie" and do ok with Linux 
> > and am adapting to gnome now instead of KDE. Can anyone help 
> > me remove this MS ball and chain so I can convert to Linux full 
> > time? I am unable to install software on Redhat 7.1 server. I 
> > have tried Sun's Star Office 5.2, Netscape 6.1, Lime Wire, and 
> > Adobe Acrobat reader.  The installs give me no errors but 
> > afterwords I can not find anywhere to launch the application. 
> > If I try to reinstall I get message that application is already 
> > installed. I have tried the installs as root as well as on my
> > account. I have checked for help on Sun's web site,
> > www.thelinuxgurus.org, and www.Slashdot.com.
> > 
> > Thank you
> > Rick Sobba
> -- 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Ray Holmes
> Programmer Analyst
> 1-800-WEB.HOST ext 4920

Hal Duston
Webmaster KCLUG