[SLL] Look ma, we're in the papers!

[Jesse Keating]

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:05:04 -0800 (PST)
lmb at l3sys.com (Larry M. Bateman) wrote:

> Bookmarks are handled in a way that makes them extremely difficult
> to utilize. I would say impossible.

Given that OLPC is an opensource project, I'm sure the project would
enjoy your perceptions and suggestions on how to make things better.

> 
> > > Also the system would seem to be difficult to configure,=20  
> > 
> > That's the point, it shouldn't need configuring.  Other than your
> > wifi connection (which is mostly automatic) and maybe your language
> > (which is installed when shipped to the country), everything is
> > supposed to Just Work.  If something needs 'configuration' then
> > it's a flaw and needs to be fixed.  
> 
> That's not my point, exactly. There are ways to configure aspects
> of the system, but it's difficult to do this. If it doesn't "need"
> something it shouldn't be there at all.  I think the need is there,
> and it's so far been inadequately addressed. I think the "shouldn't
> need configuring" argument is bogus.

Perhaps it's bogus in the hands of an adult linux geek, however in the
hands of a child extra knobs and dials are nothing more than
confusing.  The software should just work and do as it is intended.
Anything less is a bug and should be fixed.  The ideal that everything
should have n+ ways to be configured and operate is just a disaster for
usability.

I won't argue that the hardware is better than the software.  Oddly
enough hardware is easier to get right.  Also, hardware doesn't get
lost in translation much from a young child to an adult, but software
certainly can.

-- 
Jesse Keating RHCE      (jkeating.livejournal.com)
Fedora Project          (fedoraproject.org/wiki/JesseKeating)
GPG Public Key          (geek.j2solutions.net/jkeating.j2solutions.pub)
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