There is. There're network managers in most Linux distros. And what was the last Ubuntu you used?

I just used Ubuntu 8.04 today. There are network managers. But it isn't step by step and the terminology isn't clear cut for the average user. Sure I could open up the Network Manager, but right away I'm confused... especially because I have to Unlock it. The average user would be confused. Then I gotta know what my wireless networks name is? What the hell? I couldn't find something as simple as, "Find wireless networks in range". Then again maybe it does do that but there's nothing I can click on to show me that because I couldn't even get my wireless adapter working.
While there is a network manager, there should be something as simple as "Set up network" I can click on. Not "Network Manager". One of the most important pieces of technical writing is Commands/Verbs/Actions.

But I didn't just mean that for just wireless networks. I mean that for everything. There should also be a little tour thing that guides you throw and introduces each program and where to find them

Edit: For example, take a look in Windows Xp in "My Network Places".
On the left side i'm presented with Commands.
View Network Connections
Set up a home or small office network
Set up a wireless network for a home or small office
View workgroup computers.

See how each one is a command? Ubuntu needs a professional technical writer to come in and do things like this for Ubuntu.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on May 6 2008, 2:34 am by Cole.

Mac OS 9.2.2
Mac OS 10.4.11
Ubuntu 8.04
Windows XP
Windows Vista

No matter which operating system wins, I win, because I use them all bitches!

But yet you lose because so much space is wasted.

Arch Wins.

Cole, while in some points I agree, I think that Ubuntu does a better job then Windows at this. While I do agree that there should be a better way to set up printers, wireless, etc. that haven't been specifically looked at by developers, like maybe a large automated database that determines which drivers work best for unsupported hardware, removing much googling effort, as well as a welcome window that leads you through the steps. Although I still don't think Windows does a good job at this. The biggest problem with Windows' system is that if you don't know where to look for something right away, you'll be looking for hours, because there is no consistancy in their settings.

teh vista

Ubuntu 8.04 and Mac OS 10.4.11 is on my iBook, and Windows XP is at school. Mac OS 9.22 is on my desktop, and Vista is at future shop!
I use them all...

Of course the only reason you still use OS9 is resedit, right?

No, I use it for Starcraft, and kickass map making.

I would agree that Windows doesn't do an amazing job at this either. However, Windows simply has had the market share for so long that people have gotten better with it; Windows 95 vs Xp... a lot of the basic organization is the same. That's really helped it out. Combined with there's a lot more places that offer help with configuring Windows.

If Ubuntu just had some technical writers to redesign the interface and procedures, I think it would really be able to impress the mainstream like Os X has been. Throw in the fact that it's free. Os X biggest issue is that it's only available through Apple and on Apple Computers (without problems) causing it to grow slower (overpriced don't help), however it keeps Apple in more control.

So why don't you volunteer?


I wish OS X had resedit.

You use OS X?

Asking me to be a technical writer would be is smart as leaving your little boy with Michael Jackson. I'll rape it. English was not my best subject. It was my worst subject.

No, but I have several retarded friends that do, and I am forced to use it at their houses.

Wine is not an emulator (hence the name). It can be used with an emulator to work on a non-x86 cpu, but it is not an emulator itself. It is not a virtualization layer either. Wine is an implementation of the Windows API to allow Windows programs to run on the API of another operating system. In other words, you could call it a wrapper for running Windows programs.

The steps involved when running a program through Wine include loading the program into memory, setting the pointers in the program's imports table, loading dependencies, etc.; the same steps Windows has to go through. A program running in Wine can still access anything on the OS that is running, if it knows how to do so.

I know all this, the point is it's still a lot messier than running them natively.

Well to me Vista is like pretty to use and everything. I haven't exactly seen much of a problem with it personally, because i haven't just sat down and used it for over 10 minutes. I'll have to do that before I can actually really give an honest opinion about it. All I hear is that there is a LOT of confirmation boxes.

Which you can disable!!

Pretty yes, but linux/mac have been that way for a while.

If you're a windows xp user going to windows vista of course its going to seem better. But if you've used anything else you're going to be a bit more spoiled than that.

Going from Mac to Vista makes me go *Awww yeah* everytime. Going back and from Linux or XP is indifferent.