[PLUG] The end of Mint KDE edition

[Rich Shepard]

On Sat, 12 May 2018, Dave Lien - W7DAL wrote:

> Thanks for the comments. I came up the same route with Red Hat, Mandrake, 
> SUSE, Slackware and a dozen others along the way. But currently recommend 
> MINT to newbies since it is hassle-free to install and update, looks a lot 
> like windows (yea I know...) and meets the needs of almost everyone at that 
> end of the learning curve. Their needs are simple and straightforward.

Dave,

   I first used fvwm2 as the linux X window manager; it was too much like M$
and I quickly found Xfce which I've used since then. For me, computers are
tools: means to an end, not an end in themselves.

   Slackware installations and upgrades continue to be 'hassle-free' as long
as one reads and follows the directions.

> I still miss the command line days of MSDOS and LDOS so relate to those who 
> prefer it in Linux.

   Having used 80-column Hollerith punch cards for S/360 FORTRAN code and JCL
(Job Control Language) system commands, punched tape on DEC VAXes, and the
command line on Primes and other mini-computers it's more efficient for me
(a touch-typist thanks to Army Intelligence School training during the
Vietnam war).

> But the overwhelming percent of Linux users are probably looking for the
> simplest and most effective way to get their job done with the least
> amount of hassle.

   This can be the command line or the graphical interface. Both are
effective and likely depend more on how one grew up. Those too young to have
used typewriters (electric or manual) and know only their pocket computers
(a/k/a 'smartphones') prefer pictures. Each to their own taste. Linux offers
choices (sometimes too many) whereas Microsoft and Apple offer none to a
few.

> Now that there is lots of relevant high-volume end user software available
> IMHO that's the only way Linux will accelerate its acceptance...

   I think this holds true regardless of the underlying system distribution.
On many end-user mail lists (e.g., GnuCash) the most cries for help come
from those running some flavor of windoze or a ubuntu. I've a friend who
knows very little about computers but she's been running Slackware with Xfce
on her laptops for many years now. Of course, this makes it real easy for me
to keep it upgraded and security patched. Virtually every issue she
encounters comes from the the fingers on top of the keyboard, not the system
itself.

Carpe weekend,

Rich