Originally Posted by
linuxrocks2009
Konan is 100% correct. Anyone who says that documention would not be viewed by or beneficial to the general public is a RETARD!
To Konan - your post was articulate and well thought out - from a somewhat newbie's perspective, I find linux to be mostly UNDOCUMENTED. Sure - I like a challenge, and figuring something out tends to make me feel good. However, spending six hours trying to figure out how to get a wireless nic working is just insane. I don't mind tinkering with something for an hour or two, but come on...... having to try 20 different solutions to make simple hardware do what it is supposed to do is completely lame. I have a life away from my computer - you know socializing, enjoying relationships, doing physical things, etc. Only a complete shut in with no friends or relations would think that spending six hours on a stupid task that should be done by the software automatically is a good way to spend a day.
I don't care if linux is free - and if every piece of software that was ever written to run on linx was free. Without documentation and more automation - Linux will always be in 2nd, 3rd, or last place. More pressue needs to be applied to hardware developers from the users. I personally have sent very long winded emails to IBM, Atheros, HP, Compaq, and others regarding their lack of commitment to the linux community. Linux is definately here to stay, but I know of many people who have tried it only leave it out of frustration in a very short period of time. Personally, I have come to it and left at least eight times. I am now forcing myself to use only linux for a period of 60 days. Unfortunately, most people are not willing to do this - and I can understand why - it is not productive initially. Somebody once told me as I argued the merits of Linux with them..... "You get what you pay for". He was referring to the cost of most of the distrobutions of linux. While I would generally agree with him for most things, I think you get a hell of a lot more with linux than what you pay for, but hardcore linux users and fans need to remember that the command line WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED by the general public. Did I say NEVER, because I meant to say NEVER EVER!
As for documentation overall, linux is not the only guilty party. Developers do seem to have an aversion to documenting their code. I've always thought this to be dumb. If I wrote a cool program, I would want everyone to know how to use it and to spread the word. I guess caffine, nicotine, and late hours make a person less able to handle writing?
Whateva