Suggestions to make life easier for dialup users.

[Troy McFerron]

I was wondering about the possibility of adding the application
package "gnome-ppp" to the list of packages installed with a default
ubuntu install. I am thinking that a lot of the initial confusion for
dialup users which still make up a good percentage of the people of
this world could be avoided with these three steps:

1) Alongside wvdial, have the gnome-ppp package installed with the
gnome packages.

2) In the gnome "Internet" menu, place a launcher for gnome-ppp with
he gnome globe icon and the name "Dialup Connections".

3) During install, have a script run after the initial user is created
to add said user to the "dip" group in the /etc/group file, so that
the user will not have any issues auto configuring their modem and
connection to the Internet as a user. I don't believe this creates a
security issue. I think it creates a convenience issue. :)

I thought I would bounce these ideas off you guys because I am a
dialup user myself. Luckily, I had all the skills necessary to set
dialup up myself without a graphical tool and get on the Internet to
continue setting my system up.

Many people do not, and if the initial step of getting an internet
connection was made easier, we could see more people sticking with the
OS. Not having an Internet connection is a blocker for all other
troubleshooting and all interesting use of the OS for the average
user. The average user in the world is still using dialup.

Let's cater to them.
--
-Troy McFerron