[Dapper] Mouse

[Derek Broughton]

Mario Vukelic wrote:

> You are definitely right in saying that this is a strength of text
> interfaces. I sometimes have to support users in my company, and being
> constrained to the windows GUI, the only thing keeping me sane is
> Netmeeting.
> 
> However, I don't think you are correct in this particular case, and many
> others. "On the top toolbar, click Applications > Add/Remove, then look
> for the app and check it" surely isn't harder to describe as "On the top
> toolbar, click Applications > Accessories > Terminal. Type "apt-get
> update && apt-get install someapp", then press enter.", especially when
> the user has no idea about cmd lines (and yes, I have trained several
> people on the cmd line).

This is the "Ubuntu" user list.  While that implies the majority of users
use Gnome, it's NOT a given.  I don't, and I won't shut up just because
Kubuntu has its own list.
> 
> And if they are newbies, why can't you rely on Synaptic being there?

See above.
> 
> Ubuntu hides the cmd line pretty well, and it has a reason. Otherwise
> everyone could have used Debian anyway.

Perhaps Ubuntu does, Kubuntu certainly doesn't.  I still expect everybody to
be able to find a terminal.  At the very hardest, it's a keyboard shortcut
away.
> 
>> I will continue to preferentially suggest command line options where I
>> know solutions exist using a GUI or CLI, because it _is_ simpler on a
>> mailing list.
> 
> And you are certainly welcome to do that :) I myself however will try to
> gauge the user's level, and try to give the answer that I think will
> give the most benefit. That can be the cmd line in many cases, but in
> basic newbie cases, it will be the GUI because it is like teaching them
> how to fish instead of giving them one.

No, it's not.  It's like teaching them to go to the fish market.  You're
unlikely to actually learn how the fish are caught.

Don't try to mangle metaphors with me ;-)
-- 
derek