Open source solutions

I have a couple questions that are vaguely related to programming. Lately I've been trying out open source software and really making an effort to appreciate the value that it brings to the table. The problem is this: It continues to fall short of my expectations one way or another.

And that's not like "durr hurr it shud b winders," this is simply basic things relating to a positive user experience. Something that is not difficult to do, but the programmer said, "Well, fuck the user."

My questions are the following:

1. Why is it so hard to put usability in mind? I really don't mind if OpenOffice doesn't have every single feature that MS Office does, for example, but it lacks ways to do what you want quickly when compared with the other product.

You could, perhaps, compile the source yourself with the accelerations you want, but that's a waste of time and extra maintenance costs, bottom line. Cheaper than playing Microsoft's game? Definitely. Does any user actually want to do this? None that are interested in getting things done.

I installed Fedora the other day, and the partition formatter actually gave me options that it refused to enact. If Linux is supposedly about power over your machine, it should either shut the fuck up and do it or not give you these options at all. I did not notice this on my first time through, however, because at that point, I only used the default options (which apparently caused my system to somehow fail to boot into a Windows setup CD, which is why I went spelunking into the options).

I found using it to be a crapshoot at best. Upon first boot into root, it kept flashing this annoying tool tip in the system tray once per second and prattled on about some segfault error that I couldn't have possibly caused because it was my first boot into root and I used pretty much default install settings.

I felt that I would be better served by booting into my user, so I tried that. It said that it found wireless connections and that I could connect if I clicked the tip. I thought, "Okay, let's try that and get on IRC." Turns out that it didn't connect at all. I had to manually set up a wireless connection, go figure. I thought that when it said it would connect, it would actually connect. Novel concept.

2. Am I just not using the right products (even though I feel that I'm testing fairly reputable open source solutions)? Is there some free grand directive that prevents open source solutions from being as useful and awesome as they could be?

The Linux kernel was initially launched in 1991, and here we are, 18 years later - with nothing to show for it? StarOffice was acquired by Sun in 1999. How does this happen? What am I missing? It's just small general stuff like that that is a total turnoff to using things like OpenOffice and Linux.

>>15
EXPERT IMBECILE

This thread gives me a headache. >>16-kun could have expanded his reference to >>1-15.

>>9
That is actually precisely why I pay for my software.

>>16-17
Not particularly well-thought out insults. Perhaps you should consider aspirin and attempt again, >>17.

>>18
Yes. It is so.

>>1
Define "turnoff". It might be a turnoff for you to mess with command line and actually work to have a quick, efficient system, but that's not how it is for everyone. Vim can feel far more "usuable" then VB.NET - you just have to put some work in to learn it. The more you put in, the more you get out - you can choose to do it with time, or money. Just don't come to linux expecting a windows experience, because then you might as well just have windows.
And frankly, who the fuck wants that?

>>20
Vim
Usable
Cringed.
IHBT

>>18
I pay for open source software. I pay very big money for good results.

>>21
Vim is quite nice.

>>20
The problem with Vi inspired editors is the high learning curve. Sure it's powerful, but many people are too lazy/busy to bother. Just like Linux and open source and command line/script/program hacking - yes it's powerful and one can get the job done well, but too many people are too lazy/busy to bother learning what it takes.

Its not merely lazy/busy, more like joining a cult.

Imagine that you're successful car owner and a band of weirdos on unicycles come up to you and proclaim how its much better than your car and ask you if you want to change.

Unicycles are better:
1.They don't pollute.
2.They cost much less.
3.They have more degrees of freedoms.
4.No fuel required.
5.You can repair one easily. And spare parts are cheap.
6.You have more flexibility for path you take. Cars have only roads.
7.There is no insurance, no speed tickets, no garages.
8.You can bring the unicycle home and store it safely anywhere.

>>23
Vim is quite gay.

Imagine that you're successful cdr owner and a band of weirdos on unicycles come up to you and proclaim how its much better than your cdr and ask you if you want to change.

>>29
What about my cd drive?

I see lack of belief.

>>8

Gentoo works fine for me. Then again, I use the heat off my servers to keep my pipes from freezing in the winter, thanks to a bash script I whipped up to do an "emerge --sync && emerge --update --deep --newuse world" across multiple, simultaneous ssh sessions. (Woo coprocesses)

Yes, IHBT.

>>32
VR^OOM VR_OOM!

>>32
Did you mean emerge -e1 world?

>>34

-l is short for --changelog. So, no.

Plus, I like to use the longer options, makes the scripts more readable and thus easier to modify if need be.