RH10 multimedia support

[Paul Morgan]

On Fri, 2003-09-05 at 18:20, Joseph Phillips wrote:
> Meant to say, "In Windows, if the user IS logged in with a regular user
> account, the plugin installation would not work."
> 
> On Fri, 2003-09-05 at 16:17, Joseph Phillips wrote:
> > You raise a good point.  In Windows, if the user is not logged in with a
> > regular user account, the plugin installation would not work.
> > 
> > But Red Hat is more sophisticated, since, before proceeding with the
> > plugin installation, it could prompt the user for the root password.  

That's one of the many reasons I use RHL <grin>.
I believe the issue goes deeper, though, than simply prompting for a
root password. Surprises like the popups in IE leave the user wondering
why he/she cannot have the root password or make it work. My experience
is that INSTALL POPUPS ARE BAD, no matter how they're implemented.
My sincerest hope is that the fine folks at RH continue their steady
improvements to RHL without falling into design traps that have
short-term payoffs but long-term headaches. Those of us in the
user/sysadmin/consultant communities must continue to discuss these
issues as always to ensure that compromises do not cause loss of design
elegance. Windows has a lot of cool features, but it has a lot of hidden
closets, too. Who knows what lurks therein?

> > 
> > This ability already exists in Red Hat.  For example, if I load up the
> > redhat-config-date program as a regular user, then Red Hat prompts me
> > with a dialogue that explains that administrative privileges are
> > required, and that in order to proceed I must supply the root password.
> > 
> > On Fri, 2003-09-05 at 16:08, Paul Morgan wrote:
> > > > > It's the same issue with Java and flash player for the browser. I'm not shy
> > > > > of the console, but still I'd prefer an easier way to get plugins installed.
> > > > > Like the way IE does it for example: if you go to a site that has java or
> > > > > flash, a little pop-up comes up and prompts you to automatically install the
> > > > > software. I don't see why Red Hat can't accomplish this with the browsers
> > > > > they bundle in their distribution (epiphany, galeon, konqueror, mozilla).
> > > 
> > > What happens when the user is not an admin on their win2k box? Maybe it
> > > works, and maybe it doesn't. What if the user is actually on a thin
> > > client (RDP or ICA)? From much experience I can assure you that it
> > > doesn't work in that case. Instead, the user gets frustrated that the
> > > "easy IE way" simply doesn't meet their needs. The user then complains
> > > to everybody around them that the system is broken because it didn't let
> > > them do something.
> > > 
> > > Don't get me wrong: I'm not arguing against simplicity. Quite the
> > > contrary, I love simple (i.e., graceful, elegant) solutions.
> > > 
> > > Unfortunately, the IE way has severe limitations once you get outside of
> > > the consumer market.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --
> > > Rhl-beta-list mailing list
> > > Rhl-beta-list at redhat.com
> > > http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/rhl-beta-list
> 
> 
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