Mandriva

[rolf]

Yes, the changes in the company have been large, Rosa labs is leading the desktop development, Per Oyvind and Jeff Johnson are the main movers in the switchover to rpm5....heady times.
I tried the x86_64 Beta 2 livedvd but X won't start for me.
Having limited time to test, I'm not going to dig too deep but did make a short report to cooker, fwiw.
[Cooker] 2011 Beta 2 x86_64 X won't start (nvidia card)

[viking60]

Ok I have started testing 2011 beta 3. Installer works fine. A smooth KDE desktop turns up with the Rosa theme. I like it!
So I went for the good old button on the bottom left and..... Not exactly the menu I was expecting but a full page for navigating and searching. Conservative KDE'ers will curse it ... But let us take a look at Mandrivas forte: It is and has always been user friendly and the distro to recommend to newbies. So a totally fresh guy coming from other inferior systems will probably love it. And let's face it: the old geezers are not representing the masses that Mandriva needs to reach, to make a decent buck.
That Rosalab menu reminds me of something....where have I seen it before..... Ah yes in Gnome3 And as we already have decided elsewhere on this board it was quite good after the initial shock.

[dedanna1029]

Well, I will say, at least they gave you Clementine. IMO a fine player.

Elsewise, I'm not "wow'ed" but it's okay. You can take that with a grain of salt, as there's not much that does "wow" this kid these days. To me, they're all beginning to look (and operate) the same as the next distro. KDE and Gnome are KDE and Gnome wherever one goes, seems like.

*shrug

[rolf]

The Rosa menu reminds me of gf's Android touch screen on her Evo. Maybe they are of a similar mind as those developing Apple's touchscreen desktop--> The desktop touch tablet is coming! Let's hear from the resistance.

[viking60]

Yes It seems to be the trend to develop for tablets and smart phones these days. So Gnome3 and The Rosa menu do indeed look like Android. I am one of those old geezers so I'd prefer the option of the good old menu. Still everybody is preparing for greasy screens, full of finger marks, these days. But it is a new approach and somewhat innovative.

[R_Head]

I think the next generation in computing is a Tablet with docking station with a keyboard and ports to connect peripherals and Touchscreen displays with perhaps a home server for cloud service.

My vision is that you keep a single home computer/server and your Pad will become nothing but a link to it. That way you can connect remotely anywhere with any type of connection (Wireless or WiFi) The information is stored in your home system away from "harm". If your tablet gets destroy no data is stored there or even stolen. The pad is just a mere portal to remote control your home system. That will take care of a lot of issues like Licensing Software that can be installed in one node and long lasting battery since no really computing is done in the tablet.

[viking60]

Yes the tablets are in. And so is the cloud. I fear that every control junkie amongst politicians and companies will try to control the cloud so I am unsure if there will be an out of the box solution for it.
But the personal cloud is a good Idea (remember we used to call them servers in the good old days? )
And oh yes you will be able to buy dock Keyboard and more space for your tablet. In the end it will be just like a PC - only twice as expensive. But I kind of like your vison - It is the kind of stuff I like to set up.
Only I have no tablet yet. I just don't where to use it. On the toilet the Newspaper or the Magazine has to be paper. On the couch it does not fit my nose when I fall asleep -like the book does. And it breaks when it hits the floor. And when you go out with it, you need a ladies handbag.

Ahh not easy to be hip these days...

[dedanna1029]

Only I have not tablet yet. I just don't where to use it. On the toilet the Newspaper or the Magazine has to be paper. On the couch it does not fit my nose when I fall asleep -like the book does. And it breaks when it hits the floor. And when you go out with it, you need a ladies handbag.

- I have absolutely no use whatsoever for anything like that, either. I'd much rather read a REAL book or a REAL newspaper. With the cloud crap, it makes it all so unreal.

[viking60]

Yes but I see R_Heads vison: Beeing able to dim the light and start the coffee machine or open the garage door with it without having to move from the sofa or the PC is ellegant and tempting. Something I would like to have actually.. because I need a gadget to turn on the TV etc anyway. But I have no need for it as a traditional PC or book or newspaper.

[rolf]

I spend some effort putting links or text or html pages on servers, such as dropbox or email, or on usb keys so that I might have the resource on mobile phone or some other computer when away from the homestead. So, I can see the simplification of this process being of value to what I do, wonder a little bit about other considerations, what are, largely, to me, not known as much more than buzzwords, such as "encryption".

I'm a bit skeptical of "cloud" hype, not that I understand all about it, inasmuch as I don't see what distinguishes it from the activity of "servers" of various color. Larry Ellison, a bit closer to the core of all this, asks, "What the hell is cloud computing?"

[viking60]

And that puts you in the driving seat regarding cloud computing. You are an expert! Cloud is just another word like server and "outsourcing", since they are not fashionable anymore they needed another word for those who follow fashion and cannot be bothered with tech specs.

[dedanna1029]

Yes but I see R_Heads vison: Beeing able to dim the light and start the coffee machine or open the garage door with it without having to move from the sofa or the PC is ellegant and tempting. Something I would like to have actually.. because I need a gadget to turn on the TV etc anyway. But I have no need for it as a traditional PC or book or newspaper.

I could see it maybe as a garage door opener, but I also wonder what's wrong with the traditional light-type wall switch for it when walking out the door to the garage, or the remote for it in a car?

Why do we use remotes for t.v.? Can we not walk a few feet to turn the thing on or off any more?

I dunno. None of this makes any sense to me, but if it works for you, go for it.