Weblog entry #150 for simonw
See all weblog entries made by simonw.
#150
Etch -- gripes
Posted by simonw on Wed 28 Feb 2007 at 22:22
Okay, finally got a recent Etch installer, and installed with defaults on my laptop. Tried my best to behave like a complete novice as such....
I needed some magic to by-pass kernel bug 333831 (fortunately that is one I filed a long time ago to do with this laptop).
It asked a scary question about "GRUB" during install, I don't want any grubs on my laptop.
Most obvious oddity was that NetworkManager says I don't have a network connection (when I clearly do).
I dislike the "gksu" defaults, where it caches the root password. Means that any vulnerability in an application that can shell out, may get root access by prefixing the shellout with "gksu". As some sort of "sop" you get a warning panel you can disable.
It installs Evolution email client by default, this still sucks big time. It was unable to collect my IMAP email (or report a meaningful reason as to why not). It also doesn't work very well on 800x600 screens. When you click a "mailto" link, it opens a compose window with no "help" menu. Compare and contrast with Icedove, which "just works" (except for the IMAP over SSL thing where Icedove doesn't expose the SSL option in the wizard, but even then when I pick SSL, it offers to remember my self signed certificate, unlike Evolution which prompts every time).
Real life intervened here.... more when I get a chance to play further.
I think Etch is great, I just want to collect my thoughts on it's failings.
I needed some magic to by-pass kernel bug 333831 (fortunately that is one I filed a long time ago to do with this laptop).
It asked a scary question about "GRUB" during install, I don't want any grubs on my laptop.
Most obvious oddity was that NetworkManager says I don't have a network connection (when I clearly do).
I dislike the "gksu" defaults, where it caches the root password. Means that any vulnerability in an application that can shell out, may get root access by prefixing the shellout with "gksu". As some sort of "sop" you get a warning panel you can disable.
It installs Evolution email client by default, this still sucks big time. It was unable to collect my IMAP email (or report a meaningful reason as to why not). It also doesn't work very well on 800x600 screens. When you click a "mailto" link, it opens a compose window with no "help" menu. Compare and contrast with Icedove, which "just works" (except for the IMAP over SSL thing where Icedove doesn't expose the SSL option in the wizard, but even then when I pick SSL, it offers to remember my self signed certificate, unlike Evolution which prompts every time).
Real life intervened here.... more when I get a chance to play further.
I think Etch is great, I just want to collect my thoughts on it's failings.
Comments on this Entry
Posted by Anonymous (59.176.xx.xx) on Thu 1 Mar 2007 at 15:52
This is valuable feedback. Are you submitting it to the installer team?
Oh, yeah, and the "I don't want any grubs on my laptop" remark got a grin from me.
PJ
Oh, yeah, and the "I don't want any grubs on my laptop" remark got a grin from me.
PJ
[ Parent | Reply to this comment ]