[Digikam-users] Users manual?

[Mark Greenwood]

On Tuesday 05 Jan 2010 21:22:20 BPG wrote:
> Remember, folks- if these programs were that easy to use and simple to
> understand there would be no need for email lists and users groups.

Exactly. That's why there are email lists and users groups. I'll say it again, it's a community. Users help each other. How many PC/Mac programs give you a direct line of communication to the programmer?

> 
> There is another saying.....when you get something for free you're getting
> what you paid for it.  As I said before- I like digikam as a product which
> is useful to me.  And if I complain about it then the program (or the
> whiz-bangs that developed it) should defend itself by proving me wrong or
> showing me my mistakes in how easy it is to use.

Why should they do that? They're not writing it for you. Commercial companies have to please their users. Free software developers don't. If you don't like it, help them improve it or use something else. It's your choice.

> Like the other fellow said- we're computer "users" and don't have the rest
> of our lives to study this stuff.

So buy a Mac. Honestly, I'm not being facetious. If you just want to use it, pay money for something you just have to use. Linux is not (yet) a user friendly world. The "price" you pay for getting something for free is that you have to do a bit of work yourself to understand it and use it to its potential. Secondly, Linux is a community - the idea is that if you think something can be improved you get involved. Obviously the programmers want people to like their software and use it, but that is not the primary reason for its existence - it's a hobby, it's being part of a community, it is NOT a business. Companies like Canonical are trying to make a business out of it, so you have a right to complain to them. But complaining to developers who are simply sharing their hobby with you is downright mean.

> 
> We're only asking for a simple, easy to understand instructions for Digikam
> and not some document with links that lead to nowhere.

It's the way it's being asked for that has irked me. You should be grateful you have any free software at all, but all some people seem to do is complain about its shortcomings. I stopped doing free software years ago because of people like you, and I have nothing but admiration for developers who continue to put up with it.

Mark

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> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 4:08 PM, Mark Greenwood <fatgerman at ntlworld.com>wrote:
> 
> > On Tuesday 05 Jan 2010 20:31:50 Dennis Meulensteen wrote:
> > > On Tuesday 05 January 2010 21:06:38 Tom Cloyd wrote:
> > > > professional web site design experience), I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WORK MY
> > > > WAY THROUGH GEEKSPEAK, much less go on a g.d. treasure hunt to FIND the
> > > > damned stuff. Since I often have little alternative, I give up time I
> > > > ought to be skiing, practicing guitar, publishing, developing friends
> > > > and lovers, just so I can locate the g. d. documentation for something
> > I
> > > > really really need to use. Not good for my mental health, and you don't
> > > > want to meet me in a dark alley if I know you're the author of this
> > ship
> > > > wreck.
> > > >
> > > > For what it's worth . Gotta get back to work.
> > >
> > > Dear Tom,
> > > if Linux is affecting your mental health, maybe you should really
> > consider a Mac? I hear they are excellent and they "Just work". Maybe that
> > way you can get back to doing what you are good at, perhaps like, for
> > instance; spotting (your own) shortcomings in others.
> > > I mean, Linux is Free as in beer and Libre as in Wild west, if you catch
> > my drift. If you want to be a part of this glorious movement, the dawn of
> > the free software epoch, then roll up your sleeves and join in.
> > > I'm sure most people on this list would love to see usability skyrocket
> > and all these user manual and other issues worked out, but that is just not
> > our current reality. If it is yours you need a reality check. You can scream
> > at M$ or Oracle or IBM if you paid big pucks for their goods or services,
> > but the people on this list are doing the whole word a great service, free
> > of charge. I say you owe them some respect for that. Also I think you may
> > not be aware of how hard mails like yours can hit and hurt people who work
> > their as$es off for free for whingymoany guys like you. Why not treat them
> > like you would your neighbor in real life? Is that really too much to ask,
> > or are you really that bad a neighbor?
> >
> > Well said. Linux is a COMMUNITY. Join in or sod off.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Dennis
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Digikam-users mailing list
> > > Digikam-users at kde.org
> > > https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Digikam-users mailing list
> > Digikam-users at kde.org
> > https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users
> >
>