Linux's Much Overlooked Calculator -- BC
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From: John Hasler on 23 Mar 2010 23:44 TJ writes: > But neither is required for my work as a farmer, so I guess my opinion > counts for little in this discussion. I'm also a farmer. > When I want a browser, I just click on the icon at the bottom of the > screen and it pops up in a second or two. When I want a browser I just control-arrow appropriately or click on the desktop pane containing it and there it is: no waiting. > No need for it sitting there open, idle, wasting resources. It consumes no resources when idle. You also have a multitasking virtual memory OS. > Makes no more sense than keeping my tractor running because I might > want it in an hour or two. It isn't like leaving the tractor running. It's more like parking the manure spreader near the machine shed door so that you don't have to move the baler to get it out. > I don't multitask well, either. No one does. Computers, however, do it quite well. Let them. > I grew up in the Dark Ages, a time before ADD became popular. I grew up in the Dark Ages, a time when computers had thousands of vacuum tubes and were owned by the government and a few big companies in the big cities far away. > Consequently, my powers of concentration were developed to their > fullest, but my ability to divide my attention was neglected. We aren't talking about Windows here. While I have a dozen programs open, only the Gnus instance that I am typing this article into is visible (and occupies 90% of my screen). Firefox is in the next pane down, Emacs with some 8th source code is one pane up, Gv is one to the right, CuteCom is one down and two right, an Emacs instance with Chrony stuff is on Desk 2 under this one, etc. No icons in sight, though. I don't need them. I have a memory. -- John Hasler jhasler(a)newsguy.com Dancing Horse Hill Elmwood, WI USA
From: Keith Keller on 23 Mar 2010 23:56 On 2010-03-24, TJ <TJ(a)noneofyour.business> wrote: > > When I want a browser, I just click on the icon at the bottom of the > screen and it pops up in a second or two. <Shrug.> No need for it > sitting there open, idle, wasting resources. Makes no more sense than > keeping my tractor running because I might want it in an hour or two. This is not a fair comparison. Your tractor is using gas while idling (and spewing yuckies into the air in the process). An idle process is not consuming anything active--if it's not using the CPU, then the CPU is doing something else. IOW, you'll never get those cycles back, so to speak of ''conserving'' them is a non-starter. --keith -- kkeller-usenet(a)wombat.san-francisco.ca.us (try just my userid to email me) AOLSFAQ=http://www.therockgarden.ca/aolsfaq.txt see X- headers for PGP signature information
From: Mark Hobley on 24 Mar 2010 03:40 Michael Black <et472(a)ncf.ca> wrote: > And if you don't use a mouse, then you're a fool. Actually there are lots of cases when you should not need a mouse. I hated Microsoft Windows because it required a mouse for almost everything, wheres prior to that I used mouseless systems. Now we have Linux, we can use mouseless systems again :-) Also remember that we also have touchscreens, trackerballs, joysticks, light pens and aiming devices, so a mouse should not be requisite. > just because one isn't using a GUI doesn't mean there isn't > a use for the mouse to cut and paste. The Amstrad 464 managed just fine without a mouse (It had two text cursors). > Even dealing with directories, > it's a whole lot easier to cut and paste than type things in. You can use a mouse as a supplementary device, but the interfaces should not depend on it. I also believe that servers should not require a mouse. The Revolution Against Mouse Requisite Interfaces project is an accessibility initiative aimed at making software easier to operate and automate by removing the mouse requisite interface by providing keyboard navigation and scriptable replication. http://markhobley.yi.org/accessibility/revolution/index.html Mark. -- Mark Hobley Linux User: #370818 http://markhobley.yi.org/
From: Sidney Lambe on 24 Mar 2010 04:55 On comp.os.linux.misc, Mark Hobley <markhobley(a)hotpop.donottypethisbit.com> wrote: > Michael Black <et472(a)ncf.ca> wrote: > >> And if you don't use a mouse, then you're a fool. That's why he's in my killfile. Because _he's_ a fool. There are some apps that require a mouse, and then I of course use one then. But having to take one hand off the keyboard all the time really slows you down, and there is usually a console app that works better than the X-app. At least we know Michael can't type very well, which means he isn't anywhere near as good with Linux as he pretends to be. He's just another appliance operator refugee from the Windows world who can only run Linux because of an enormous Windows-clone interface like KDE and lots of paid technical support. > > Actually there are lots of cases when you should not need a > mouse. I hated Microsoft Windows because it required a mouse > for almost everything, wheres prior to that I used mouseless > systems. Now we have Linux, we can use mouseless systems again > :-) > > Also remember that we also have touchscreens, trackerballs, > joysticks, light pens and aiming devices, so a mouse should not > be requisite. > >> just because one isn't using a GUI doesn't mean there isn't a >> use for the mouse to cut and paste. > > The Amstrad 464 managed just fine without a mouse (It had two > text cursors). > >> Even dealing with directories, it's a whole lot easier to cut >> and paste than type things in. > > You can use a mouse as a supplementary device, but the > interfaces should not depend on it. > > I also believe that servers should not require a mouse. > > The Revolution Against Mouse Requisite Interfaces project is > an accessibility initiative aimed at making software easier to > operate and automate by removing the mouse requisite interface > by providing keyboard navigation and scriptable replication. > > http://markhobley.yi.org/accessibility/revolution/index.html > > Mark. > Nice job of cutting that fool into little pieces and feeding them to your goldfish. Sid
From: The Natural Philosopher on 24 Mar 2010 07:29
TJ wrote: > On 03/23/2010 10:08 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote: >> John Hasler wrote: >>> TJ writes: >>>> For those of you who *DO* keep a browser running at all times, >>>> somebody probably has a 12-step program to help cure you of your >>>> addiction. The first step, of course, is admitting you have a problem. >>> >>> Shrug. I always have a browser running: why should I shut it down? I >>> also currently have running three Emacs windows, Gv, two Xpdf, Gschem, >>> Cutecom, Gspiceui, Units, Bc, Chronyc, Ssh, a dozen Xterms... I have a >>> multitasking OS with virtual memory and I use it. >> >> precisely. I spend as large part of my working day with a broswer open. >> It is after all, where the application that I use to work, runs. >> >> I also have a copy of a CAD program running all day, as well, since >> graphics is another part of the job. >> >> I'd love to see TJ run a cad program without a GUI. >> > > Never said I don't run a GUI. I run KDE 4 all the time - when my > computer is on. > > I said I don't run a browser all the time. There's a difference between > a GUI and a browser. But neither is required for my work as a farmer, so > I guess my opinion counts for little in this discussion. > > When I want a browser, I just click on the icon at the bottom of the > screen and it pops up in a second or two. <Shrug.> No need for it > sitting there open, idle, wasting resources. Makes no more sense than > keeping my tractor running because I might want it in an hour or two. > I really dont see much difference between a paged out, idle process consuming no CPU or indeed real RAM, and one sitting on the disk.. Now if its left connected to a website that has active refresh or is running javascript, that's a different matter. > I don't multitask well, either. I grew up in the Dark Ages, a time > before ADD became popular. Consequently, my powers of concentration were > developed to their fullest, but my ability to divide my attention was > neglected. Good thing, too. There have been several times when paying > attention to what I was doing saved my butt. > Lucky you. I need to multitask, since at any given time I may have to break off from one task, to service a human interrupt request and perform another. > My job is still safe, though - even in this day and age. I'm the last > person I'm gonna fire. > Likewise. > TJ |