[Issue]Woof "colourscheme" makes monitor appear "broken"

This is where you post about usability issues (not bugs) in pre-release versions of Puppy 5.x (alphas, betas, rcs). Usability issues are things like poor contrast in the themes, non-ergonomic button layouts, unintuitive application behavior, etc.
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Béèm
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#31 Post by Béèm »

ecomoney wrote:Heres a quote from a new puppy user
historymaker118 wrote:When I first started to use puppy, I almost immediatly wanted to run away. It looked horrible, like something from the early 90's that had got lost in a time capsual and was put on the internet for a laugh.
from here

Is this the way to get people to ditch windoze and use Linux? Linux's problems are caused by the fact that not enough people use it yet. As a result device drivers are not available from the manufacturers, or for all hardware, certain technologies dont support it, there is a lack of software etc etc. In the meantime a certain company in Redmond is coining it in, limiting access to the internet and creating computer waste prematurely in order to increase their profits...not to mention allowing the government to spy on its citizens communications and using their money to prop up crooked politicians.

Yes, of course I can remaster Puppy with an attractive theme....who is that going to help?..me and the relatively few people around me. An attractive theme is the thing that Ive seen gains Puppy Linux the most users with the minimum amount of effort. Having the official Puppy linux look good is a very simple and easy way of increasing Linux take-up generally, and making every linux users life easier.

Simply pick one of the many existing attractive themes/wallpapers/gtk's and add it to the official puppy. (AFAIK) Im nothing (officially) to do with Woof so the decision isnt mine, so all I can do is say "Hey, here I when I *know* to be a major barrier to Linux's take up rate....now do it".

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Ecomoney, explain to your correspondents the difference between alpha releases and finished products. Making comments without specifying specificities is really trolling.

We don't need trolls here.
Also we don't need people who feed the trolls, if you see what I mean.
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DaveS
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#32 Post by DaveS »

I see the 'How to Win Friends an Influence People' classes dont seem to be working out too well for you ecomoney :D
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ecomoney
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#33 Post by ecomoney »

:shock: :?

"Trolling" would be putting a comment like the title of this thread, without it actually having happened. Specifically, it was made by someone who I have worked with as a software tester on the HSB kids puppy project, who has turned out to have a considerable knack for software testing. She has actually just called in briefly, read this thread, and will be starting her own forum account tomorrow to confirm she made these comments "in person". Its a puppy/open source users "responsibility" to report where improvements can be made, and its a puppy/open source developers "responsibility" to react to that feedback. Thats how open source works.

Whats happened here is simple, Ive passed on some feedback from an actual "Linux Newbie", taking care not to offend...its turned out that the theme is only for alpha releases, Ive acknowledged I was unaware this, apologised, and tried to organise some specialist theme developers (which Im not) to a thread to create an attractive theme for Woof. How is this not making a positive contribution?

Ttuuxxx, I suspect not welcoming the competition for his own "2 minutes with the Gimp" wallpaper for woof, swore like hell at me on it...which all of puppies graphic artists will now have read at my invitation. It was then locked by persons unknown.

@ DaveS, Never mind me reading "how to make friends and influence people", how about some puppy developers reading this...

http://zenhabits.net/2007/09/how-to-acc ... reciation/

@ Raffy, I agree...for all of BarryK's "Dictatorship", beneficial though it is...he has always been extremely open to and accepting of real-world feedback. It would therefore be "un-puppy"..and "un-opensource" to be otherwise.

Ive already answered the point about me doing my own remaster and the good it would do. Quoting a point someone made on the forum that is relevant to the title of this thread, with a link to the complete post is not "out of context".

What Im saying is...if your going to spend hundred/thousands of hours collectively working on huge technical improvements, consulting experts from every field of linux technology, and not involve someone with good aesthetic skills to package that technology attractively.
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WhoDo
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#34 Post by WhoDo »

ecomoney wrote:Whats happened here is simple, Ive passed on some feedback from an actual "Linux Newbie", taking care not to offend...its turned out that the theme is only for alpha releases, Ive acknowledged I was unaware this, apologised, and tried to organise some specialist theme developers (which Im not) to a thread to create an attractive theme for Woof. How is this not making a positive contribution?
I'm not trying to be offensive here, Robert, so please read this response with that in mind. I think you may still be having trouble accepting the ethos in Open Source development, especially as that relates to Puppy.

We have tried to help you understand, several times in fact, that Puppy is a FUN project. Sure it has other more serious applications, some of which involve you and your community intimately. That doesn't change the fact; Open Source developers do NOT like being "organised" by anyone to do anything! Simple.

I consider both Puppy 4.2x and 2.15CE to have been very successful projects. As their coordinator, I believe their success was born of a fundamental understanding of that principle of Open Source development; it has to be "fun" and the developers do not like to feel "organised" or "put upon" in any way, even if that is the ultimate outcome.

The bottom line is this: if you want to get things done around here, STOP telling people what to do! It doesn't matter how right you feel you are, or how passionate you are about the causes for your actions and requests, "organisation" is simply the WRONG way to go because it doesn't fit with the ethos of Open Source or this community. Trying to be an "organiser" around here is about as useful as being an ice salesman in Antartica! Have I made my point? I certainly hope so!

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#35 Post by 01micko »

Um.. since BK is in charge of Puppy 5 I don't think he is going to care an iota about what we want as the theme. He peruses the wallpaper and icon threads and picks what he likes. Good too. Who doesn't change it (if they care about themes :wink: ) in the first five minutes anyway?

As a matter of fact, in testing of upup-476 on my lappy I haven't cared a bit about the theme, default all the way. A good thing about that, and I think BK is on to it, is that I instantly know what version is up and running for testing.

Different story on my main system, I made my on wally for upup, it's in the wallpaper thread. It's plain and simple, but also instantly lets me know what system I am in.. (I have 9 systems on this box, seven of those Pups, doze and Slackware)

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DaveS
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#36 Post by DaveS »

It is kinda fun how the desktop for Alpha 5 is all monochrome and sudued, and then you open an app, and BAM! Colour :D
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ecomoney
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#37 Post by ecomoney »

@ 01Micko:

Most Windows users trying Puppy for the first time Ive seen are simply not aware that Puppies theme can be changed...theming is not available easily in Windows, so at first glance they assume that the theme that they first see is the one that they are stuck with. First impressions count for a lot. Of course...when they discover that the theme can be changed in Puppy easily, that is one more point in its favour.

Your wallpaper is certainly an improvement....thanks for pointing it out. Ive replied on that thread.

@ WhoDo...absolutely no offence taken. Im aware of the differences between open source and closed development "ethoi" (to give it the correct greek plural). Some things remain the same between any programming projects however....

Computer programs are more useful/successful when the needs/considerations/environment of their intended users are taken into account by their developers. Put another way, programmers that take onboard the considerations/needs/environment of non-programmers produce more successful/useful programs. This is true of *any* software development, open or closed. One of the most common criticisms of linux is that it is "made by programmers for programmers".

There ARE programmers/technical experts here in the Puppy community who are willing (for free and for fun) to put their expertise into projects that fulfill Puppies very specific "Mission", and that dont find any great personal use from the work they create (apart from the knowledge they have helped a lot of people). If you want specific examples of where this has worked beautifully , look at the pMusic/pCD, HanSamBen and the pfix=recycle projects.

The developers here prefer to co-operate rather than compete, and accept feedback as a way of improving and making more useful their work rather than as personal critisism. Its all a matter of their temperament/personality. They might not be the greatest technical wizards, or the most prolific package producers, but their efforts do more good because of they choose to exert them exactly in the places they are most needed.

Anyone with the job of "co-ordinating" (for no one here can tell anyone what to do, only what needs to be done) would be wise to look these developers and others like them up for contributing to mainstream puppy. I know a great many of them would be honoured to be asked to contribute their skills to mainstream puppy.

Successful co-ordination of any group project (and every group project needs co-ordination to be successful) is only as difficult as the people that are being co-ordinated....I recall youve had first hand experience of this yourself in 4.2.0?
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DaveS
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#38 Post by DaveS »

How can somebody mistaking the appearance of an Alpha release turn into a three page thread, when I cant get a (relatively) simple question answered? http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=43251
OK, no more mr Nice Guy: Puppy SUCKS! There, will that do it? :D :D
Damn my British sense of humour.
Off to blow my brains out (again). ps., I missed last time :(
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#39 Post by sikpuppy »

I downloaded and tried the WIndows 7 beta not so long ago. Apart from anything else, there is nothing on the desktop on first boot. Not a sausage. Just some wallpaper and a taskbar with a few bits on it. Nothing to indicate what I should push to get things rolling.

In fact, I had considerable difficulty figuring out how to actually open anything.

If first impressions are anything, I would deep six Windows 7 and never use it. Back to XP and the dark ages for me.

But I probably will because IT IS A BETA VERSION. It is not finished. In fact it won't be for some months, possibly years I'd say.

And my wireless setup is incompatible with Windows 7. I purchased it last month. Not even "compatibility mode" worked.

My point? This ----> .
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WhoDo
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#40 Post by WhoDo »

WhoDo wrote:Have I made my point?
ecomoney wrote:...
:roll: Obviously not. :?

Catcher: {to errant Pitcher who has almost beaned the plate umpire because the Catcher was expecting the outside pitch he had called for} Why did you throw that pitch high inside when I called for a low outside pitch?

Pitcher: Well, the batter saw you move outside so I thought I would zing one by him inside where he might not be expecting it!

Catcher: Who told you to think?

The above exchange actually happened, and I was the Plate Umpire who was almost beaned by that high inside pitch. I was grateful for a catcher with long arms and quick reactions. I don't think the Pitcher got the Catcher's point either! There is a fair chance the analogy, like my point, will be lost on some of those from Old Blighty, too.
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#41 Post by puppyluvr »

:D
In software testing terminology Alpha testing is done by the client in the presence of the tester or developers and the test environment is not open for the end user...
Beta version software is likely to be useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select customers, but unstable and not yet ready for release.
Cosmetics come last.....
Why are you testing Alpha and Beta releases on your users....
First it was 4.20, now Woof....
I would never spring a non final release upon an unsuspecting newbie...
I give them the tried and true...(Currently, for me, 4.12 and 3.01)
Better first impression, hmmm.."Looks cool" or "Rock solid"...
It only takes a minute to show them how easy it is to "customize" the looks....
I go with "Stable"....
But thats me....
Last edited by puppyluvr on Sat 06 Jun 2009, 06:46, edited 1 time in total.

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James C
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#42 Post by James C »

Since this thread has gone totally off topic, as if there is much to discuss about wallpaper in an alpha release,.............

Like Sikpuppy, I'm running Windows 7RC, when I rarely boot it up.This will be a fairly costly OS when it is finally released, compared to Linux in general, and Puppy in particular, which is free.

Have Windows 7 installed on a P4 2.8 ghz w/2GB of ram .It's not real fast, but hardware support is a joke.I have a fairly new Nvidia card installed. but will it work in Windows 7..........NO.

Sikpuppy's wireless doesn't work either.The point is , it's still in development not the final product.It should get better.

Some however expect Puppy, built by volunteers and given away , to fit their definition of perfection even as an alpha release.

To anyone who doesn't know, as an OS begins in alpha and progresses thru beta and release candidate until it is officially released; there will be bugs, things simply won't work, looks will not be important, etc.; because it is a work in progress.

Alphas, betas and release candidates are for testing not intended for daily use or mission critical operations.

End of rant! :lol: :lol:

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#43 Post by puppyluvr »

:D Yea, what he said.
LMAO.....Sorry... :twisted:

@ No, the funny part, that actually is the topic........
LMAO again....3 pages...Its killing me.... :lol:

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#44 Post by sikpuppy »

James C wrote: Alphas, betas and release candidates are for testing not intended for daily use or mission critical operations.
So for mission critical operations, what is the official missionary position?
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#45 Post by WhoDo »

DaveS wrote:Damn my British sense of humour.
Off to blow my brains out (again). ps., I missed last time :(
:lol: :lol: :lol: "Use your head! That's that lump that sits three feet above your a$$~" Tom Hanks, in A League of Their Own. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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WhoDo
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#46 Post by WhoDo »

sikpuppy wrote:
James C wrote: Alphas, betas and release candidates are for testing not intended for daily use or mission critical operations.
So for mission critical operations, what is the official missionary position?
In the pot, on the fire and surrounded by a few well chosen vegies, with some salt and pepper to taste! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Sings: Put another log on the fire... whup me up some bacon an some beans ... :wink:
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#47 Post by 01micko »

***with surpirise it took so long***
So for mission critical operations, what is the official missionary position?
Er.. here we do it doggy style...
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raffy
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right

#48 Post by raffy »

01micko wrote:Er.. here we do it doggy style...
Right - simply right - why haven't I thought of that before! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually, in order to achieve the correct missionary position, jkshd jdjhddf dkfhd jdiede kjidwjd q jdiwdj wdj pjdwdhiuwyo jdd j jpdj dj johyroqw wjwp ppj wqpwo wokoffkkppkwio owdjpwojpfifuu jkshd jdjhddf dkfhd jdiede kjidwjd q jdiwdj wdj pjdwdhiuwyo jdd j jpdj dj johyroqw wjwp ppj wqpwo wokoffkkppkwio owdjpwojpfifuu jkshd jdjhddf dkfhd jdiede kjidwjd q jdiwdj wdj pjdwdhiuwyo jdd j jpdj dj johyroqw wjwp ppj wqpwo wokoffkkppkwio owdjpwojpfifuu.

I hope that makes things clear. :lol:

(Sorry, I have to keep my sanity.)

Now, seriously: Robert (ecomoney), please stop preaching to the developers. Just do what you excel in, which is helping newbies use Puppy Linux. We've had years of joy reading your stories and giving help when we can. Let's keep it that way, OK?
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sophiebabi
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my reply

#49 Post by sophiebabi »

If you want people to use the Woof ' colourscheme' then you need to give it a nice colour scheme as the one that is being used the moment looks like the screen is broken.

I am a Linux newbe

Yes i did say that it makes the computer monitor look broken which it does, it needs colours that make it look bright and make people want to use it.

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sikpuppy
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Re: my reply

#50 Post by sikpuppy »

sophiebabi wrote:If you want people to use the Woof ' colourscheme' then you need to give it a nice colour scheme as the one that is being used the moment looks like the screen is broken.

I am a Linux newbe

Yes i did say that it makes the computer monitor look broken which it does, it needs colours that make it look bright and make people want to use it.
Try this one, sophibabi. http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php ... 1118428103
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