DSL Ideas and Suggestions :: Ideas for 1.6...sound cfg,myDSL and tutorials



Decided linux is the way of the future since even copiers are now running lunix. I picked up Linux Format with the mini distros. I ended up with DSL.

Some gripes. Sound and sound card config isn't part of DSL Control Panel. Cruising the posts on sound problems. Maybe it should included unless I'm missing something.

myDSL is greatest idea I've seen. However, I think that styles are dime a dozen and would be better as thumbnails. Since that would add space, maybe that part should be online or simply ditch all of it  for a style editor where users can customize with their own wallpapers, etc. Just keep a core of 5 or 6 with customizing or pick new one over the net.

As for other myDSL apps, a 'more' option for viewing more apps over the internet would incourage more programs to be ported. (If it isn't already done.)

One thing with DSL users are first time users to linux. Tutorials on linux using DSL, wheither in PDF or HTML would enhance DSL as a learning tool. From the basics of linux to the core commands to desktop to apps.

Linux Format released a magazine with Mandrake. Not do I think one can be done for DSL but create income as a starter book with biz card CD OS included. 50 megs --- 50 pages? Something like a paperback novel size like those cheat code books in Brit magazines.

Keep up the great work... I'll have to send a few Northern pesos your way soon.

~flink (nickname from an old monitor that the power would flick the monitor off then on.)
Quote (flink @ Sep. 23 2005,21:00)
Sound and sound card config isn't part of DSL Control Panel. Cruising the posts on sound problems. Maybe it should included unless I'm missing something.

Because it breaks the sound system if you don't know EXACTLY what you're doing, it is not made easily accessable in the DSLPanel. It caused way too many issues when it was there.

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maybe that part should be online or simply ditch all of it  for a style editor where users can customize with their own wallpapers, etc. Just keep a core of 5 or 6 with customizing or pick new one over the net.


We have a Wallpaper manager, but if you want more than the 6 styles in the base ISO, use MyDSL.

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As for other myDSL apps, a 'more' option for viewing more apps over the internet would incourage more programs to be ported. (If it isn't already done.)


Not sure what you mean here.

MyDSL extensions are scrupoulusly reviewed, deconstructed, reconstructed, poked, prodded, and probed before they are made available to the public.

Users submit extensions, and they are reviewed and eventually released for public consumption in the testing are on the MyDSL repository on Ibiblio.

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One thing with DSL users are first time users to linux. Tutorials on linux using DSL, wheither in PDF or HTML would enhance DSL as a learning tool. From the basics of linux to the core commands to desktop to apps.


Look at the Wiki, and the pdfdocs/ section on all of the mirrors.

-J.P.
Most things in DSL work very well - as long as the various devices in your machine are recognised at boot time.

I suggest DSL 1.6 should include a standardised way of installing drivers for graphics, sound, WLAN, Infrared, etc that are not recognised/included with DSL.

In the same way as you can put .dsl extensions in the /optional/ folder, you could maybe put drivers to be installed in a /drivers/ folder. After booting DSL there could be a right-click menu giving you the option to install the drivers one by one.

So far I didn't manage to install one single driver successfully (apart from bcm5700.dsl) - maybe I'm missing something but it is a little tedious.
So no sound is better than trying to get sound at all?  This doesn't make sense.

Sound has become an intergral part of the OS. Don't get me wrong, even XP pre-release still had problems with Sound Blaster. That doesn't mean it can't be fixed.

Maybe the programmers can take a challenge to come up with a better sound test and cfg tool for DSL.  Let's just mark this under 'Needs work.'

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Look at the Wiki, and the pdfdocs/ section on all of the mirrors.


None of this covers the basics of DSL or Linux nor do they cover a short guide to programs within.  It does contain stuff for programmers which most new comers are not. It also feels that this is the weak spot of Linux that it talks over the heads of potential users who have limited skills.

Scanning the shelves at major bookstoes, there was several books that had Live CD and book. What I'm suggesting is DSL have their own book which could be sold to offset costs much like USB drives and CDs.

When I told a friend that I was looking at Linux, his line was 'Got your computer rnning yet?' he had to make it plain that it was standard Linux joke but it shows the perception that linux just not user friendly as far as setup concern.

While DSL is great that you're up and running in a matter of minutes, it doesn't mean it's entirely there.

Having an intro linux in general using DSL would go a long way of getting users to try linux. I've handed out several copies to friends. Some had tried linux and quit. Most have second or third generation computer in their home if they haven't thrown the out (as in the case of this computer) or given them away.

So at least computer users have equipment they can try DSL. Just having a booklet to point out feaures in linux would go along way of keeping them using linux.
Quote (flink @ Sep. 27 2005,20:05)
even XP pre-release still had problems with Sound Blaster. That doesn't mean it can't be fixed.

Try this.

Code Sample
sudo modprobe sb


should get your soundblaster crankin out the tunes.

There is a sound config tool (sndcardconfog) in DSL. It is very, very powerful, but if you do not know what your are doing it is possible to do more damage than not. It used to be in the DSL Panel, but this caused more problems than it resolved. It's much simpler to do a google and find what module you need to probe, if your card is not autodetected. 90% of cards are autodetected.


Maybe the programmers can take a challenge to come up with a better sound test and cfg tool for DSL.  Let's just mark this under 'Needs work.'

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Look at the Wiki, and the pdfdocs/ section on all of the mirrors.


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None of this covers the basics of DSL or Linux nor do they cover a short guide to programs within. It does contain stuff for programmers which most new comers are not. It also feels that this is the weak spot of Linux that it talks over the heads of potential users who have limited skills.


All the in-house documentation is very DSL-specific. If you need documentation on applications, visit the application's site and read their documentation. If you need basic Linux instruction, there are other sites for that. Linuxquestions.org is very good for generic Linux support and learning. There are many, many more. Google.


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Having an intro linux in general using DSL would go a long way of getting users to try linux.

<snip>

So at least computer users have equipment they can try DSL. Just having a booklet to point out feaures in linux would go along way of keeping them using linux.


One thing that many people mistake DSL for is an "intro distro", and while it can be used for that, that is not our primary goal. DSL is a full-fledged desktop OS, meant to be used, and abused, as a primary OS. Now, don't take that as "DSL doesn't care about new Linux users", because we do. We just don't defer to them.

There is enough Linux documentation out there to get most people started in *nix, and the DDP has come a long way from just a short year ago, when no documentation whatsoever existed for DSL.

So use the tools at hand, be it Google, LinuxQuestions, or the DDP, to find the information you need. Don't sit there and cry that it doesn't exist. There are no problems that a new user can run in to that have not been had before, disected, diced, sauteé'd, fried in deep fat, and had the solution served up on the internet in tasty morsels.

-J.P.
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