Re: Drive Mount Applet only works as root?

[Adam Moyes <adam macfar demon co uk>]

"Pfaffenberger, Bryan" wrote:
> 
> Here's precisely the usability problem I've been pointing to. Naive users
> will not understand Linux's roots in multi-user systems; they won't
> understand why users should not have disk drive access by default. When
> they're told that they have to consult man pages and figure out how to
> configure fstab using a text editor, they'll conclude -- very quickly --
> that GNOME isn't doing enough to shield such users from the underlying
> complexity of Linux.
> 
> In a previous message, I suggested that, on first use, GNOME should start
> with a wizard that briefly explains the concepts of root user and user
> accounts, and guides the user through the process of setting up a user
> account for everyday use. Such a wizard could include an install option
> (selected by default) that enables users to configure the system as a
> single-user, non-networked system. This option could launch a script that,
> behind the scenes, rewrites fstab so that users are granted access to disk
> drives.
> 

... and when this ``shielded user'' removes a disk without unmounting?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with your sentiments, it's just that unix
has not been _designed_ for the average user, so there will be many
non intuative concepts that cannot be hidden very easily.

Windoze has been designed for the computer illiterate, and therefore makes
no asumptions about the validity of the users request. In unix, the
assumption is that you know what you are doing, and have therefore more
scope to make an error. There is a dichotomy here that will not be easily
resolved since I for one do _not_ want to be hamstrung by the lowest
common denominator, so an interface has to be efficient as well as
intuative - not easy for unix.

Adam.

-- 
Hofstadter's Law:
        It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take
Hofstadter's Law into account.