[Usability] gnome-screensaver configuration (or lack therof)

[Scott <geekboy angrykeyboarder com>]

Before I composed this message,  I browsed through the list archive to 
see where it had been previously discussed.

Strangely I found no such discussion.  So I'll just start one now. :-)

This package replaced x-screensaver in GNOME and unlike x-screensaver
there is no way to adjust settings on individual screensavers.  They
can only be used in the default settings.

As you know most screenaver authors write screensavers with these
options built in.   It's a function that pre-dates X-Window and was
(and still is) in Microsoft Windows and Mac OS.

Therefore users (those who bother wish screensavers that is) have come
to expect it.

GNOME has essentially "broken" that feature.   The only way to "fix it"
is to install gnome-screensaver and reinstall x-screensaver.

The problem with the fix is gnome-screensaver is part of GNOME and
therefore has a dependency on it.  Uninstall gnome-screensaver and a
metapackage (or two or three - depending on who packaged it) goes with
it (this can be potentially problematic during upgrades).

It seems to defeat the purpose of having an integrated desktop
environment when users have to yank part of it out and replace it with
something else in order to get functionality that's been usual and
customary for GUI users for two decades (or more).

A bug was filed over a year ago (
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=316654 ).  The author of
gnome-screensaver responded with:

        "I don't have any plans to support this.  My view is that any
screensaver theme that requires configuration is inherently broken."

BROKEN? So then most all screensavers on all operating systems going
back 20 years have been "broken".  

The gnome-screensaver author, in h is infinite wisdom figured this out
and "fixed it" in GNOME.

-- 
        Scott
http://angrykeyboarder.com
© 2006 angrykeyboarder™ & Elmer Fudd. All Wights Wesewved