[mythtv-users] Why Free Software has poor usability ?

Mark Knecht markknecht at gmail.com
Tue Aug 5 19:54:16 UTC 2008


On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 12:45 PM, David Brodbeck <gull at gull.us> wrote:
> Param Singh wrote:
>> If everything about mythtv and its usability is good, then why
>> competitors are using "mythtv is a lot of work" as marketing tool ?
>>
>> Screenshot :: http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5687/mythtvju4.png
>
> Well, it is.  Linux is a fair bit of work, for that matter, and setting
> up Linux is the first step in setting up Myth.  Neither product is aimed
> at people who want a solution they can just take out of the box and plug in.
>
> If you're running Linux and/or MythTV, it's because you like to tinker.
>  IMHO, calling this a flaw is a bit like calling up a car manufacturer
> and complaining you have to depress the clutch pedal every time you
> shift.  They're just going to ask you why you didn't order an automatic
> transmission instead. ;)

We've been using Linux for about 8 years at home. It's still
frustrating, mostly in the distro space. Kids making decisions about
packages that effect 10,000 people without considering all the issues.
Nothing we can do as users except deal with the problems they create.
I still like Linux far more than Windows from which I am typing this
email.

As for Myth, we find it very usable, but also very strange. 30-40% of
our recordings don't get commercial flagging. Once every few weeks we
find the listings don't get downloaded. It's an inconsistent program,
although far, far better than it used to be.

I suspect a lot of the stuff against Myth is just FUD based on old
info. We enjoy it but are using it far less now with the NetFlix/Roku
box being cheap and easy....

- Mark


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