"Thats a very arrogant viewpoint. I don't have to be a TV engineer to use my television. Distributions should be providing sensible defaults out of the box. The kernel already provides them the mechanisms."
Take your saa7134 module and try to guess the proper card type and (especially) tuner type. You'll have to conduct a whole natural-scientific experiment for that. What "mechanisms" does the kernel provide in this case, I don't know.
Second, a computer doesn't _need_ to be more complicated. Turn it on, browse the web. That's what most people need out of their computer, and nothing more. If a user has to configure _anything_ to get something that basic working, then it's no different than having a TV that requires kernel recompilation or /etc/ file tweaking in order to change channels.
Who talks about TV ?
Take your saa7134 module and try to guess the proper card type and (especially) tuner type. You'll have to conduct a whole natural-scientific experiment for that. What "mechanisms" does the kernel provide in this case, I don't know.
Doesn't this go against the
Doesn't this go against the config tweaking culture of Linux ?
Yes, but...
The only thing you can do with your tv is change channel or adjust volume.
Computers are a bit more than that :)
Eventually TV's will have
Eventually TV's will have very powerful computers inside them.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=43981
not even
First, my TV has way more options that that. :p
Second, a computer doesn't _need_ to be more complicated. Turn it on, browse the web. That's what most people need out of their computer, and nothing more. If a user has to configure _anything_ to get something that basic working, then it's no different than having a TV that requires kernel recompilation or /etc/ file tweaking in order to change channels.
But way less options than a typical PC
These things are not as basic as you seem to think...
No, but they _SHOULD_ be.
No, but they _SHOULD_ be.
I have to agree on his
I have to agree on his statement, even an advanced distribution should at least contain sufficient comprehensible documentation.
An excellent example of this is Gentoo Linux.
Not much is automated, but the system is clean and very comprehensible.
Well, Gentoo has the mindset
Well, Gentoo has the mindset to compile verything on your own.
But i actually agree to both your statement, and to Alan Cox' statement.
no, Linux From Scratch has
no, Linux From Scratch has the mindset of compiling everything on your own.
Gentoo has a robust system to fully automate compilation.