"Software Centre"

[Derek_]

Ouch! Oh, wow. I just read what you have stated about your involvement with the recipients, their case-workers, and the lady who runs the show. I now have the picture firmly envisioned. 1) You load an older, low powered laptop with Linux, deliver it to some lady, then walk away. 2) The "lady who runs the show" is only "vaguely familiar with" Linux of any flavor. 3) Case workers who probably know nothing about Linux and even less about Linux Lite then distribute the laptops directly to the recipients. Regardless of what I have said before, and might say after, this is a losing battle. Who do you expect to answer questions about Linux? Who is to provide instruction or advice? It seems you really do think these poor kids should just sit down at a PC and intuitively know everything they need to know to use the device. It's not going to happen, Derek. If I'm the first to say it to you, I'm sorry. If other members of this forum think I'm wrong and these kids are going to be sharp enough and bright enough to learn Linux from scratch, by themselves, I'm sure those members will chastise me and voice their opinions.

As to the "Software Center" and it's limited choices of software, unless changes have been made to Windows in the past ten plus years, where is there a "Software Center" or application similar to Synaptic to view and install software? Did Microsoft suddenly decide to provide a means to effortlessly install the "billions" of apps available for each and every version of Windows currently supported? How did they get around the proprietary software agreements? Are they allowing Windows users to install Microsoft Office for free on every Windows PC? You are asking Linux, and specifically Lite to offer every piece of software available in a simple, easy to use, software installer. If you want tens of thousands of free choices, learn Synaptic. Using only the default repositories you have literally tens of thousands of FREE software choices. How many similar choices are available for FREE for Windows? Shareware? Understand what shareware is and what is actually supposed to occur - PAYMENT for use. And what you may not be aware of is that you are completely free to add additional repositories to Synaptic. I'm not sure how many, but I have 5 or 6 additional added at the present time. Synaptic (or other means of updating) then updates not only the software choice, but every dependency that choice requires - effortlessly and without even having to think about it.

I'll also cover updating here briefly. You stated in another thread your displeasure with how "Lite Updates" worked. I suggested you "try looking into the tweaked Mint Update Manager that Ralphy has provided us". I'm guessing you haven't searched for, nor researched for your use, the tweaked update manager. I have to believe if you had, you would most certainly have posted some reply about how nice it will be to provide such a simple and easy to use update method for your laptop recipients.

Please don't expect ANY version of Linux, or any other OS, to be a "one size fits all", do everything for you, operating system. Those don't (and have never) exist. That includes PC-DOS/MS-DOS 1.0. Life, and computers, just don't work that way. Sorry.

Update manager isn't relevant here. I haven't built another Lite laptop to look at the Mint Update Manager.

I get it. You're being protective. I'm the new guy who has come in here and shat on your favourite distro (an assumption) by asking a few questions and reporting a possible bug. You're also being very presumptuous. Apart from a greater range of software to choose from from an easy to use Software Centre, what else have i asked for in this thread that warrants such paternal replies? Since you didn't ask, most of the devices i've supplied to date had Ubuntu. But when Ubuntu went Gnome, its workflow became just too 'different' for a lot of people. It was strange, it was also more resource intensive. So i went to the more traditional UI. As this switch to Lite is extremely recent, i need to get more feedback. Now that i know that the devs aren't interested in a Software Centre setup, i have to determine if Lite is what i'll use. Please do remember that its Lite that is different here: A Software Centre is 'normal'.

The devs have spoken: they're not looking to change the model of the Lite Software, though are willing to add selections to it. I accept that - its their distro. Move on, smhardesty.