Comment 194 for bug 727064

I've been using RedHat since RedHat used to release a binary desktop, before they created the Fedora Project. I've used Fedora and Centos for non-profit uses since, including for OpenStandards.net and personal use.

When I installed the 64-bit Fedora, and had to go through a pain to install 64-bit Flash, I used to, but unhappy with, the process for installing such a critical component.

When recently installing Ubuntu on a friend's Netbook to "correct" her Windows virus problem, I couldn't believe how easy it was to install Flash. It was a check box on the normal install process! I found out non-technical friends were installing Ubuntu and very happy with it. This was obviously because Ubuntu make it possible for a non-technical person to install Flash. We all know that if you replace Windows with Ubuntu for a friend, and do not install Flash, they will call you pretty quickly asking why they can't view things on the web.

I've noticed the sound problem with Fedora, narrowing it down to just the web browsers, both Firefox and Chrome. Adding the lack of a Boxee build for Fedora, and I've been telling all non-technical friends to install Ubuntu. I've described Fedora as an unstable experimental version designed only for technical people. (To be sure, previous incidents with the nVidia driver leading me to have to re-install Fedora after a kernel update caused the loss of video, and paranoia that this can happen again, fed into this conclusion.)

Then, I found and read this thread. I used Ray's patch to correct my sound problem. Thanks, Ray!

I concur 100% with Linus on this one. The changes to glibc need to be rolled back in an update to Fedora 14 until Adobe corrects their Flash binary! If you don't do this, there will be a lot more people like me, who, seeing only the surface, will tell everyone to install Ubuntu. This needs to be done immediately! People have over 4 GB of ram in new computers, and they need the 64-bit version to use it.

I'm glad to see there are people like Linus that would like to see Fedora become a mainstream desktop, and not just an experimental distribution for technical people. I hope those in control will learn from this and not only roll back the glibc change ASAP, but also look into streamlining the Flash install like Ubuntu did so non-technical people can have it when they install Fedora with default settings.