[conspire] (forw) (forw) Re: (forw) How do I install a new keyboard?

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Ruben Safir (ruben at mrbrklyn.com):

> I'm talking about the no-keyboard text message that seems to flash by.

I interpret that as:  keyboard is defective.  (I thought I covered that.
If not, I think it an obvious surmise.)

[systems refusing to boot because of a keyboard error:]

> I haven't seen that in a long time.  The original poster, after
> everything you wrote, probably wouldn't get benefit of this
> conversation. 

Well, as I said, he's almost certainly not on this mailing list.  Which
is why I keep stressing, if you have something useful to tell him, send
it to him, and not just to the mailing list.

> [...] This sounds like a case where the user is so confused, that a
> lot of conversation can be cut short with a few moments of real one on
> one time with the equipment.

In my experience, unlikely to happen.  Moreover, and most important, we
don't want to condition the user to rely on that model.

These users often sit on their asses for _months_ waiting for a CABAL
meeting solely so they don't need to deal with a basic problem that is
easily solveable in a few minutes, particularly if they consult a
mailing list -- or at least a relevant Web forum.  The ones who don't
are, in my experience, most likely to have strange problems and never
figure them out.

Anyway, you have thoughts about the problems reported by "Robert S.
Johnstone" <rsjohnst at idiom.com> ?  Please let him know, not just me.