I recently invested in a USB internet key from 3. The technology market, down under here in Australia, is either ignorant of Linux or indifferent to it, or both. So, it surprised me when the sales guy reassured me that configuring it on Linux should be easy as the drivers come with the OS. Good to know ;-) but this post is not about linux and hardware support.
I decided to try it on my work laptop and I decided to go with Ubuntu. Jaunty had been out in the wild less than a month ago and promised improved mobile broadband support. It delivered on the promise. I use KDE as my default desktop decided to install the GNOME-based ubuntu. Don't ask me why. Anyway, it all went well and the networkmanager applet detected that my USB key is configured for mobile broadband from 3. So far, so good.
Frustration scenario one: On my way home from work on the train one day, I booted up my laptop and within minutes, literally, I was on slashdot.org. This went well until I reached Milson's Point, a station close to where I live. I noticed that I could not browse anymore. I clicked on the networkmanager applet which had conveniently disconnected from the "3" network and was now connected to another one. I all but exclaimed "What the ... ?" Looking at the network ssid it had connected it, it turned out to be a motel close to the station offering, presumably, free wifi for its customers.
Frustration scenario two: I live in an apartment block where every home has its own wireless router. Typically, scanning on a wireless device will list out all the networks in the building. If, at a given point in my home, the signal from my personal network is weaker than my neighbour's, guess which one the nm applet will prefer? The neighbour's of course. Never mind that I would have to consult a cracker's manual to break into it!
With all the user-friendliness it brings, networkmanager goes overboard when looking for a suitable network to connect to. It almost makes the choices for me. I am not happy with it. Nor would a Joe Average be when he finds that its trying to connect to a network which has the strongest signal strength -- *and* a secret key that Joe does not know of.
I hope the networkmanager developers tone down this level of user-friendliness and offer the choice to the user to ...
1. Set a preferred/default network (even when the signal is weak)
2. Don't go about disconnecting a working connection (even if a stronger signal is detected)
In case they don't, the applet is sure to find a place in Linus' "interface nazi" hall-of-fame (at least for me) where the software deems what is best for the user.
Friday, June 19, 2009
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