Re: Changing the default for `send-mail-function'

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Tim Cross <address@hidden> writes:

> The whole question still seems to come down to two opposing opinions -
> on one side, we have those who believe that the MAJORITY of local MTA
> configurations are broken and therefore, we should move to a default
> of smtpmail, plus those who feel this is the more modern approach
> adopted by most other mail clients and one that tends to fit better
> with a model of computing that focuses on mobility and connectivity
> from multiple networks (with different firewalls, smtp servers and
> authentication requirements etc)  versus an alternative perspective
> who question this assumption and who are concerned that many people
> who currently don't have to worry about issues associated with
> configuring email will now be forced to and in some cases, this could
> be difficult as such information may not be readily available - at the
> very least, it is a change which could force people to do additional
> tasks requiring additional information which they previously did not
> have to do.

Even if that may be the longest sentence I've read outside of Kant, and
though the verb didn't end the paragraph, I think that's a very cogent
summary of the issues.

> At any rate, without some facts, I doubt this can be resolved. We
> really need to know some numbers.

I just have one data point -- I installed Ubuntu, and sending mail from
Emacs didn't work.

You'd think that would be pretty typical.  But perhaps I pushed the
wrong button somewhere?  I can't remember doing so, but somebody (else)
should just try to install a default Ubuntu on a machine and see what
happens and report back.

> I have not observed an increase in bugs relating to mail configuration
> or requests for help to configure mail or frustration regarding the
> current default.

Perhaps they weren't able to report the bug?  :-)

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  bloggy blog http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no/