So... Id like to know what the user needs... how could we find out? My
experience has lead me to believe that linux is perfect for the general
workplace of many office workers (people that need to read email, browse the
web, write documents, manipulate spreadsheets, and access databases). In many
big offices (like government jobs, where there are many case workers, clerks,
and such...) the best tool for them are simple tools, and if they are users
on a system (not admins) they cant muck the system up. they cannot install
games, they cannot infect the system with virus, and they dont maintain the
computers (admins do...) so... Its really best for the user in many office
situations, and its not too bad for admins either... with linux, I can update
the software on all the computers overnite (yep, even if there are hundreds
of workstations), which is much more productive than the M$ way (sit down at
each workstation, and install patch after patch.... ). So... Linux is better
to the admin perspective too.
The real shortcomming I see is that its a bit too techy for the average home
user, its not just the install is difficult, its that linux requires some
basic information about computers, that the average user doesnt even want to
know.
If you want a one-click install solution, try the corel linux
distribution... its based on debian, it installs very easy... but in general
it sucks (kinda like windows!).
Jamie
On Monday 18 March 2002 19:16, you wrote:
> Don't confuse what the user wants with what the user gets. Two different
> subjects.
>
> Just because it works out of the box does not mean no choices. You don't
> like KDE? Go to the menu and choose Gnome.
>
> Microsoft enjoys the perception of something that "just works". Not
> because it's any good but because they have a marketing department to die
> for. Can you imagine where your company would be today if they were
> selling your product?
>
> The end user I'm talking about knows where the coffee cup holder is on the
> front of the computer. She processes a document, spreads a sheet and serfs
> the net but ask her to install any operating system and the eyes glaze.
>
> Not too long ago I asked a secretary who had been using Wordperfect all her
> life (sort of) what kind of computer she had. She said "Wordperfect."
> Later, I found out it was a 386 running DOS and WP 5.1. She knew how to
> turn it on, choose Wordperfect from the menu and type. She didn't know
> anything else and that lack of knowledge did not interfere with her ability
> to work.
>
> The unwashed masses don't know that Office 2000 and Windows 2000 is two
> different things. When it comes to Linux, they're knowledge extends to
> either they are pretty sure it's not lizard (but they could be wrong) or
> they've never heard of it.
>
> When I'm presenting a solution to whatever problem they called me in for, I
> don't tell them it's based on Linux unless they really want to know. One
> response I heard, "Linux!?! We are running Outlook. The server needs to
> be Windows NT." I patiently explained that Outlook didn't know or care
> what the server was.
>
> On 2002.03.18 18:28 Jacob Meuser wrote:
> > On Tue, Mar 19, 2002 at 12:33:30AM +0000, Bob Crandell wrote:
> > > "I just want it to work." is all the end user really cares about.
> >
> > So, then why is there no distribution that "just works"? I mean, pop in
> > the CD, there are no choices during install, no choice of window manager,
> > no choice of shell, no choice ofprogram per task, basically. It "just
> > works" because the lack of choices lets the developers focus solely
> > on those packages the distro comes with. Or is there such a distro?
> > Choices with defaults don't count. They're still confusing, people often
> > have a hard time making decisions.
> >
> > Because it would be too M$ish? Because what "just works" is subject to
> > dispute?
> >
> > > We only need 3 little things to take over the desktop: An environment
> >
> > that the
> >
> > > user is already used to, a marketing department that can talk it way
> >
> > out of a sun
> >
> > > burn and teachers who can explain it throughly and simply.
> >
> > These are all much easier if there is 1 thing they focus on. Yeah, I
> > know an OS is many parts, but if all people want is something that
> > "just works" ...
> >
> > --
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
