On Monday 10 November 2008, Matthias Johnson wrote: > > The article mentions that pre-loaded Linux laptops are > > returned at a far higher rate than Windows laptops, because > > people have been led to believe that using Linux is > > "just like using Windows". Are naive users being sold a > > bill of goods? When will Linux systems stop being a toy > > for tech geeks and start being a useful TOOL (or do you > > feel we're already there)? > > I am new to Linux myself and I have found some issues.
Yes -- that's not only the time at which issues best show up, but by definition the issues new users run into should be the focus of usability concerns. > I grew up with DOS so I am comfortable at the command line, > problems on Linux that require a terminal don't bother me. > But they will bother the average windows user greatly who > doesn't even know it exists expect for a icon in applications > (ubuntu) that they quickly close out of boredom after launching > each application to see what it does. Take the most basic task > that they will likely perform, web browsing. This has been > covered on slashdot a couple times and from what I see it hasn't > been fixed. So the first site they go to is youtube but it > tells them they need flash, normally they can just click in the > ActiveX browser pop-up and install it. Which, by the way, goes right back to the Phishing problem; if the user can simply click on a link to install software, it means they can also *misclick* and install software. :-/ This is one of the clearest examples of the trade-off of security vs usability. > On ubuntu no go, youtube redirects them to the adobe website for > a manual install. This is specific to youtube and not ubuntu's > fault, if they went to addictinggames first it would appear and > install properly in the browse. But who cares, to the average > person it doesn't work, but does on windows. Then later on > they need java for some fancy website. ... > A regular windows user can just again click the install through the > browser. So then you have people returning their PC because it doesn't > work. Yes, and even better -- installing Java or Flash on some Linux distributions doesn't work directly when using the official sources rather than the package for the distribution. This is an issue that is not likely to change, but can yet be another frustration new Linux users face. By default Linux distributions cannot play encrypted movie DVDs either, and that is also not likely to change due to legal issues. I don't blame anyone for returning to their known platform when these things happen, because people need to work and accomplish their tasks. > Don't get me wrong Linux is great and surpasses windows in so > many ways, don't have the driver cd for your printer who cares > just plug it in and it works (if it is supported) but a lot of > things don't work the same in terms of ease. Yeah, therein lies the rub -- if it is supported. If you PLAN AHEAD and only purchase devices that have Linux support, it makes the swtich FAR easier than if equipment purchases are made with only the concern of whether they have Windows support. Even if you try to do this, it can sometimes more difficult than it sounds -- try looking for a scanner that's sold today that has SANE support for Linux. Last I tried to do this about a year ago I spent about a week researching scanner models and did not come up with a good solution. > Generally people do not read, that is a big problem, this is > evident went someone says they had an error come up in windows. > "What did it say" "I don't know I clicked OK, now such and such > isn't working" These people bring their computer to BestBuy for > repairs and are the people that are the most common, anything at > the terminal is not happening. It isn't a matter of reading comprehension, it's a lack of association. "Error 0xFE4325" or "memory protection orror" is not memorable because you have nothing to associate it with to be *able* to remember it. People with more curiosity might write down part of the error message, and that's about the best you'll get -- but that requires a cognizant realization from the individual that they won't be able to remember the error message and that it's important, and that combination is somewhat rare. It will only generally be clear that the information isn't important to *them*, because of the cryptic nature of the message that doesn't relate to their experience. Now that said, I've found the error message in both the Linux kernel and from programs on Gnu/Linux to be far more meaningful (and thus memorable) than those I generally find on Windows and Windows programs. (There are always exceptions.) However I'm also not in a position to properly judge this, becuase I actually *use* the error messages, so by definition I can't know whether someone with little experience can make any meaning out of the error messages. These days I typically field questions concerning web-related errors, such as concerning Cookies or errors concerning an outdated version of Flash. These types of errors are usually relayed relatively clearly. -- Chris _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Sep 3 - Porkchop - The Areas of My Expertise Oct 1 - Ubikeys Oct 4 - Linux Fest Nov 5 - Releasing Open Source Software Dec 3 - TBD
