I have found Linux Mandrake to be incredibly user
friendly. I can't think of much more that needs to be
done to create a familiar and simple desktop
environment and almost every office, home and internet
need (gamming lags a little) can be met with the
software bundled with Mandrake 8.0. Pro.
but most importantly i'd like to raise the question;
maybe the world "needs" an operating system that suits
the (slightly) more technically savy? maybe user
friendliness should be a secondary result of focusing
on improving the system overall. in evolutionary
sciences we are told that new species arise in order
to fill a niche that has been left open. macs fill a
niche, microsoft fills a niche, and linux arose in
response to the needs of it's creators that were not
being met by the other "species" - I think a world of
90% Linux would be only a slight improvement over a
world of 90% windows.
i think linux will rise to the top in the long run.
but in the short term let's focus on what linux has to
offer that no one else does and how we can all help to
continue driving Linux's progress forward with an eye
on the long term.
microsoft will stumble because they are looking at
relatively short term (5 -10 yrs) profitablility.
while the linux community, due to it's very nature, is
free to take it's time and do things right the first
time.
linux may be microsoft's new enemy number one but
microsoft is not our enemy and never really was. let's
go back and look at the halloween papers, microsoft
themselves see that linux and windows do not compete
on the same grounds, they acknowledge that FUD
ultimately will not work as effectively as it has in
the past. when push comes to shove what microsoft does
has been and continues to be largely irrelevant to the
linux community. however, what we do is very relevant.
Matt
--- "Charles A. Punch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> Solver wrote:
>
> >
> > An average, or lower, user, assuming he has got
> kowledge of English, can
> > install Windows without trouble, easily install
> apps under it, click start,
> > point to programs and Microsoft Word.........
>
> > This kind of statement is one of the things that
> scares off potential Linux users. I switched over to
> Linux, because Windows crashed on me and would not
> re-install correctly on my laptop. In desperation I
> installed LM 71, which I had played around with, but
> was afraid of, because of statements like the one
> above or, "Linux is not user friendly" It installed
> without a hitch and I managed to get my mailing list
> done on time. It was easier to install than Windows,
> contrary to popular belief. I have not looked back
> since. I use Win98 now only because I have not
> figured out how to install my scanner correctly, but
> I have had trouble with peripherals in windows as
> well. My zip drive gave me a real hard time to
> install in Windows, but LM recognized it with no
> problem. I didn't have to do anything. I didn't
> install a driver or anything, it just worked after
> install.
>
> Solver also wrote;
>
> > Once, when I was instructing a user to type DOS
> commands, I didn't say open
> > the MS-DOS prompt. I just said:
> > Type the following commands:
> > cd \windows
> > copy user.dat \backup
> > copy user.da0 \backup
> > defrag
> > ....
> > And, when nothing worked I was suprised. Turned
> out that user typed it all
> > in Word... And I can never imagine users like this
> installing Linux apps and
> > compiling sources.
> > Solver...........
>
> > It sounds like the above "user" would have trouble
> with any operating system, but it would fall under
> the category of a non sequitor to assume that he
> would have any more trouble with Linux than with
> Windows or for that matter, any other OS. I use
> Linux because it is easier to install and use than
> Windows. No defragmenting or cleaning up the
> registry every five minutes like in Windows, less
> crashes from opening too many programs at once and
> finally less chance of getting a virus. Okay, so
> some software is a little harder to install, but it
> seems that I see more and more RPMs instead of or in
> addition to than in the past and that is a small
> concession to make for all the other advantages.
>
> ShalomOut
> Chal
>
> Registered Linux user #217118
>
> >
>
>
> >
>
>
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