Philip Serracino Inglott wrote:
I do not have a problem with admitting that Desktop usability for
the average home user is a problem on Linux, or that it lags
behind windows. Just as long as it is clear what you mean
by Usability and what you mean by the Average Home User.
Usability
1) You spend more time working on a system then configuring it
2) You can do whatever you want (if you want) without touching a
command line
3) Interfaces are consistent
4) Help files are actually help files, not "about" files.
Some developers don't seem to know the difference between technical and
user documentation
Average Home User:
1) Someone who's hobby and profession are not computers
2) Someone who has to use computers for their hobby/profession
Remember NOT ALL users are average home users.
A few years back BOV replaced their dos based system with a
windows based one. The result was that what a bank clerk could
do blindfolded in a few (several actually) keystroke now requires the
bank clerk to move his/her right hand from numpad to mouse and back
around 10 times for each transaction. If what was needed was a Graphical
display to fit more info and a multitasking system to allow different
applications, it could have been the case that Linux would have been
more adequate.
The old system was definately faster then the new system - and hence,
more usable - but ONLY to bank employees who had been using it for ages.
I'm sure that if a new bank employee who had never used the system had
to choose between the GUI and CDL versions, the GUI would definately be
chosen.
Likewise, in Linux usability we shouldn't target hardcore UNIX and Linux
users... They don't need usability, they've adapted themselves to the
quirks of the system. However, you can't expect a novice user, who isn't
even interested in computers, to spend time adapting themselves to all
these quirks.
Edward Debono always says this about his books on lateral thinking "I
write for people with down syndrome"
My objection is that a sentence like this:
Their results just confirm the obvious: in certain areas, like
storage handling and uptime reliability, Linux wins. On usability and
ease of installation, Windows wins.
is merly confusing.
I don't find it confusing at all. I find that it's the truth
Then again I am the kind of person who believes that if a person does
not at least know in theory how a car works, that person shouldn't drive
:-)
To "Drive" a computer you need the "European Computer DRIVING license"
(ECDL). As far as I know, nowhere in the sylabbus does it teach
"compiling a kernel", "using gcc" or "bash scripting for dummies"
Keith
Philip
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Keith Vassallo
Registered GNU/Linux User #290991
http://www.keithvassallo.net
