I am a home user and I find Mandrake perfect. I don't think the learning
curve is any steeper than for any other OS. The problem most people find
when trying Linux is that it doesn't do things the Windows way. This
doesn't necessarily make Linux harder to use it is just different to use and
it is the process of learning to do things again that some have described as
a 'learning curve'. Most commentators have used Windows and have forgotton
the length of time it took to learn to do basic things in Win9x. My mother,
an avid user of Win95 for three years still calls me regularly about 'simple
things' she hasn't learnt yet or has forgotton.
Mandrake has done an excellent job in blending Linux and KDE. Although I do
write a few very simple shell scripts to execute programs, the drag and drop
features in Mandrake (dragging programs onto the panel) means that you
rarely ever need to use the command line, even for executing programs.
As for its suitability for home use. Most home users will use a computer
for email, internet, word processing and entertainment. Email and Internet
are not a problem. Kppp is a great dial in utility (much easier than
setting up internet using Win95) the news and email clients more than
adequate for home use. The File Browser works fine as a web browser a lot
of the time and you always have Netscape if you need a more powerful
browser.
For word processing the obvious choice is the freely available version of
Corel WordPerfect 8. Now I know it is not flawless (the on screen
presentation is very dubious), however it is more than adequate for home
use. There is of course Star Office, though I have never tried it myself.
Applix is another alternative if you want to shell out the cash and I've
found it very good.
For Entertainment you obviously do not have teh same variety as you have
with Windows. As far as games go I have Quake 2 and Civilisation - Call to
Power, both of which work extrememly well (a few quirks with Quake but I'm
working on that). OF course I never get to use the computer since my
girlfriend got her hands on Civ CTP.
All in all this combination meets all my home needs more than adequately.
In addition Linux teaches you about things. I've learnt more about how
networking works, what protocols are, what compiling is etc than I ever did
using Windows. Given Mandrake is so cheap it's well worth a punt.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Salts [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, 16 August 1999 13:16
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [newbie] Linux for home consumers?
>
> Somebody was saying to me that he believed Linux was a good corporate tool
> but not a good op system for home use because of it's steep learning
> curve.
>
> What do the list subscribers here think? Think Linux-Mandrake isn't ready
> for Prime Time yet?
>
> I wonder. Are there any home users on this list?
>
> Thanks for any replies,
>
>
> Richard
