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  • From: Michael Czeiszperger <michael AT czeiszperger.org>
  • To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: Users' responsibilities (was Re: [internetworkers] WalMart Sun Linux)
  • Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 12:05:52 -0400


On Apr 7, 2004, at 11:00 AM, Bill Geschwind wrote:

The commoners who these days use (and abuse) Windows don't
know the first thing about programming, and once you put them in front
of a Linux box with what to them looks like a bewildering GUI they will
complain and whine about it without end, but they won't have the
patience or inclination to work through the rather steep learning curve
to learn how to program and modify the UI to their own liking.

At least from my experience with RedHat 9 and Mandrake the latest GUIs aren't any more difficult than Windows, its just that people are used to Windows. There's dozens of wacky things about the Windows GUI people just take for granted, like, if you want to stop the computer you have to click on Start, for example. I imagine the learning curve on how to modify Windows "to their own" liking would also be steep. The only actual scientific research on the subject shows that if you just stick a Windows user in front of a Linux GUI they're almost as proficient as on Windows in a short period of time without any training.

________________________________________________________________________ _________
If you put up a large switch in a cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying "End-
of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH", the paint wouldn't even have time
to dry. -- Pratchett
-- michael at czeiszperger dot org, Chapel Hill, NC





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