Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (3513 mails)

[Jerry Kreps <jerrykreps@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Friday 02 March 2001 00:52, Victor R. Cardona wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 01, 2001 at 01:59:46PM -0600, Michael Schwager wrote:
> > Not sure how that response was supposed to help, but Julia hit
> > the nail on the head (see
> > http://www.forsitesolutions.com/Techstuff/techie_manifesto.htm,
> > also http://www.unfinishedrevolution.com/book.html).
> >
> > There are millions of people like her (and me) who want to use
> > computers to get from point A to point B.  If every driver of
> > every car on the road needed to become a mechanic, imagine how
> > inefficient we would be- what an absurd situation.
> >
> > Julia's difficulties point to the heart of the problem with
> > Linux' adoption as the OS of choice for the desktop.  The sooner
> > we realize it the better.
> >
> > Well, we could simply say goodbye and good riddance to millions
> > of people too busy or with no desire to become an expert kernel
> > hacker.  How absurd is that?
>
> I do sympathise with Julia, but you must understand that Linux is a
> variant of UNIX. UNIX/Linux provide the user with an incredible
> amount of control over the computer. This control creates the need
> for complexity.

However, Linux is moving as fast as it's army of coders can move it
into the rodent driven GUI world.  In that world no particular technical
expertise is required besides knowing how to point and click and 
where the nearest help desk is located for the more complicated
procedures (Help! my kernel paniced!  what does that mean?)
See below

>
> I have been using Linux for a couple of years now, and have seen
> great advances in the UI space. Things are much easier for
> beginners now then they were then. This is a good thing.
> Unfortunately, developers must still deal with that complexity, and
> some of it must be passed on to the user.
>
> If Julia, and other newbies are willing to put in the effort, then
> they will be rewarded with a fully functional, fast, stable, and
> very cost effective operating system. If they are not willing...
> well then perhaps Linux/UNIX is not for them.

That's the point!  Julia and many other newbies, not all, DON"T HAVE
the technical background to become 'proficient' in Linux as you
seem to think they must.  I've had a computer in my home since
1978 and my wife has only recently learned how to turn it on and
run the browser and email.  My wife is not stupid, but she doesn't
have the training or interest to become technically literate. I showed
her how to point an click.  She's happy.  That ALL she needs to 
know.   I can guarantee that the recent Zip100 problem would have
sent her to Windows or off the computer all together had she been
required to tackle it alone.

If the Linux desktop doesn't become as user friendly in both installation
and maintanence as WinXX is *percieved* to be (and it's there for many 
hardware configurations and in the hands of folks like you and I) then
the KDE and GNOME folks are wasting their time.

Julia has no reason to become a technically proficient computer user, as
much as that would help her.  She has a life.  Linux is no making the
PROMISE that she can user her computer with all the ease that WinXX
offers.  Except for her samba problem that may be true, but if she can't get
samba to work then Linux is not the OS for here.
JLK


>
> Victor Cardona