* Michael Loeffler
I do see the term user divided into two groups: - the user like my wife, my mum, my brother. They use a computer to do some productivity work (OpenOffice covers that mainly), they surf the internet, send/receive emails maybe some picture manipulation or additional a certain software (accounting, database) they need to fulfil their tasks at home or in their small business. They want to switch on/off the computer, maybe an update once in a while and have someone who helps them if something doesn't work. In short they want that everything works as expected without any change, they don't care how it works nor under which licence it is. - the user like some friends of mine. They do the same as the group above but aren't shy to dig into an issue, are willing to read an article or even the documentation to enhance/configure their system and most of them are willing to play around. They check if software match their needs, they change operating systems, they exchange hardware and they want to know what's going on.
For me the first group is just out of sight as openSUSE - nor any other Linux I'm aware of - just doesn't meet their expectations.
I agree almost completely with your grouping, but the first group is definitely *not* "out of sight" providing the software exists to accomplish their tasks. I have three friends who have moved to openSUSE from windows and not gone back and they have virtually no knowledge of how software/hardware works. One called me constantly for about three weeks, then maybe once a month for a year and now only to talk. The other two got about thirty minutes face-to-face training and have had no problems, granted they do mostly internet browsing and email. I maintain their computers/software.
The second group we mustn't forget to make them happy with our distribution. They are the group we may convert into contributors.
Agreed. -- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org