[SLUG] Meetings

[John Allsopp]

'Usability problems', I mean.

(If I can't write properly, no wonder I have problems using a computer)


John Allsopp wrote:
> Not true, I have a Mac and have had big, time wasting usability with 
> that too.
> 
> J
> 
> Neil Davies wrote:
>> Get a mac   problems solved
>> On 8 Sep 2007, at 21:10, John Allsopp wrote:
>>
>>> Nope, I don't understand.
>>>
>>> I must admit I haven't come across reflective screen technology, and 
>>> I know that CRT screens caused a few problems, but I'm not seeing a 
>>> people's revolution against flat screens. Is there really a huge 
>>> problem with them?
>>>
>>> And I think you started out right .. you said you know nothing about 
>>> Linux. You really, really can't say that voluntary help doesn't work. 
>>> The whole thing's build on voluntary help for gawd's sake. Linux, 
>>> Firefox, all of it. Have a read of the Cathedral and the Bazaar, it 
>>> really helped me understand a little more about open source culture.
>>>
>>> I agree with you though. Using Linux is very, very frustrating and 
>>> when you need help, you do have to help yourself a lot too which is a 
>>> culture change when normally you'd just take something that doesn't 
>>> work back to the shop. But here, you didn't pay for it, and there's 
>>> no shop. I have a degree in this stuff and find Linux impossible 
>>> sometimes. But most of the time it's pure delight.
>>>
>>> The answer to getting Linux to use the technology you want is to 
>>> volunteer to help people who want to make it happen.
>>>
>>> J
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Richard Lung wrote:
>>>> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old fogey, 
>>>> Ive found that expecting voluntary help when things go wrong or when 
>>>> you cannot do extra things you want to, doesnt really work (and is 
>>>> unfair on Linux experts anyway). Expecting a mass switch to Linux on 
>>>> this voluntary support basis seems to me totally impractical. Linux 
>>>> specialists wouldnt have lives of their own, let alone be able to 
>>>> get on with their own professional work.
>>>> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of the 
>>>> open source ethic is another matter. I think you are still really in 
>>>> that stage.
>>>> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some things 
>>>> you might want to do.
>>>> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted use 
>>>> seems to reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use it.
>>>>  More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been 
>>>> grossly neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-strain 
>>>> they all cause. (I know one SLG member is concerned with partially 
>>>> sighted users.) Considering that Panasonic e-books use reflective 
>>>> screen technology from a Cambridge Mass. US firm, it seems a pity 
>>>> that the industry is so slow on the uptake for computer monitors to 
>>>> use this eye-friendly technology.
>>>> from
>>>> Richard Lung.
>>>> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>>>>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>>>>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice. 
>>>>> Several
>>>>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many haven't
>>>>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft, Microsoft,
>>>>> Microsoft...