[Sussex] RE: Linux and the Average User

[John D.]

Gareth Ablett wrote:
> From: Geoffrey Teale [mailto:gteale at cmedresearch.com]
> Subject: Re: [Sussex] RE: Linux and the Average User
> 
>  
>>On Tuesday 12 July 2005 11:55, Richie Jarvis wrote:
>>    
>>>>Users don't want to have to configure anything. They just "want it
>>>>        
>too
>  
>>>>work". Not too spend hours/days/weeks (in my case years), trying
>>>>        
>to
>  
>>>>learn how something works, just too get it to "go"!
>>>>        
>>Actually, as MH and I have discussed off list, users say that, but
>>    
>they have
>  
>>double standards.  They are used to jumping through all manner of
>>    
>hoops to
>  
>>get Windows and MS Office to "just work", but the slightest bump in
>>    
>the road
>  
>>with Linux causes them to run screaming.
>>    
>
>If we can work out why this is then would could make Linux even more
>inviting to new users, Is it because of; 
>A) the tech support guy at wanadoo said we don't support linux. 
>B) Because you get a nice fluffy blue screen (BSOD) when everything goes
>wrong. 
>C) Because I know windows should do it I just need to play a bit harder.
>(Therefore meaning that due to lack of knowledge in Linux puts people
>off.)
>
>As soon as linux gets introduced as an alternative at a younger age you
>will see attitudes change.
Hum? Probably not a bad idea, though I suspect that the vested interests 
would have something to say!

Though I think that education is probably the key i.e. you need a 
browser to view web pages, not you need Internet Explorer to view web 
pages etc etc replacing the propietary name of a specific app with a 
generic description. Plus if the educators can then show examples of how 
different products of the same thing work in the same way (again 
browsers being an easy example), then maybe "the kids" would see that it 
matters not, the name, but the function (Opera vs Firefox vs IE vs 
whatever).

Well at least I'm presuming thats what you're alluding too Gareth ??

regards

John D.