What's so great about ubuntu?

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by Tim Eason

IMO, some of the best software out there is the kind that you don't need to be a techie to know how to use -- especially the base OS. I can't see my Mom wanting to learn how her computer works. Heck, there are things even I don't want to know. I don't have time to learn everything. Apple doesn't take this approach either, so it's not just MS. Hiding stuff is a plus in my book.

Depends what you're hiding. should you need a command line to install stuff? no. Should you have a foundational understanding as to what does what (samba = networking), yes. do most people want to? no - they'd rather try to keep track of who divorced who and who got out of rehab this week. these people shouldn't use a computer, and linux would make them keenly aware of it.

Joey

Originally Posted by voyager529

do most people want to? no - they'd rather try to keep track of who divorced who and who got out of rehab this week. these people shouldn't use a computer, and linux would make them keenly aware of it.

Joey

Harsh, Joey! Do you really think that? Computers are for everyone, not just geeks. You don't need to know how a car works to drive one, only how to drive it. The point of making ANYTHING that is to go to mass market is to make it as easy as possible to use. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just good marketing. People would rather pay for something that works out of the box than get something for free that doesn't work. I try to make CMN as user friendly as possible. The majority of our visitors aren't necessarily geeks. Otherwise I guess I'd be using a BBS from 1995.

[Tony Kanago]

I believe that computing should be open and available to everyone. Everyone should be able to use them easily. What this realistically means is that interfaces should be simple and effective; this most definitely does not mean dumbing thing down.

The trouble is that often the people who refuse to learn tend to be the ones who turn belligerent and offensive when things appear to require some learning. Where can we find the balance? I feel a Linux desktop should become the Google product- simplistic and easy to use, but it most definitely doesn't harm the intelligent people.

Yeah, I'm NOT suggesting that software be TOTALLY dumbed down, but on the surface it should be easy enough for anyone to use. Again with the car analogy (my brother is a pro mechanic) -- if you are a mechanic then you can get in there and tweak things until they are the way you like them. If you hate getting your hands dirty (like me) then you... just drive. If you want it tweaked, you ask a mechanic. There is a reason why Adobe has come out with the Elements line. PSE -- They "dumbed" it down so that anyone can use it, but in reality it can do a great deal of what PS CS3 can do. The interface is just a LOT easier.

Honestly, this is kind of a silly discussion. I just can't see the point of the argument.

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by Tim Eason

Harsh, Joey! Do you really think that? Computers are for everyone, not just geeks. You don't need to know how a car works to drive one, only how to drive it. The point of making ANYTHING that is to go to mass market is to make it as easy as possible to use. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just good marketing. People would rather pay for something that works out of the box than get something for free that doesn't work. I try to make CMN as user friendly as possible. The majority of our visitors aren't necessarily geeks. Otherwise I guess I'd be using a BBS from 1995.

Originally Posted by Tim Eason

Yeah, I'm NOT suggesting that software be TOTALLY dumbed down, but on the surface it should be easy enough for anyone to use. Again with the car analogy (my brother is a pro mechanic) -- if you are a mechanic then you can get in there and tweak things until they are the way you like them. If you hate getting your hands dirty (like me) then you... just drive. If you want it tweaked, you ask a mechanic. There is a reason why Adobe has come out with the Elements line. PSE -- They "dumbed" it down so that anyone can use it, but in reality it can do a great deal of what PS CS3 can do. The interface is just a LOT easier.

Honestly, this is kind of a silly discussion. I just can't see the point of the argument.

It probably is a silly discussion Tim, but this is CMN - we do that from time to time =).

Yeah, that probably was a bit harsh but here's the thing: 8 or 9 out of 10 customers at Staples could easily tell me at least 2 celebrities in rehab. I'll bet that no more than 2 out of ten could name 2 linux distros. I don't mean use them - I mean *name* them. I had one customer who was in her late 70's to early 80's and asked me, "I need a Norton Antivirus. Is that a disk you put in your computer?" This is the type of individual who I am fairly sure would have a better existence without having a PC. As for your car analogy you're correct. I shouldn't need to be able to rebuild a transmission in order to drive a car. It is unwise (at best) to not be able to put a spare tire on a car or to check your own oil. People who don't know how to change a flat tire become keenly aware of it when they're stuck on the side of the road and have no cellular service.
Every computer user should have *some* degree of understanding of the basic parts and what they do (hard drive stores stuff, RAM is short term memory, processor is the brain, modem connects to the internet, USB connects most other stuff); I don't think that's too much to ask. Still, most people are completely unaware of what's inside their computer. I have to explain to alot of my customers at Staples that Windows and Word/Office are two different things.
Maybe I'm just strange, but whenever I get something fixed on my car, I ask my mechanic for a "stupid people definition" (my term, not his) as to what that part does, just so that I can have a basic understanding as to what goes on underneath the hood. Most people don't think like that.

Joey

Maybe I'm just strange

Yes, you're just strange. More PC power to old people!