Windows XP Edges Out KDE in Usability Test

AstroDrabb writes "Linux, once viewed as an operating system that only computer geeks could appreciate, is today a much more user-friendly software that companies, public administrations and consumers can master almost as easily as Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP."

Comments

I'm not surprised...

[imhotep1]

I'm not surprised that XP won out in all categories

The article states that their subjects were people, "with computer skills but no prior experience with Linux or Windows XP",

Now, unless they got a bunch of Mac people, I'm guessing (from the way that line is worded,) they got people who had "computer experience" from Windows 95/98.

Migrating from 98 to XP would be a bit easier than 98 to KDE. Microsoft has gone out of their way to provide a continually improving, yet consistent, interface for their target audience.

I just happen to not consider myself part of that target audience. I use Ratpoison myself, but KDE is a very good windowing system. Were I to sit here and list out all of the 'Microsoft ui vs. other windowing systems' I would not only be mostly preaching to the choir, but also mostly off-topic, but I just wanted to point out that KDE is designed by people who want usability with some gloss, but not necessarilly at the cost of having the ui try and 'do everything' for the user.

Unfortunatly the 'do everything' is exactly what Microsoft intends for the Windows ui. Prefect for my mother maybe, and obviously for their testers, but not for me

100%

[EverDense]

But when it comes to the design of the desktop interface and programs, Windows XP still has a
strong edge: 83% of the Linux users said they liked the design of the desktop and the
programs, compared with 100% of the Windows XP users.

83% to 100% is a strong edge?
I am AMAZED that every single person involved in the study like the Windows XP desktop.

Were they all cartoon characters, and the XP desktop made them feel at home?

Re:KDE/GNOME/etc is much more useable than XP

[tshak]

Keep going with your "How do I do, " [Insert PowerUser feature here] and you'll further underscore the problem with many developers. You're talking about features that the general user doesn't use and probably won't understand or have a need for.