Novell's Releases Linux Usability Testing Videos

sp3298622 writes "Novell is releasing primary desktop research, including over 200 videos and analysis of usability tests, at betterdesktop.openSUSE.org. Vice president of collaboration and desktop engineering for Novell, Nat Friedman: As a programmer, it's sometimes difficult to know how ordinary people with no technical experience are reacting to your software. Linux people tend to know other Linux people. In these usability tests, we selected test subjects who were experienced with Windows, but who had never heard of Linux, and asked them to perform basic tasks using the Linux desktop."

Comments

Windows apps are NOT distributed as source code.

[khasim]

That relies on a database of applications, correct? So if I come across some no-name software that I want to check out (as there are millions for Windows) and it's not in the database, it doesn't solve my problem.

And, by the same token, if the Windows developer did not spend the time to PACKAGE his app in a Windows INSTALLER you'd have the same problem.

Why do you assume that Windows developers will package their apps correctly but that Linux developers will not?

RPMs are a start, but there are so many problems I've had in the past with them, they are relatively useless.

Again, you assume that the Windows developer will do everything 100% correctly, but that the Linux developer will do everything 100% wrong. Why is that?

With a statically compiled app, there should be ZERO problems with a .rpm file.

If it is not statically compiled, the only problem you'll have is if it calls some uncommon library that the developer did not see fit to link to on his site.

Install packages need to be like OS X. Drag the app in, and it just works. I don't know how much easier it can get.

But Windows does not work like that and Windows has a much larger desktop share than Macs do.

Therefore, being the easiest way to install an app will not get you desktop marketshare.