To non-technical people, computers must be appliances, and they will prefer the OS and Software Suite that accomplishes this best. Right now that's Windows and Mac. Linux has too many dials. Things can go wrong. The end user cannot have anything go wrong ever.
It is true that most newbies are generally intimidated by the fact that you can change everything on Linux. However, the appliance principle falls radically short I feel.
Most people I've done work on computers for are further frustrated that Windows won't let you change anything. (I'm getting the picture of a microwave that only has a dial to twist to select how much time you want your food to cook. But if it's a Vista microwave, it's a big irritating dial that asks you 20 times whether you're absolutely sure you want to set it for 5 minutes. Or it decides to override your cooking skill completely because you lack the authorization to twist the dial.)
Or they are frustrated by Mac for letting you change everything on some programs but nothing on other programs. (I can't think of a good microwave analogy for Mac.)
Most people I've found are refreshed by being able to change anything on Linux. They file the knowledge that they can change anything away, and this satisfies them. Most don't try to change everything - at least not immediately - and they establish a routine in using the computer, similar to your comment about microwave people who
always hit those same buttons because you know they work. Every time you hit those buttons, your food gets warm in exactly the same manner.
Having options is never a bad thing, so long as there is also a simple routine that can be established as well. Linux provides both of those options. Most distros are easy enough to learn for beginners, but depending on your skill and willingness to learn, you can also learn fairly advanced computing on them as well.
I believe that all users deserve some documentation though regardless of their skill level or routine. Documentation does matter.
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To non-technical people, computers must be appliances, and they will prefer the OS and Software Suite that accomplishes this best. Right now that's Windows and Mac. Linux has too many dials. Things can go wrong. The end user cannot have anything go wrong ever.
It is true that most newbies are generally intimidated by the fact that you can change everything on Linux. However, the appliance principle falls radically short I feel.
Most people I've done work on computers for are further frustrated that Windows won't let you change anything. (I'm getting the picture of a microwave that only has a dial to twist to select how much time you want your food to cook. But if it's a Vista microwave, it's a big irritating dial that asks you 20 times whether you're absolutely sure you want to set it for 5 minutes. Or it decides to override your cooking skill completely because you lack the authorization to twist the dial.)
Or they are frustrated by Mac for letting you change everything on some programs but nothing on other programs. (I can't think of a good microwave analogy for Mac.)
Most people I've found are refreshed by being able to change anything on Linux. They file the knowledge that they can change anything away, and this satisfies them. Most don't try to change everything - at least not immediately - and they establish a routine in using the computer, similar to your comment about microwave people who
always hit those same buttons because you know they work. Every time you hit those buttons, your food gets warm in exactly the same manner.
Having options is never a bad thing, so long as there is also a simple routine that can be established as well. Linux provides both of those options. Most distros are easy enough to learn for beginners, but depending on your skill and willingness to learn, you can also learn fairly advanced computing on them as well.
I believe that all users deserve some documentation though regardless of their skill level or routine. Documentation does matter.