It is amazing how quickly we forget. It was the innovation of the GUI that began to make computers accessible to the masses. Before the GUI you could only use a computer if you invested the time to figure out how it worked and what commands to use/avoid.
GUI enabled WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) to finally come of age. For the first time we could literally show the admin assistants (secretaries) why they should give up their typewriters. I still remember the look of sheer delight on the face of the first secretary I taught to use a word processor instead of her typewriter.
The more user-friendly computers become, the more people they become accessible to. The less time you have to invest in learning to use the tool, the faster you reap the benefits of the tool.
For Linux to reach the mainstream and have a hope of replacing Windows on the desktop, it has to evolve to the point where a user can install it and begin working without having to research how to do it.
Linux packagers have to develop an install interface that asks if you want a default or custom installation. The default installation has to configure the system to a reasonable level of security and optimization. Install and configure the standard applications. And load directly to a GUI. All without asking the user much more than their name.
Until we reach that level of automation, users and PC makers alike will stay with the easy choice.
Slashdot Mirror
It is amazing how quickly we forget. It was the innovation of the GUI that began to make computers accessible to the masses. Before the GUI you could only use a computer if you invested the time to figure out how it worked and what commands to use/avoid.
GUI enabled WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) to finally come of age. For the first time we could literally show the admin assistants (secretaries) why they should give up their typewriters. I still remember the look of sheer delight on the face of the first secretary I taught to use a word processor instead of her typewriter.
The more user-friendly computers become, the more people they become accessible to. The less time you have to invest in learning to use the tool, the faster you reap the benefits of the tool.
For Linux to reach the mainstream and have a hope of replacing Windows on the desktop, it has to evolve to the point where a user can install it and begin working without having to research how to do it.
Linux packagers have to develop an install interface that asks if you want a default or custom installation. The default installation has to configure the system to a reasonable level of security and optimization. Install and configure the standard applications. And load directly to a GUI. All without asking the user much more than their name.
Until we reach that level of automation, users and PC makers alike will stay with the easy choice.
Lord Slade