Unfortunately, I think you might have gotten the moral wrong:
It might be something more like:
"If _I_ can convert a non-technical user to linux _we_ can too".
I would argue that your father was able to switch solely because of the planning, thought and effort that YOU put into it, not because of anything else.
I.e. The work you did took the place of much of the pain/slowdown that normal users would feel as part of a migration.
Things are just different enough so the user can't or won't accept the cost in time to learn them.
The user doesn't WAN'T to learn something new, they want to do task XYZ. The posts about inertia really strike me as right on the mark.
This sort of thing was mentioned quite frequently already, but it bears repeating.
There must be a colossal payback for a non-geek to use/learn some different to do the same task they're doing today, or it must be indistinguishable (in time, skill, effort, not necessarily visual aspects) from their current task.
I think when they're doing new tasks its a bit easier.
Slashdot Mirror
I can stop buying clothes, a simple shower and some weed-N-feed will keep the lush green growth covering my body looking great.
Ok.. Who sells the right stuff? Uh.... Scotts? Damn.
Unfortunately, I think you might have gotten the moral wrong: It might be something more like: "If _I_ can convert a non-technical user to linux _we_ can too". I would argue that your father was able to switch solely because of the planning, thought and effort that YOU put into it, not because of anything else. I.e. The work you did took the place of much of the pain/slowdown that normal users would feel as part of a migration. Things are just different enough so the user can't or won't accept the cost in time to learn them. The user doesn't WAN'T to learn something new, they want to do task XYZ. The posts about inertia really strike me as right on the mark. This sort of thing was mentioned quite frequently already, but it bears repeating. There must be a colossal payback for a non-geek to use/learn some different to do the same task they're doing today, or it must be indistinguishable (in time, skill, effort, not necessarily visual aspects) from their current task. I think when they're doing new tasks its a bit easier.