I just started using a Linux system a few days ago. I reformatted my Win 2k machine and set up a dual boot with Red Hat Fedora. I'm a network technician on a Windows network and consider myself pretty knowledgeable about it. I've never used Linux before, and here are some usability problems I noticed with it.
I think I should be able to do everything from a GUI. I was trying to mount a VFAT partition I set up in Windows to share between the two. I still haven't been able to do this. My friend who has been using Mandrake for a year tried to help and we couldn't figure it out. I got quite tired of logging in as root to edit text documents.
Also, I tried to update the system using the update service. It kept crashing, I couldn't get it to update. But the time I was logged in as root (instead of just entering the root password when the program opened) it worked fine. This could be a coincidence, but I don't think so.
I have also never used a MAC before, but I tried using an OSX machine my Mom had. Within minutes I was showing her how to do stuff.
In conclusion I think Linux is easy to use if you know a lot or you know nothing and have someone else set up everything for you, if you're some where in between, it's pretty hard to use.
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This is exciting and all, but the Japanese version of the Toyota Prius already does this.
I just started using a Linux system a few days ago. I reformatted my Win 2k machine and set up a dual boot with Red Hat Fedora. I'm a network technician on a Windows network and consider myself pretty knowledgeable about it. I've never used Linux before, and here are some usability problems I noticed with it. I think I should be able to do everything from a GUI. I was trying to mount a VFAT partition I set up in Windows to share between the two. I still haven't been able to do this. My friend who has been using Mandrake for a year tried to help and we couldn't figure it out. I got quite tired of logging in as root to edit text documents. Also, I tried to update the system using the update service. It kept crashing, I couldn't get it to update. But the time I was logged in as root (instead of just entering the root password when the program opened) it worked fine. This could be a coincidence, but I don't think so. I have also never used a MAC before, but I tried using an OSX machine my Mom had. Within minutes I was showing her how to do stuff. In conclusion I think Linux is easy to use if you know a lot or you know nothing and have someone else set up everything for you, if you're some where in between, it's pretty hard to use.