Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 6th Jul 2007 10:56 UTC, submitted by michuk
The article 'Understanding the Common User' points that "everything should be as simple as it is... Or even simpler" and warns that converting a common user to Linux without giving him enough protection leads to a imminent failure. A rebuttal, 'Get Real or How Not To Convert Your Grandma to Linux' stresses that dumbing down is not the key to success, understanding is.
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Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:2005-07-12
We went through the same thing with OS/2 15 years ago. Once it became a popular alternative, we had all kinds of fanbois calling themselves "Team OS/2ers" and trying to convert everyone to the platform.
No insult intended to those Team OS/2 folks who did so much to legitimately help people and constructively advocate the platform, but there's a big difference between being an enthusiastic advocate and declaring something to be the ONE TRUE SOLUTION.
Experience teaches almost everyone that there *is* no "one true solution". :-) It just takes some people a little longer to figure that one out... :-(
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Member since:
2007-06-09
I so remember what it was like when the linux community was full of arrogant, aloof geeks. We teased our windows friends about not being smart enough to use a real mans operating system, but like the author said, you only really convert a non-techie once before you realize just what you are getting yourself into.
Nowadays the community is flooded with all kinds of evangelistic children who can only really use the OS with a ton of hand holding, but are leading the way in converting the rest of the masses. I am more oldschool. I don't WANT the masses, especially when getting them basically means turning linux into windows.
Anyways, sorry for the huge rant. If this turns into a flame war I apologize now, I really wasnt trying to troll.