Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 29th Jul 2007 19:02 UTC, submitted by flanque
"Red Flag Linux has turned out to be little more than a key bargaining chip in a high stakes game of commerce between the Chinese government and the world's largest software maker. Thanks to some major concessions on source code and a precipitous price drop, the Chinese government has now thoroughly embraced Windows and Office. And thanks to a major about-face in the way that it deals with piracy, Microsoft has also won over the Chinese people."
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Member since:2005-07-02
It seems you haven't tried Linux in years. I *have* put non-techie users on Linux, and they have found it as easy as Windows (in fact, there were studies that showed common tasks were as easy under Gnome/KDE as they were under Windows).
But that is a far cry from a phone call every day or two, and semi regular visits to do things I can't walk them through over the phone.
What version was it? Gnome or KDE? Did you explain the basics to them?
You know you can set them up with SSH/remote desktop so you *don't* have to go there in person, right (this applies to many Windows issues as well).
The whole lack of malware is seriously outweighed by the overall complexity of the system.
Try a pre-installed Ubuntu PC one of these days.
And if you tell me its not complex, get your mom using it, and it will completely change your way of thinking.
Windows is too complex for my mom, so I wouldn't see any difference. However, I did set up two non-techie users with Linux, and after a short acclimatation period they found it just as easy as Windows.
It's power users that have a hard time getting adapted to Linux (and then badmouth it every chance they get).
Member since:2006-02-05
It seems you haven't tried Linux in years. I *have* put non-techie users on Linux, and they have found it as easy as Windows (in fact, there were studies that showed common tasks were as easy under Gnome/KDE as they were under Windows).
I have feisty installed, and when it comes to simplicity, it really hasnt advanced since when I was using warty, which WAS years ago.
What version was it? Gnome or KDE? Did you explain the basics to them?
It was for my mom, and I installed KDE as it is far closer to windows then GNOME (which reminds me alot of Mac Classic) I went through the initial configuration myself.
Windows is too complex for my mom, so I wouldn't see any difference. However, I did set up two non-techie users with Linux, and after a short acclimatation period they found it just as easy as Windows.
Windows is too complex for my mom too, but it is usable. She can install software, and find software to install. She can find solutions to simple problems, and she is able to use the industry standard software she is familiar with. (academic stuff like SPSS, Word, OneNote, etc) She has no problem with any of the Palm software she uses, even the ones with front ends on her computer. With very basic instructions and agressively set scanning schedules, malware is a managable issue for her. Took me a very long time to admit it, but I was doing her a huge disservice by pushing her to switch, and did myself a huge disservice by wasting massive amounts of time finding solutions and alternatives to her problems. When everything was said and done, the only real advantage is that it was free as in beer, her software wasnt as good, she still wasnt as comfortable in the environment, and she was far more reliant on me then she is on windows.
Another friend of mine was a windows power user and had been for years, after a very long time he now enjoys playing with ubuntu, but again, the platform doesnt offer him the tools that windows does. He thanks me regularily for pushing him because playing with linux is alot of fun for people with inquisitive minds, but he only has it installed on his kids pc, and is now on mac full time. With him it was closer to your experience with his friends, but he is a techie. My mom isnt.
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Member since:
2006-02-05
I got a family member on linux once. Never again. Sure, twice a year you go over and spend an hour being amazed by the sorry sight of their "computer", as you format and reinstall windows. But that is a far cry from a phone call every day or two, and semi regular visits to do things I can't walk them through over the phone. It's pretty ok now, but I really won't put myself through that again.
The only thing linux really has going for it for non-techies is that its free. The whole lack of malware is seriously outweighed by the overall complexity of the system. And if you tell me its not complex, get your mom using it, and it will completely change your way of thinking.