Mark Shuttleworth today urged development of Linux models to rival what Apple has done on the desktop and mobile devices. Certainly on the desktop experience, we need to shoot beyond the Mac, but I think it's equally relevant [in] the mobile space, Shuttleworth said, outlining the challenge as figuring out how to deliver a 'crisp and clean' experience, without sacrificing the community process. Key to this will be services-based mechanisms for creating revenue for free software that go beyond advertising, Shuttleworth said, adding that cadence in free software releases spurs innovation, and that a regular release schedule, as well as meaningful ties to Windows, will be essential to fulfilling the vision.
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Member since:2007-02-05
For informational purposes, I've set up maybe a dozen people with linux and:
1. Nobody uses the command line for file management. Everybody's used to the folder paradigm and understands it whether it starts at C: or /. Besides which, there are great GUI tools for that kind of thing (konqueror springs to mind; whenever I need to help somebody with something I just ssh with konqueror. Much easier than ssh on the command line and cp).
2. Package management has been difficult to make people do at all. This is probably what I get the most calls about ("I want a program to do X, can you do that?") I show everybody adept but only a couple people use it. I just get a lot of calls the first couple weeks and then they have everything they need for 99% of what they do.
3. I install Kubuntu for most people and encourage people to use katapult (an amazing launcher that comes with kubuntu by default). Half of people pick that up and love it and the other half stick with the regular menu; it's there, they're familiar with it, it's a no brainer.
4. Again, nobody who comes to me for help has ever needed any scripts.
What ends up happening as far as the command line is that I use it when they need help because I find it more convienent than the GUI apps (especially package management. Why open adept, search for a program, hit install, hit apply when that's 1 line on a terminal?) but everything that they need has a gui.
Member since:2005-07-06
Quag7s point is that if the developers use the system differently to how the users use it, the user experience is unlikely to be as smooth as it should be simply because the developers don't understand how things could be improved.
If you spend your whole day on the command line you won't really know how that one little file manager bug you've classed as "Minor" is really an irritating annoyance that ruins everything, for example.
Member since:2007-05-17
Member since:
2005-07-28
Not sure why someone would mod you down - I can see disagreeing with you but it's not like your post was a troll or abusive.
I'm curious how true that is. I'd be curious to know how many Linux users:
(1) use the command line for most of their file management
(2) use the command line for most of their package management
(3) use the command line to execute programs
(4) use a lot of custom scripts
vs.
How many people use Ubuntu basically like Windows most of the time. A friend of mine just installed Ubuntu and years ago I got used to doing things at the command line so I can't even answer some of his questions without fiddling around with my mouse to see how certain things work.