Ask OSNews: Linux User-Friendliness
Linked by David Adams on Mon 24th Aug 2009 09:21 UTC
Linux A reader asks: Why is Linux still not as user friendly as the two other main OSes with all the people developing for Linux? Is it because it is mainly developed by geeks? My initial feeling when reading this question was that it was kind of a throwaway, kind of a slam in disguise as a genuine question. But the more I thought about it, the more intrigued I felt. There truly are a large amount of resources being dedicated to the development of Linux and its operating system halo (DEs, drivers, apps, etc). Some of these resources are from large companies (IBM, Red Hat, Novell). Why isn't Linux more user-friendly? Is this an inherent limitation with open source software?
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Soulbender
Member since:
2005-08-18

Typical linux user, I do know because i have read, i am talking about the average desktop user like your mom or aunt, who will not take 30 min


What makes you think a cryptic "System Files" (what's a system file?) or "Program Files" is easier for the novice user? Not to mention the litter under the "Windows" folder. Oh yeah, that stuff is a breeze for the un-initiated.

Either you have very strong sense of sarcasm or your a dumb***


Maybe you can enlighten us then. How do I find out exactly what files an installer installed and where in Windows?

Reply Parent Score: 1

postdiction Member since:
2009-07-08

"Typical linux user, I do know because i have read, i am talking about the average desktop user like your mom or aunt, who will not take 30 min


What makes you think a cryptic "System Files" (what's a system file?) or "Program Files" is easier for the novice user? Not to mention the litter under the "Windows" folder. Oh yeah, that stuff is a breeze for the un-initiated.

Either you have very strong sense of sarcasm or your a dumb***


Maybe you can enlighten us then. How do I find out exactly what files an installer installed and where in Windows? "

lol, I like your attempts at making a point.

Reply Parent Score: 1

antenna Member since:
2006-10-22

Points convincingly made if you ask me..

Reply Parent Score: 2

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Soulbender Member since:
2005-08-18

I like how you cant respond to the right post with the right comments.

Reply Parent Score: 2

dragossh Member since:
2008-12-16

What makes you think a cryptic "System Files" (what's a system file?) or "Program Files" is easier for the novice user? Not to mention the litter under the "Windows" folder. Oh yeah, that stuff is a breeze for the un-initiated.


Gee, I don't know. Maybe a system file is a file that is required by the system and should not be deleted? And maybe Program Files contains the files needed by programs to run. Wow! It is logical.

Maybe you can enlighten us then. How do I find out exactly what files an installer installed and where in Windows?


Browse to \Program Files\Program and there are your files. Your user files are either there or in \Documents and Settings\User\AppData on XP, and in \Users\User\AppData in Vista.

Reply Parent Score: 2

Soulbender Member since:
2005-08-18

Maybe a system file is a file that is required by the system and should not be deleted?


Oh you mean like any file outside the users own file space? Again, once you actually get to the point that you have to or want to screw around with system files it does not matter if it's called "System Files", "Windows" or "/etc" or "/bin".
People aren't idiots, they can figure this stuff out when they need to.

Browse to \Program Files\Program and there are your files.


Except the ones that goes in "Common Files", "c:\Windows" or one of it's many subfolders. This is of course only "documented" in the undocumented file format the particular installer system the application used, if at all.
Yes, I can see clearly now how that is much better than to actually have a built-in system for keeping track of what files goes where.

Your user files are either there or in \Documents and Settings\User\AppData on XP, and in \Users\User\AppData in Vista.


It's nice to see that Microsoft has learned from *nix to give each users his/hers own file space.
How is "Documents and Settings" and "User" any easier to understand than "/home"?

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