Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 31st Jan 2006 19:27 UTC, submitted by anonymous
Google Google's Dan Kegel will be keynoting at the 2006 Southern California Linux Expo on Feb 12th. He will be giving a presentation titled "Why doesn't Johnny run Linux? Or, Overcoming Desktop Obstacles". Dan will go over some of the main issues identified by the recent Desktop Linux Survey and Desktop Linux Architects' meeting at OSDL, as well as his own list of issues, and what's being done to solve them. This is interesting with regard to El Reg's story on 'Goobuntu'. Elsewhere, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols doesn't believe the rumours.
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RE: Two Cents
by sean batten on Wed 1st Feb 2006 16:55 UTC in reply to "Two Cents"
sean batten
Member since:
2005-07-06

That's a bit harsh. If the user is happy with the experience why should he want to "take control of his OS destiny"?

Sure, learning new stuff takes effort, but it also takes time. Most people have enough going on in their lives without having to worry about installing a new OS and getting it up and running with their existing hardware, especially when it's already running happily under Windows.

Why do we have to knock anyone who isn't prepared to move over to Linux..?

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RE[2]: Two Cents
by archiesteel on Wed 1st Feb 2006 17:37 in reply to "RE: Two Cents"
archiesteel Member since:
2005-07-02

I think you and Sphinx are agreeing, so your response seems a bit strange.

That said, learning new things DOES take time an effort, however that can be said of Windows as well for people who are not used to it, or when a "revolutionary" new version comes out (like the next version of MS Office).

Not only that, but there are rewards for learning new things. With some of the comments here, it seems that having to learn anything is a chore that should be avoided at all costs. If that's the prevalent view in the U.S., then I fear for the 21st century as it will undoubtedly get overtaken by nations where people aren't afraid of learning new things.

Only MS apologists have the gall to turn laziness into a virtue...

Oh, and another thing:

If the user is happy with the experience why should he want to "take control of his OS destiny"?

I know very few Windows users who are "happy with the experience." Whenever I hear anything from them, it's usually complaints, so I think you may be confusing inertia with satisfaction here...

Edited 2006-02-01 17:39

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RE[3]: Two Cents
by Bit_Rapist on Wed 1st Feb 2006 19:48 in reply to "RE[2]: Two Cents"
Bit_Rapist Member since:
2005-11-13

That said, learning new things DOES take time an effort, however that can be said of Windows as well for people who are not used to it, or when a "revolutionary" new version comes out (like the next version of MS Office).

Only MS apologists have the gall to turn laziness into a virtue...


True anything new takes the effort to learn.

However when something is already working for someone and/or they are comfortable with it, the question becomes "does this *new* or *other* technology offer enough of an incentive to take the time to learn?"

Obviously for the vast majority of windows users the answer thus far is no. Otherwise we'd see a mass exodus of everyday users moving to linux.

only GNU/Linux apologists have the gall to think that windows is unsuable for everyone and they all need to be 'saved' from their operating system.

I know very few Windows users who are "happy with the experience." Whenever I hear anything from them, it's usually complaints, so I think you may be confusing inertia with satisfaction here...

Yeah people tend to complain about anything. I have a good friend who is an avid Linux user. The last time we talked he was complaining about a wireless USB adapter not working for him in debian after hours of trying.

Considering this is my only friend who uses linux as his sole OS its safe for me to say that the vast majority of linux users I know complain about their OS also!

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RE[2]: Two Cents
by Sphinx on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 23:41 in reply to "RE: Two Cents"
Sphinx Member since:
2005-07-09

I was not mocking or knocking anyone and I agree totally with your reasoning as to why he is not motivated.

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