On Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 06:54:29PM -0500, Herbert Graf wrote:
> On Thu, 2007-01-25 at 07:32 +0800, Xiaofan Chen wrote:
> 
> > Yes this is the correct way but Mr and Mrs Average User will not know
> > how to choose the correct hardware in the first place. 
> 
> Which is yet another reason I don't recommend Linux to an average user

I think that even in today's environment you underestimate user resiliancy.
Over the last 25 years of personal computing, users all over the world had
to, and in some ways still have to, jump in, over, and around a ton of
hoops. Truthfully I feel it has the vast majority of users so beaten down
that they think that computers issues are 1) the norm, and 2) somehow their
fault.

The true reasons for the lack of switchover is because there's no significant
pressure to do so. Windows XP works for the vast majority of users and the
way the cost is structured, the users don't really feel how much it costs.

The question is whether or not Microsoft will start solid implementation
of DRM measures to secure IP content. Registration with teeth, content
resolution reduction, and a more normalized pricing structure could create
enough negative pressure to get folks to consider switching.

And Macs aren't really an option because it'll require buying new hardware.

> > Only when there
> > is a critical mass of Linux user, the hardware vendors will provide the
> > driver or the information to write a driver.
> 
> But many hardware vendors are already doing that. Most of the "big ones"
> do for much of their hardware (either supply a driver, or supply the
> info needed to write a driver).

But if the original article's premise comes to fruition, this practice will
come to an end. The proposed Vista DRM scheme for premium content will require
digitally signed drivers and no release of information of how to bypass those
drivers.

What then?

> > > Now, is Linux ready for the "normal" user? Nope. It still is something
> > > that sometimes needs tweaking at the command line, and that's
> > > beyond the majority of the computing public.
> > 
> > I believe command line is not a big problem. 
> 
> For an average user? It's a HUGE problem. Most average users are
> completely terrified of the command line, they don't know what it is,
> they don't WANT to know what it is.

It's funny that users felt exactly the same way about graphical interfaces
in the late 80's and early 90's in the nacent days of Windows. Guess what?
They adapted.

I usually point out that point in click interfaces reduce fully functioning
adults to the level of a 2 year old, which points to what they want.

I'll admit that the traditional command line with no guidance can of course
be daunting. However any well layed out howto with instructions to "Click 
this", "type that" generally do not phase the average computer user.

Also my feeling is that there is a misperception of how much administration
needs to be done on Linux boxes. Generally once a Linux box is set up, it
becomes quite limited in its administration tasks. I think that technically 
savvy folks like ourselves tend to think that ordinary Joes and Janes are
interested in mucking around and tweaking systems like we tend to do. They
aren't. Average Joes and Janes will leave systems that work alone, and ask
for help for systems that are having problems, just like they do with
Windows and Mac boxes.

Another point is that one can generally admin a Unix box remotely without too
much hassle.  My late father was a complete computer phobe until the last 5
years of his life. He finally came to the realization that computers and the
internet were excellent tools for commincating ideas and he finally warmed up
to their use. He could care less about configurations as long as he could
access his E-mail and scan/fax his papers. The upshot is that I administered
his machine though I was 500 miles away from it. Also he was fine with
walking through the occasional bootup fsck (he was running ext2 filesystems
at the time) through a phone conversation when it was warrented.

I teach an Intro to Unix class at my University. My first task is to poll
students on the activities they actually use their computers for on a daily 
basis. I almost always get the following consensus list:

1) Web Browsing
2) E-mail/IM
3) Office Suite
4) Gaming
5) Media (music, movies, graphics)

I then proceed to outline what types of tools are available on Linux boxes
for those activities. Trust me if you set up the average Joe/Jane with

1) Firefox
2) Thunderbird
3) Open Office
4) Gaming is always an issue see below
5) xmms, totem, GIMP

on a properly configured box with Internet, you'd be hard pressed to find
a user that couldn't function effectively. For games I point out the
following site as a sample:

http://techgage.com/article/top_10_free_linux_games/1

pointing out that while you won't find commercial games, there are different
types of entertainment programs available.

My students usually come out of the session both surprised and impressed with
the toolsets that are available. I also give each of them a Knoppix CD to
boot on their own laptops so they can experience it first hand.

Is it perfect? No. Functional? Definitely.

> > The hardware driver is a big problem. 
> 
> Not anymore, almost any type of hardware you want these days comes in a
> form compatible with Linux.

I agree. However, the migration problem stems from the fact that a migrating
user will come with hardware sets geared for Windows computing. For example
I took a flyer and bought a Brother MFC 7300 Color Inkjet all-in-one at
the thrift store. While Brother is working on Linux drivers for many of their
products, this particular model doesn't have one.

One challenge I'm still finding under Knoppix for example is wireless support.
It's simply not as mature as the rest of the hardware driver sets. Also it
doesn't autoconfigure. Both are challenges.

> > The incompability between different distributions
> > is a big problem.
> 
> It used to be a huge problem, these days most distros are largely based
> on a very small subset of distros. Incompatibilities still exist, but in
> my experience are pretty minor these days. Certainly for "average" users
> these incompatibilities are handled by most install scripts without
> issue.

And most distros work real hard to make RPM or dpkg bundles available. In
the package management game I still find getting all the right sets of
libraries from the repositories can be a challenge.

SNIP

BAJ
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