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Ben Goodger wrote: user friendly is not subjective. It would include attributes like detecting many bits of hardware and installing the software to deal with it without needing to spend time on line learning how to configure whatever gizmo it is, downloading software and dependencies, figuring out how to recompile a kernel so the relevant modules are there etc etc. A computer is a tool, I quite enjoy messing about with software, but there is nothing subjective about having to, for example, learn all about DVB because a distro can't figure out a satellite card is installed (something windows never does, but a few distros do) and configure it "by hand". Many people just want to use a PC and they should be able to use what is a superior type of software, linux, without having to become expert in its complexities. Being "windows like" is nothing to do with it. After having used "user friendly" (read un macho) linux distros for a couple of years I now often struggle when asked to configure windows for someone, windows isn't always very "windows like"! I love my car, I can change the oil, check the tire pressure and drive it with hitting things - mostly. But I don't want to have to study mechanics and have zero interest in becoming a mechanic. As for debian, I would have tried it out except the versions I've tried, live and otherwise, have never managed to get through the install process without crashing. And that is my first criteria for looking at a distro. If it won't actually install then I can't be bothered looking at it. After all would you buy a car if to start it you had to read the small print of a manual which said that to start it you needed to pull out the choke, half open the rear window and lower the handbrake while turning the radio on.... User friendliness, like attractive design, is not subjective. It is real and identifiable. In software design it as important as functionality. If linux is ever going to move out of the hobbiest niche market, as distros like Ubuntu (not my favourite), mandriva, PClinuxOS, Suse etc are proving, then user friendliness needs to be a prime concern. Rant over. Simon -- Simon Robert www.oldhouse-cottage.co.uk |
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