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MBirchmeier · Jul 17th, 2006, 10:42 AM

One thing that should be kept in mind though is for the most part, linux has been (since the dominance of windows) an operating system for those who continously like to tinker, and for the most part always will be.

(Greatly over-simplifying things) I've ran into 4 types of computer users:

Those who know exactly what they want to do, and don't care how it gets done: This is the aunt-gertie example in DaWei's most recent linux thread, she want's to check her e-mail, possibly IM with a grandkid here and there, and play a bit of online bingo, and if she's buy and sell collectables on E-bay. She doesn't care what she's using as long as it works, and her system will look exactly the same today as it will in the year 2050, there's no need for anything new. Linux is an option for her, and she won't even notice, the difference once she gets into her routine. The basics will always be there for her (browser, e-mail, AIM) so different interfaces don't make a difference to her.

Those who don't know what they want to do, and don't care how it gets done: For the most part this is me. Day in day out I don't know if I'll be number crunching, web design, editing photos scanning etc. I need maximum flexability, but efficiency/speed isn't really an issue. Linux could probablly gain more converts from people like me with a standard interface, but at the same time I have windows, and for most things will plan on using that. I don't enjoy going through dependancy hell on linux every time I want to set up PHP, I stick with windows mostly for speed of install. Ubuntu has made this process overly easy, and this is my *nix of choice, but I digress, most in this category will not use linux simply because the lack of professional quality niche software, which again, suffers from your multiple interface dilemma.

Those who know what they want to do, and care how it gets done: I'd argue that this is your most common linux user, they're tinkerers to the core, and although they know what they'll be doing, they're always looking for ways to optimize it. I'd say these guys benefit the most from multiple interfaces, they get to contiously tweak for their overall goals, aren't going to radically be changing what they're doing day in and day out. So an extra half an hour of tweaking configurations could save them 10-15 minutes a week. The multiple interfaces are designed for these types of people.

Those who don't know what they want to do, and care how it gets done: A standard Linux interface would probablly help these guys greatly, as when they get a new program it's nice to have it work well with your interface of choice, however these guys also like choosing their interface (yay catch 22) I'm guessing of those that use linux in this category many of them use it because they use it because they can modify their interface.

I don't think a standard interface during runtime would be any more useful than the current 'multiple' interfaces, for those that already use linux, and I don't think the draw would be that large, to gain new converts.

-MBirchmeier

(Perhaps I misgauged the meaning of your post, perhaps I'm just rambling, but I am interrested in hearing more)

Jul 17th, 2006, 10:42 AM	#5
MBirchmeier Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 211 Rep Power: 3	One thing that should be kept in mind though is for the most part, linux has been (since the dominance of windows) an operating system for those who continously like to tinker, and for the most part always will be. (Greatly over-simplifying things) I've ran into 4 types of computer users: Those who know exactly what they want to do, and don't care how it gets done: This is the aunt-gertie example in DaWei's most recent linux thread, she want's to check her e-mail, possibly IM with a grandkid here and there, and play a bit of online bingo, and if she's buy and sell collectables on E-bay. She doesn't care what she's using as long as it works, and her system will look exactly the same today as it will in the year 2050, there's no need for anything new. Linux is an option for her, and she won't even notice, the difference once she gets into her routine. The basics will always be there for her (browser, e-mail, AIM) so different interfaces don't make a difference to her. Those who don't know what they want to do, and don't care how it gets done: For the most part this is me. Day in day out I don't know if I'll be number crunching, web design, editing photos scanning etc. I need maximum flexability, but efficiency/speed isn't really an issue. Linux could probablly gain more converts from people like me with a standard interface, but at the same time I have windows, and for most things will plan on using that. I don't enjoy going through dependancy hell on linux every time I want to set up PHP, I stick with windows mostly for speed of install. Ubuntu has made this process overly easy, and this is my *nix of choice, but I digress, most in this category will not use linux simply because the lack of professional quality niche software, which again, suffers from your multiple interface dilemma. Those who know what they want to do, and care how it gets done: I'd argue that this is your most common linux user, they're tinkerers to the core, and although they know what they'll be doing, they're always looking for ways to optimize it. I'd say these guys benefit the most from multiple interfaces, they get to contiously tweak for their overall goals, aren't going to radically be changing what they're doing day in and day out. So an extra half an hour of tweaking configurations could save them 10-15 minutes a week. The multiple interfaces are designed for these types of people. Those who don't know what they want to do, and care how it gets done: A standard Linux interface would probablly help these guys greatly, as when they get a new program it's nice to have it work well with your interface of choice, however these guys also like choosing their interface (yay catch 22) I'm guessing of those that use linux in this category many of them use it because they use it because they can modify their interface. I don't think a standard interface during runtime would be any more useful than the current 'multiple' interfaces, for those that already use linux, and I don't think the draw would be that large, to gain new converts. -MBirchmeier (Perhaps I misgauged the meaning of your post, perhaps I'm just rambling, but I am interrested in hearing more)