how can we make Linux more accessible for a bigger public?

[Alan Dacey Sr.]

On Monday, May 31, 2010 08:56:00 am Bas Roufs wrote:
> Dear everybody
> 
> Recently I installed a dual boot system at a laptop of friends of me:
> Kubuntu 10.04 LTS next to Windows XP.  The friends in question are no
> computer experts, but also not totally computer illiterate. Moreover,
> they both have a beta background - biology, physics,  mathematics,
> etc. That's why, I thought the configuration I worked out for them
> would work for them. However, this was not the case.  One of the
> problems they mentioned was their difficulty to convert .odt files (OO
> Writer) into .doc (Microsoft Word 97-2000). In theory, they correctly
> acted: File > Save as > Microsoft Word 97 - 2000 - as I always do ever
> since I work with OpenOffice. But the difference between those 2
> friends on one hand and me on the other hand is apparently the way to
> deal with computer problems. In the case of conversion into .doc, I
> quickly managed to find out how to do it in such a way that it works.
> But this is apparently more difficult for those who do lack a certain
> "feeling" with computers. On the other hand: an ability to work with
> computers apparently does not automatically imply an ability to
> effectively clarify something to someone who has less feeling with
> computers. The basic problem is in fact, that the friends in question
> do not have the patience and creativity needed to solve the countless
> number of little problems which are still in Linux. Even though I
> cannot consider myself as an expert, I do manage to solve about 95% of
> such problems myself and about 4% via "Kubuntu users" and other Linux
> communities and 1% via other Linux users helping me directly. But
> still - not everything works "automatically" or "out of the box".
> That's why, I do not manage to convince those friends - they are going
> back now to Windows XP.
> 
> I am afraid many computer users are like those friends - if an OS does
> not quickly work "out of the box" at daily level, they will not be
> able and willing to experiment with it. That is probably one of the
> reasons still about 90%? of the computers world wide work with an
> inferior system like Windows. That's why, I propose to shift our
> priorities with respect to open source software development -
> technical renewal is good, but making Linux more accessible for less
> experienced users is better. The main question is now: how can we make
> Linux more accessible for a bigger public?
> 
> Respectfully yours,
> 
> Bas Roufs.

Then there is this angle too:
http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2010/05/semantics-is-restricting-linux-
desktop.html

I know that there are a lot of people like the girl from San Antonio.  

-- 
Alan

"Now no one has to tell an old Aberdeene pub-crawler how to applaud, captain."  
Montgomery Scott