Comments about Linux/Ubuntu from a former MS-programmer

[Alan McKinnon]

On Tuesday 11 April 2006 01:55, John wrote:
> It makes good sense to follow Windows UI until we have good reason
> not to. It seems to me that many of the differences are present
> just to be different, and that results in Linux being harder to
> learn than it needs to be, it results in shared applications (eg
> Mozilla*, OOo) being different from everything else etc.

I contend that that viewpoint is unnecessarily broad in it's scope. 
Just because Windows is prevalent doesn't mean that it's methods must 
be cloned. If you want to tackle Windows head-on on it's own turf, 
then following Windows style is probably a good idea. For a system 
that is not trying to compete with Windows it is a bad idea. 

Look at it this way - consider Windows to be like a Toyota. If you 
want to introduce Linux in the role of a Hyundai, you'd better make 
it largely car-like so you can share tyres and filling stations. But 
if you are presenting Linux in the role of a Kawasaki, well you get 
the idea.

It's far from given that all of Linux (or even just Ubuntu) *has* to 
be the Hyundai.

-- 
If only you and dead people understand hex, 
how many people understand hex?

Alan McKinnon
alan at linuxholdings dot co dot za
+27 82, double three seven, one nine three five