Why Ubuntu isn't for New Linux Users

[Randy Gloden]

I agree whole heartedly with the essence of the message.  But, this is 
not a coding problem.  The scripts to do this "even with a GUI" already 
exists.  The technical aspects are simple enough that this could be done 
from scratch or existing code reworked with little effort.  So, even for 
those that want to make Ubuntu idiot proof and have all functionality 
work out of the box, they will not sacrifice their convictions to make 
this happen.  These things are not being held out of the OS because the 
those that are in positions of influence are elitist.  Rather, they 
haven't been presented with a "solution" that they can "live with" or 
are convinced of yet.

So, this is not a technical issue waiting on an application 
designer/developer.  It is a political issue that has many on the 
opposing side that believe enough compromise has already been made in 
Ubuntu and the inclusion of something similar to "automatix" would 
constitute an endorsement of the technologies it enables . (As I'm 
putting words into their mouths, if I'm wrong about this, speak up for 
yourself)   The sentiment seems to be, "Hey, if they can read, they can 
look it up in the manual."   This is a very unfortunate attitude, but it 
is prevalent.  But is it valid?  Well, instead of arguing and arguing, 
take a little bit of effort, and give random non-computer people a 
Ubuntu CD, and then see how long it takes them to get these elements 
loaded.  Many will not understand that they don't have 3D working and 
just think the OS is slow with games.  They won't know why multimedia 
content isn't working, let alone where to look for the solution.  I know 
because I've seen it.  

My personal feelings are that an acceptable compromise would be for 
Ubuntu to supply an "enabling" tool, which still leaves a straight 
Ubuntu install clean for those that don't want to corrupt their OS with 
these things.  And it give those that do want this the choice to make 
their own decision and act on it in a manner quite accessible to them.  
This isn't really that different from running the DVD enabling script 
under Debian.  If we can agree that such a script doesn't compromise us, 
then polishing this up and putting it in an intuitive interface doesn't 
compromise us any differently.

I agree with you and the blogger on one other thing as well, without a 
focus/attitude that puts the user first, these issues won't be 
reconsidered.  I was reading back through the "public commitment to its 
users" on the homepage and noticed one line that gives me much hope.  It 
speaks of making "Ubuntu usable by as many people as possible." 

The only thing stopping us is ourselves! 


---------Randy

www.microbabble.com







Michael T. Richter wrote:

> On Sat, 2006-25-02 at 16:42 -0600, Randy Gloden wrote:
>
>>This blog entry makes good points, but it is the same sad song.  We have 
>>covered most of these issues in this very list in the last few weeks.  
>>No one . . .  make that most aren't denying the issues raised, but this 
>>blog doesn't really help as it doesn't detail any solutions.  
>>    
>>
>
> Actually it does.  It's just that the solution is one that developers 
> (of any stripe -- paid or volunteer) don't like to hear.  Let me quote 
> the relevant part again:
>
> "This is about all of those people who possibly haven't even heard of 
> Linux before. This is the target audience. This is who all programmers 
> and application designers should keeping right in the middle of the 
> bullseye."
>
> This is the core problem.  Many software developers -- again, any kind 
> -- think that "core functionality" is king and the user experience is 
> the stuff you do at the end to make things pretty.  This view is 
> patent nonsense, however, since spectacular core functionality is 
> utterly *useless* if the end-user can't figure out how to access it.  
> Further, the user interface will often inform the implementation of 
> the core functionality, so if you design something that's resistant to 
> including a good user interface, you're killing any hopes of an 
> end-user adopting the technology.
>
> I think that all software developers around the world should be 
> required by law to make friends with at least two technology-declined 
> people.  People that are not viewed as targets for techno-evangelism, 
> but who are instead sat down in front of programs and recorded trying 
> to use them.  People, in short, who are listened to instead of talked at.
>
> --
> *Michael T. Richter*
> /Email:/ ttmrichter at gmail.com, mtr1966 at hotpop.com
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> michael_richter_1966; /AIM:/ YanJiahua1966; /ICQ:/ 241960658; 
> /Jabber:/ mtr1966 at jabber.cn
>
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