[xubuntu-users] Linux & Usability (was: Re: Update failure / disk full error)

[Istimsak Abdulbasir]

I agree with some of the statements made by Mardorf. Linux should not be
used to replace a proprietary OS. It should be use to perform a function a
proprietary system can't perform or perform well.

Linux, as I come to learn, does not need to compete in the desktop market
when it dominates the Internet, IoT and engineering. Without those
essential functions, what is a desktop really good for? However, Linux has
come a long way. If one is willing to go the extra mile, Linux might be all
you need. Make sure it performs the essentials first.

I won't necessarily advocate linux, but I understand its role it plays in
IT. It is pretty robust, anybody can contribute to improve it, and highly
scalable without excessive cost.  But like any OS, know what it is good for.



On Jul 6, 2017 3:21 PM, "Rog" <linux.rog at gmail.com> wrote:

On 07/06/2017 02:14 AM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:

On Thursday, July 06, 2017 10:04 AM, Roger wrote:

End users should not have to face such an obscure problem.

OTOH "end users" should consider that even a user-friendly Linux distro
such as Ubuntu with it's flavours, such as Xubuntu, still is a Linux
distro. Linux neither is a competitor to proprietary operating systems,
nor a replacement for a proprietary operating system. Lot's of the
advantages Linux has got are caused by the required self-responsibility
of the Linux users. IOW as soon as you make Linux as user-friendly as
proprietary operating systems, you also lose a lot, if not all of the
advantages of Linux. You cannot take a left turn by turning to the
right. Linux simply isn't the right operating system for all users. A
skateboard isn't the right tool for somebody who needs a wheeled
walker. If you design a skateboard to make it a tool for somebody who
needs a wheeled walker, then the skateboard does lose all it's sporty
advantages. If somebody needs a wheeled walker, then why using a
skateboard instead of a wheeled walker? If somebody needs a proprietary
operating system, then why using Linux?

Ralf,

I heartily disagree with this conclusion. I think that it reflects a
personal and worthy approach to Linux. And, I was partially motivated to
move to Linux for similar reasons.

However, common, ordinary folk use Linux to avoid the high operating and
maintenance costs of other O$es. For example, a colleague / librarian
rehabilitates old Window$ boxes and installs Linux. He puts them into the
hands of  people who are disadvantaged and can not afford to replace PCs
over and over again as well as licensing costs, etc.

Many organizations - governments, domestic and foreign, libraries, etc.,
are moving to Linux.

I participated in a teaching / transitioning exercise in a small town in El
Salvador, Santa Marta. They had a "computer center" in the local school,
running donated PCs. Their eyes lit up when I showed them how to install
and use Linux.

Linux is the future for many and must mature some more to make it more user
friendly. Better than a "proprietary" OS which also have analogous
problems. It took me many days and a lot of searching to find out why one,
still-supported version, would not update. I found conflicting solutions
that didn't work until after several tries over a period of days. It is
fallacious to suggest that users should be steered towards proprietary
solutions that can be at least, if not more, vexing. Not to mention, costly
and prone to rampant security problems. Wanacry?

So I continue to advocate for Linux for everyday users.

Respectfully yours, /Roger

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