Desktop Linux (fwd)

[Michael Costolo]

--- Jeff Kinz <jkinz at kinz.org> wrote:
> > Linux equivalent: GnuCash.  It is quite nice, actually.
> 
> Yes it is, but its not Quicken.  My mom, and several other people won't 
> consider changing, so its got to be Quicken on Linux.

Nothing personal, but I honestly don't understand that mentality.  
 
> > These utilities are part of KDE at least, if not part of other desktop
> environments.
> >  Email, calendar, contacts, etc., software are already integrated.  I'm sure
> there
> > are equally fine utilities in GNOME.
> 
> The folks I'm in touch with have been shown those utilities and they
> didn't get past the "first sniff" test.  I dealing with real "end"
> user's here.  People whose only experience with PC's is Windows and who
> do not work with computers as part of their vocation or avocation.

Then perhaps they really have no reason to change operating systems.

> On the bright side, I put some linux boxes in a library to replace the 
> "public use" internet and word processing functions and the public
> didn't even notice that they weren't using windows.  They just walked in
> and started using the systems with no more questions than usual.
> I used icewm with an XP look alike theme.

This function over form idea was a point I tried to make earlier.  

> What you can do, versus what the "user wants" is a mostly a difference in
> perception.  Unfortunately perceptions can be the highest barrier to
> entry. The fastest way thru that barrier is to make it appear identical
> or almost identical.

Well, I'm assuming the user *wants* to run Linux and *wants* to be able to do the
same work, not necessarily just run the same programs.  

-Mike-

=====
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it"
-George Bernard Shaw

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