Migration from Windows to Linux

[Michael Costolo]

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 09:58:03 -0400, Bill Sconce <sconce at in-spec-inc.com> wrote:
> I see one thing which maybe could help a lot:  tackling the "big" problem
> one little problem at a time.  For instance, starting with something less
> threatening that "taking away Outlook".

Perhaps by introducing the mindset that, for example, email exists
outside of Outlook.   For those of us who have been around email since
before Outlook existed that might sound strange.  But for way too many
friends, family, and co-workers, Outlook *IS* email.  Scary, I know.
 
> The "steepness of the learning curve" sounds daunting.  There's a lot to
> learn and change, to be sure - but "steepness" is almost totally under user
> control. 

And very much related to what they're trying to do with their
computer.  But click-and-drag, copy-and-paste, and pulldown menus are
practially the same for a GUI on most all operating systems.  Take
away sysadmin responsibilities and put the focus on getting work done
and there isn't that much of a learning curve.  Most Windows users
aren't doing the sysadmin stuff anyway (and most would be equally as
confused if they were trying to learn admin a Windows box).  But
getting people to accept that the spreadsheet program on this computer
is a different program from the one they've been using but performs
similarly is, methinks, a bigger hurdle than any learning curve.

-Mike-

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