[mythtv-users] On the verge of giving up

[Brian Wood]

Michael T. Dean wrote:
> On 09/23/2007 12:33 PM, Rich West wrote:
>> Success stories like that are becoming more frequent, which makes 
>> further inroads in to the desktop.
> 
> At which point people can spend hundreds of hours re-learning how to do
> everything they've spend the last 12+ years learning to do with
> Windows/Windows applications so they can save $150/5yrs or so by using
> GNU/Linux and FOSS.  (Oh, right, most everyone buys Windows from OEM's. 
> Therefore, they'll only save $20/1-2yrs or so.  Maybe even enough to
> cover the cost of an SD subscription.)
> 
> Mike "GNU/Linux can only win if it's so much better than Windows that
> it's worth learning***" Dean

Properly done there is no "learning" for an average Windows desktop user.

I have sat several Windows users down in front of a KDE desktop, with
icons labeled "email" and "word" (note the lower-case "w", wouldn't want
to infringe a trademarked English word).

All the users pretty much figured out that they had to click on the
appropriate icon, and had no problems figuring out complex concepts like
"compose", or "file -> print".

So what is it they have to "learn"? How to install Linux? How many
Windows users actually know how to install *that* OS (with all it's
updates and accessories).

In fact, given a bare machine, I suspect that most "computer novices"
would have a working system that would do email and WP MUCH faster with
a modern Linux install disk than if they had to struggle with installing
Windows, its updates, some anti-virus solution (which Windows
practically tells you you can't live without), Office, and get Outlook
configured properly.

If Windows didn't come pre-loaded and somewhat configured, I suspect a
LOT of folks would give up trying to get their machines running at all.

If they called customer support they would give up a LOT faster.

If M$ didn't strong-arm manufacturers into pre-installing their OS they
would have a devil of a time selling it.

beww