Re: [Sheflug] GUI vs. text ;))

["Foz" <nospam [at] mmu.ac.uk>]

> Obviously, this is one of the main points where we differ. I believe
> strongly that the user has no interest in learning how the system works,
> nor should they be expected to. I believe computers should set themselves
> up, and configure themselves correctly. I believe that any configuration
> you do should be one-time only. I believe it should be as simple as
> possible, and hide as much from the user as possible. 

I agree, I devote much time to application interface whenever designing 
something. I think this is a most probable cause of bloatware ;) But I 
would rather have people up an running with extra coding than people 
turning there nose away and looking elsewhere. Why has Linux taken off? I 
put it down to the user interfaces - SuSE, RedHat, Corel, they have all 
taken the GUI leap to install. Also KDE and GNOME people like something 
that is easy to use and is *familiar* I can say that in an application 
there is a File menu, in there, there is an "Open", "Save", "Save as...", 
and "Close" or "Exit". Most people have just got to grips with Windows, 
they do not want to relearn something else.
	It does make sense, most people want to get the job done, not 
configuring, tweaking and burning up monitors... (XF86Config :)
The command line IS important, look at the success of AutoCAD, a gui that 
uses a command line, yes people can get on and use it straight away, but 
if you are wanting to speed things up and use advanced features properly 
people learn the command method, but it is in their own time and at their 
own pace. If they *want* to do things and progress in their knowledge of 
computers and Linux then hey, great, but most people just want to get up 
and go.

Cheers


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Paul Aspinall - Manchester Metropolitan Uni
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