Yanking the Window Shade

[Jon Pruente]

On Jan 24, 2008 10:54 AM, Jonathan Hutchins <hutchins at tarcanfel.org> wrote:
> Yeah, neat, but it's not for everybody.  I have a good friend, used to do
> HOWTO's for Comp Services at UMKC - far from computer illiterate.  She
> doesn't want a computer that can do all that sixteen-desktop stuff.
> Niether does my dad.  She uses a Mac and he uses Windows, and they're not
> going to change.  They don't want to, they don't need to.

The issue isn't so much that people may or may not need it, but rather
that many people are under the impression that it's not even
*possible* if it's not on Windows too.  It was happy day for me when
Apple put Spaces in 10.5.  I like being able to jump around by screens
instead of just programs.  When you learn what it really does it makes
life easier for multitasking.  I didn't think I would like tab for
browsing, now I use them all the time.  I can't stand using Safari
because it doesn't have the nifty "Save Windows and Tabs" option.  I
tend to run with at least 4-5 tabs open at all times.  Stack that up
with multiple desktops and, well, I start sounds like a power user.
I'm not, really, I just have found uses for those features.

> For the vast majority of computer users - certainly three out of four -
> the power and control of Linux are unwanted and unneeded.  Windows is fine
> for them, and I don't want to see Linux dumbed down and crippled so that
> we can "sell" it to those people - only to have to support, maintain,
> configure and  explain it to them.  Let them run Windows.

I put a Ubuntu 7.10 system in a friends home (incidentally the
AthlonXP machine Rick gave me replaced the P3 I gave them a few months
ago and all I did was swap the HDD over, no reinstall).  If I showed
them the Compiz effects they could do they'd be very impressed.  They
are coming from the world of the low-end Win98 machine that the cable
company wouldn't even hookup to the cable modem.  Personally, they are
at a point where it doesn't matter if it's Windows or not, so long as
they can run basic games and FireFox.  I did absolutely no dumbing
down from the Ubuntu install straight off the disc.  They have yet to
have any transition issue aside from knowing the FireFox gets on the
web instead of Explorer.  They also have zero fears of viruses,
spyware, and other junk.  They would normally be a part of the "Let
them run Windows" crowd if I hadn't taken the chance to upgrade them
to Linux as an experiment.

> Me, when I have to try to use a Windows box, I'm twitchy about how little
> control I have over what's happening.  It's actually worse on XP than it
> was on Mac OS8.

I get the same way.  At least on older Mac OS you can know mostly what
is going on.  i hate having to be wary of the OS I'm running.

Jon.