> The question that begs to be asked is pretty obvious: if Linux performance
> is really incredibly better than Windows (and it often is), if stability is
> so much better, if cost is so much lower, how do we get corporate America to
> buy in? How do we get folks to use it at home? How do we get the word out
> and *show* people that we have something really special here in terms they
> can understand and accept?
>
> I'd love to hear different thoughts on this. Getting more women into the
> Linux community is really part of a greater problem: getting real
> mainstream acceptance.
It has to be easier to set up and maintain. No home or small business user
should have to mess around with the command line. Hardware needs to be plug
and play.
Most people don't like to have to learn anything about their computers.
They want it all to just fall together without any effort on their part.
They don't know how anything works and they don't care.
Many people who do have a knack for computers and will dig a little deeper
(Windows and Mac power-user types) still don't like the steep learning curve
and constant need to look things up that comes with a command line. They
want to be able to figure most things out without having to check
documentation or do research on the web. They really, really don't want to
have to learn how to use EMACS or the visual editor.
It seems like a lot of Linix users are computer professionals and hard-core
hobbyists: the kind of people who enjoy spending a lot of time solving
computer problems. Most other people either can't/won't do heavy-duty
problem solving or really hate having to.
Most people will trade efficiency for ease of use. (Including me. I don't
use Linix on either of my desktop machines)
Once Linix stops being difficult to use and maintain (it's already come a
long way), people need to be convinced that they'll be able to handle it -
that it's not just for geeks and geniuses. They'll need to have their whole
conception of it changed.
Also, it will be important to port the software people already know how to
use to Linix. Changing over to a new operating system AND new software at
the same time would be too much of a strain, especially for businesses.
Deidre Calarco
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
************
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linuxchix.org
