On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 12:52 PM, Ian Wadham <iandw...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 25/04/2014, at 1:07 AM, Shantanu Tushar Jha wrote: > > Each of us keep an idea about our target users when we write KDE > software, be it our workspaces, our applications or anything. From recent > threads on the list, I have started doubting if the ideas I have in mind > have been correct or not all the years I've been in KDE. So, I started > asking myself about what my answer would be to "of all users of KDE > software, what type of users are the majority?". > > Doubt and self-questioning are the beginning of enlightenment … :-) > > > ** When I look at a desktop[1] computer users today, I categorize > them[2] as- > > > > == Casual users == > > These users primarily want their computer to do a set of tasks, and do > it as soon as possible. Whatever it takes, they *try* to spend the least > time on the computer. > > I think you have these guys wrong. They are not necessarily "casual". > Some spend > hours a day in front of a screen. And they are not necessarily "task" > oriented, unless > they are paying bills, doing some on-line banking or shopping or running a > small > business. > What would they be doing when they are not paying bills or some similar "serious" activity? I can think of online social media stuff, but I think they'd prefer more to go out and meet real people ;) My father for example, uses Kubuntu on his computer but only when he has to edit some documents etc and take printouts. > > == Advanced users == > > These users are similar to casual ones in the sense that they want their > work done as soon as possible. However, they go the extra mile to figure > out ways in which they can optimize their workflow or use some software > cleverly. This way they are actually able to get more done. > > Do you include here people who see a computer as a means to an end, > rather than an end in itself? I am thinking of architects, designers, > musicians and > film makers, for example. I see myself as one of these. My goal is to > develop > software for KDE, but I am not greatly concerned about which OS/desktop I > use. > Yes even these folks are actually using the computer as a tool which helps them accomplish a certain task, like the ones you mentioned. > > > == Power users == > > These users generally use their computer for a even broader set of tasks > and will try to solve each and every real world problem using software on > their computers. Something that is very important for such users is the > software to be highly customizable to suit their style of working. They > will juice out each and every feature of the software to get the maximum > benefit they can. Time is usually less of a problem for these folks, > however they are also very picky about choosing a software that meets their > needs. > > Are these people seeing the computer as an end in itself? > Yes, that was my idea of such users (and this is where I put myself :P) > > > == Students, employees on their company-provided computers == > > This category will actually have users from all of the above. However, > there is a difference in the sense that they will not be the ones making > the choice on what OS they will be using. The choice will usually be made > for them by their schools, and companies respectively. > > ** Now, given the above set of users, going by only my observation and > experience, the Operating System choice looks something like this- > > > > == Casual users == > > most of them will use Windows as it still is the most popular among > similar people, > > Popular maybe because there has been no choice. Most computers you see in > shops already have Windows installed. And I guess people like to follow > the crowd > and not be the only member of their group who has something different. > > > some of them will use OSX - mostly people who can afford an Apple > computer > > I don't think Apple computers are significantly more expensive any more > --- not for > several years, not since the iPhone and iPad appeared. Apple do not want > to > compete unevenly with themselves ... > > Also I think people (your casual users) are migrating to tablets and > phones in droves. > They do almost everything such a user wants, are cheaper and are much > easier to > set up and use. Even my four grandchildren, aged 3 to 8, are using them … > :-) > Yes, that is exactly why for this discussion I am focusing only on people who still use a non-mobile phone/non-tablet computer like a desktop or a laptop. It is true that KDE is no longer just restricted to these, but I wanted to tackle one "super category" at a time. > > > == Advanced users == > > The number of people using Windows will be a bit higher than the number > of people using OSX, followed by a small fraction using a Linux distribution > > > > == Power users == > > There will be some Windows users who install lot of tweaking tools, and > quite some OSX users with the same pattern. However, most of these users > will be using a Linux distribution (or BSD etc) with a choice of a desktop > environment, email client etc) because they find the ease of customization > and the feeling of control of the whole system. > > Now, just in Power users, there will be a huge variety of distros and > DEs that people will choose. When I think about DEs, (again this is only > from experience and blog posts on the Internet) people who choose KDE do > that because we offer *lots* of features and the maximum level of > customization when compared to any other DEs. > > > > So, that was my attempt at recollecting my thoughts from the last few > days. I'll love to hear what you guys think about it - is it close to the > reality? Or, did I get it all wrong? Or, there's just no way to be even > remotely sure? > > You can only find this out by observation and collecting evidence and by > meeting > actual users. > > For me, this is one of the greatest difficulties of being in the KDE > community. You > very rarely meet end-users and find out what they think of your work. Bug > reports > and complaints from knockers can be de-motivating, unless you have > developed a > thick skin. Before I stopped work, I would meet end-users regularly. I > really miss that. > Yep that is very true. Here in India, its very very scarce that I see a computer running a Linux distro and even more scarce to see KDE. And every time I do find one, the user turns out to be a geek. > > This it will help me a lot as a KDE contributor, to make sure the > software I write is a delight to our users. > > > > [1] and laptops, netbooks etc, excluding mobile devices though > > [2] and I am no usability expert as well, so I can be wrong about user > profiles > > > > Cheers! > > Thanks for trying to reach out … > > All the best, Ian W. > > >> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to > unsubscribe << > That was nice, anyone with more ideas? -- Shantanu Tushar (UTC +0530) http://www.shantanutushar.com
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