Also: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/02/stats-show-ubuntu-not-losing-ground-to-linux-mint/
On 22 February 2012 13:49, James Morrissey <morrissey.jam...@gmail.com> wrote: > Without stating any preferences on a thread which is likely to bring > forth opinions: As i understand it, the current Unity Interface is (at > least in part) the result of the sort of testing you are describing: > > http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/02/mark-shuttleworth-explains-dodge-ditch-decision-in-precise/ > > https://lists.launchpad.net/unity-design/msg07682.html > > j > > On 22 February 2012 13:43, Kris Douglas <krisdoug...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hello, >> >> Linux Mint is higher in the rankings than Ubuntu. >> I have just come off the phone with a customer, we write web >> applications and we prefer they use Google Chrome because we're >> planning to write a plugin and all sorts, but that is irrelevant. >> >> This customer called in, asked if he could install chrome on his new >> Ubuntu desktop. I thought, "Great, another Ubuntu user in the world". >> I got him to open Firefox and download TeamViewer (we have a premium >> license) so I could show him how to install Chrome. We went through >> the stages, got it installed and working, but then, he asked where to >> open TeamViewer. He said "It's not on the desktop icons down the left" >> and I directed him to open the applications menu "What applications >> menu?". >> >> This person is not stupid, however he did not know where the unity >> menu (or whatever it's called) was located. We spent around 15 minutes >> trying to get to the stage where he could open TeamViewer. It ended up >> me asking to type "Ctrl+Alt+T" to which he replied "Oh a terminal, >> ok". >> >> We had TeamViewer running in seconds. >> >> Now what is the problem with this? A user that doesn't know how to >> open the applications menu must raise alarm bells somewhere. He has >> has this machine for 6 weeks thinking it only had the icons down the >> left installed on it. (i.e the Unity Dock). Now someone could say to >> me "why didn't he read the manual?" The answer to that question is >> "Why should he need to?". Not even my Nan when she got her new Windows >> 7 laptop (after previously never using windows 7) read a manual, or >> needed to. >> >> Why is it that Unity requires the user to be an expert. A picture of >> the ubuntu logo means a lot to us, but to someone who goes and buys a >> cheap computer it means jack all. They wouldn't think to click there >> there is no hit that explains it's existence. >> >> So the question, I ask, is why is Linux Mint higher in the rankings >> than Ubuntu. The answer is simple, no joe average can use Ubuntu with >> ease now! You login to mint, you have a menu that says, believe it or >> not, "MENU" and when you click it, again, believe it or not, it shows >> you the program categories you can choose from (e.g "Oh, I want the >> Internet, oh look Firefox, I know what that is."). It makes sense to >> the user, it is what they are used to and it is a very friendly and >> comfortable environment. >> >> The electrician I work with on this software has been telling me for >> two years now, meaning NO offence to anyone at all, but "The user is >> stupid". I know this is not the most tactful way to put it, but after >> hearing this for two years I know what he means. Basically the >> principle is, the programmer is able to use the software, because he >> made it, he is an expert. If you give that to a user, who has no idea, >> he will have no idea how to use it. I am now writing software that >> explains itself, that has buttons that are obvious to the user, and it >> works. The number of phone calls we get are severely reduced, and the >> customer satisfaction is up massively. Us geeks who are writing this >> software have no idea how users think most of the time, this is >> because we are in theory "more intelligent" which is not necessarily >> true, but when it comes to the software we are, we understand the >> terminology. >> >> I could talk about this for hours, and I am going to write a blog post >> about it, people will have a go at me because I'm bashing the "perfect >> distribution". But seriously, think about what I have said, and test >> it on people, and then tell me I am wrong. Turn of the "I am a geek I >> know everything about Ubuntu" for a minute, and imagine you had no >> idea what ubuntu was or how unity worked. You wouldn't have the >> foggiest idea. >> >> I would appreciate feedback, positive or negative on this. I don't >> want another "Unity is better because it's better" or "gnome2 should >> be brought back because it's what I like". That's not how it works. >> >> Unity is honestly broken, someone must understand this, I will happily >> speak to people in person or on email in more detail about this. I am >> willing to help, but you have to understand first that Unity is not >> quite there yet first. >> >> >> -- >> Regards, Kris Douglas. >> www.krisd.eu >> >> -- >> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk >> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ -- James Morrissey Research Officer Refugee Studies Centre | Department of International Development | University of Oxford 3 Mansfield Road | Oxford, United Kingdom | OX1 3TB -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
