Interesting Article - "Ubuntu made me quit college!!"

[Leigh Honeywell]

John Gill wrote:
> Re: the linux learning curve being too large, I'm not really convinced
> by that argument, it does rather depend what you are hoping to do with
> the machine.
> 
> Ironically, you will see linux on netbooks being described as a
> "beginner" operating system -- but if you're an "expert" you'll want XP.

I don't think the learning curve is any higher on Linux than on Windows.
 They are very different curves and different skillsets.  I've done some
whack stuff with Windows (in GUIs!) that's at least as arcane as any
shell incantations I've uttered on Linux.

> However, giving someone a linux pc and no help is a recipe for
> disaster.   When you are starting from zero linux knowledge with no-one
> to help you, then yes, the curve is steep.   It does seem that this
> student got the help needed in the end and is able to use the machine to
> do what is needed.

Giving someone a computer of any sort without any help is a recipe for
disaster.  My mother has run into showstopper issues on her Mac, as has
my Dad on his Windows machine and my non-techie friend who despised
Vista and insisted I help her install Ubuntu.  The difficulties were all
of about the same complexity to resolve by me as an experienced user,
and two out of three of them are now just about self-supporting.

You might be surprised at who isn't.  It's my Dad on Windows.  Mum and
girlfriend are both now well-versed in googling before asking me things
and thus rarely do, but Dad just. doesn't. get. it.  And it's Windows.

They are all steep curves.  One of the great market opportunities for
Ubuntu lies in showing people how to make sense of these curves through
creating communities and peer support.  Computers are complicated
machines, it turns out, but more brains are better for figuring them out :)

-Leigh