Linux: what do I need to know

Factual Questions
21
      • Well, it’s an opinion that comes from watching new users struggling with simple tasks in DOS classes, and knowing that they’ll rarely if ever use the info they are learning, assuming they manage to remember it at all.
  • Most PC users don’t know a rat’s arse what goes on inside their PC, and don’t care as long as they can get it to do what they want without having to remember much. You are speaking loftily of “Educating The User”, and all they want to do is know how to open a text file on a floppy disk and edit it. A GUI makes that way easier to learn, because the text file looks like a page with lettering on it, and the floppy disk drive icon looks like a floppy disk. No text needed. Often, no explanation even needed.
  • But hey, maybe I’m wrong: go to a typical retail computer store tomorrow, and do an informal poll of the people who visit: ask them which they use more often: a GUI, or a CLI. (Hint: you may have to explain the terms, as well as demonstrate the CLI) - DougC
22

Well, Doug, that’s why Linux has some great GUIs.

But that makes the CLI no less intuitive. The only intuitive interface is the nipple. From there, it’s all learned. And the CLI still is the best, the only, way to do certain things. The fact that Linux is still based around it is a testament to the basic philosophy of not sacrificing a fine interface to the altar of ‘intuitiveness’. If the users only want to use graphical toys, fine. Their loss. But if they ever want, or need, to use the power and the glory that is a CLI, they will be extremely glad they have bash instead of a lousy emulated DOS box running the infantile command.com.

When all of your fancy graphics are unusable because a virus is eating up your files (and Linux has notably few virii anyway, but let’s just say), you’ll need very much something of substance below that flash. Linux has it. MS-Windows does not, and never had (DOS has all the substance of creme-brulee, and none of the taste).

(Boy, do I sound like a geezer. :))

23

Linux has GUIs, but neither of them are stellar. They lack polish, they’re not interally consistent, they’ve got a steep learning curve compared to Windows or Mac OS, and there’s nothing really original about them. At best, they’re adequete.

24

The only intuitive interface is the nipple… man, that is a great line!