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Posts in usability
Ubuntu's Papercuts: Usability in Little Things
Ubuntu’s One Hundred Papercuts project seems to be progressing smoothly. On schedule, the first ten papercuts have been fixed.
Each of these bug fixes, though, is not just a bug fix. In many cases, significant attention was put into what wording to use or how large to make an object. For exmaple, when people’s unfamiliarity with the term “archive” was brought up, rather than just sticking in another unfamiliar term, real attention was put into finding the right phrasing for something most geeks find obvious but most normal people do not. That was probably the first time anyone in the Ubuntu project considered how to phrase something as small as this.
The big stuff needs attention, too, but it looks like the One Hundred Papercuts project might just bring the first real attention to the tiny details.
How "Simplifying" Linux Just Made It Worse
Some time after Linux netbook started appearing, it became obvious that there was a problem. Every time a new manufacturer gets in to the business, they try to build a completely custom Linux system that is “easier.” It is impressive the number of times this has been attempted and how many times it has horribly and completely failed at the goal of making things “easier.”
I just finished reading an article about Windows 7 and Linux on netbooks. This paragraph is what bothers me:
So which is better suited for netbooks? For the mass consumer audience, there’s little doubt: Windows 7 is superior. Installing new software and updating existing software in Linux isn’t for the faint-hearted, and most people won’t be able to figure out how to do it. In addition, Windows 7 has eye candy and extra features that Linux lacks. Most people also won’t want to tackle the learning curve they’ll face when moving from Windows to Linux.
Let me be clear. I don’t think the author is wrong; I think the manufacturer who made whatever netbook he is using did something wrong.
Sitting in front of my full Ubuntu laptop, I can install an application more easily than I can get up a turn off the lights. You can’t miss it. Click on Applications and choose Add/Remove. It’s that simple. Yet somehow, in an attempt to “simplify” Linux, numerous manufacturers have managed to make it act like Linux from the 1990s. Yes, that’s right – you have to use the terminal to install an application on the Eee PC. What is this? Gentoo Netbook Remix?
Moving on to the second point, a five year old low-end computer can run better eyecandy than Vista on a modern PC and, from the looks of it, at least as much eyecandy as Windows 7 on a new computer. Once again, this seems to be a feature that fell victim to “simplification.” I am not even going to talk about features.
Anyone still making netbooks without the ability to easily install software and do ALL basic computing tasks without the terminal deserves a slap and a big FAIL banner.
If you own a netbook that came with Linux, I invite you to share the process for installing applications.
Non-Constructive Linux Bashing Does Require A Kevlar Suit
An article published in iTWire titled “Opinion: why Linux sucks at being user friendly” has been drawing a lot of attention recently. I am going to start by responding to each of the author’s points and then pointing out what I think the overall problem is.
1. The only specific detail stated in this point is the accusation that Linux updates tend to break your system. I don’t know what software the author is using, but I have never had a Linux update break my system.
2. The second point states that Linux heavily protects the system, while leaving the user’s data open to attack. That may be true, but (1) there are no viruses in the wild for desktop Linux as far as I know and (2) viruses do not usually trash user’s files. There is little point in this. Instead, they use the computer to send spam, join a botnet, spy on the user, etc. Finally, how could you protect the user’s data without seriously annoying them?
3. I don’t compile software from source. I just don’t. And I get along just fine.
4. On help files, he may be right. I don’t have enough experience with built in help to know.
5. This is the one that really bothers me. The author claims that in order to use a flash drive, you have to go to the terminal and mount it. I just tried it right now. You plug in the flash drive and it pops up a window with the files on it open, just as he said it should.
I think the overall problem is this: the claims are not specific enough. The author may be right that Linux has a usability problem, but after reading his post, I have no idea what the problem is or how to fix it. If the author has made a list of specific problems with Linux’s usability and specified what distirbution he was using, he would have gotten a much better responce (and not needed the kevlar suit he mentioned.)