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Jesse McNelis wrote: |
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>On 9/20/05, Paul de Vrieze <pauldv@g.o> wrote: |
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> |
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> |
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>>On Tuesday 20 September 2005 03:32, Zac Medico wrote: |
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>> |
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>> |
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>>>Paul J. Wilson wrote: |
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>>> |
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>>> |
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>>>>Regular, everyday users tend not to have the time to spend on the |
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>>>>finer points of linux and gentoo in particular. |
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>>>> |
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>>>> |
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>>>These "everyday users" are unqualified to administrate a Gentoo box for |
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>>>various reasons including the inherent complexity of a source based |
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>>>distribution. A binary distribution with lots of "hand holding" would |
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>>>better suit their needs. Perhaps they could even use a binary |
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>>>distribution of Gentoo itself, but supported by some other entity. |
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>>> |
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>>>Sure, an "everyday user" can *use* Gentoo, but administration is best |
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>>>left to experts. That's all IMO, of course. ;) |
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>>> |
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>>> |
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>>I think this indeed sums it up well. Gentoo is not aimed at users who do |
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>>not want (or are not capable) to learn some more complex parts of the |
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>>unix/linux operating system. That does not mean it's insuitable for |
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>>newbees, it means that they have a steep learning curve ahead. Gentoo is |
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>>not the most easy distribution around, and this is not the aim of gentoo. |
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>>Gentoo is, like any other distro, not a 20 legged spider. It is a source |
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>>based distribution with the goal of offering an uptodate, flexible, |
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>>vanilla system. |
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>> |
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>>Paul |
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>> |
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>>-- |
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>>Paul de Vrieze |
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>>Gentoo Developer |
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>>Mail: pauldv@g.o |
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>>Homepage: http://www.devrieze.net |
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>> |
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>> |
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>> |
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>> |
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>> |
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> |
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>I've always wondered at the definition of "easy to use". |
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>does "easy to use" mean that you can pick it up and be productive in |
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>an afternoon? |
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>or does "easy to use" mean that once you have put in the hard yards to |
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>learn it, it is extremely easy to do everyday tasks and just as easy |
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>to do complex ones? |
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> |
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>- Jesse McNelis |
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> |
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> |
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> |
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> |
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Hi all, |
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|
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I deeply think the topic here has become more about the way users |
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(newbies and devs) are apprehending their interaction (which for obvious |
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reasons are very contradictive) with their computers rather than a real |
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installer development subject. Not that this is a bad thing, but the |
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conception of Human Computer Interaction (HCI |
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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-computer_interaction>) from each |
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"side" (newbies and devs) is IMO much more complex than what it may look |
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like. It is much more about design and cognitive science rather than |
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just general statements like "gentoo is not for this type of users or |
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that type": Gentoo is free and for everyone. |
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Indeed, it is up to the devs to estimate, conceive and design an |
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interface (GUI or CLI) and new users (newbies) have their place in the |
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testing phaze which takes place far after conception (eventhough some |
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theories ship the newby directly during early design). The idea here is |
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that designing (not coding) an installer which is like a "gate" that |
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allow "true and understood" communication between newbies and devs |
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during the install process is almost the HARDEST part of that project, |
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here again IMO. |
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My point is: if some newbies would like to defend the idea of a quiz or |
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whatsoever, could that be possible to post it on forums.gentoo.org |
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rather than to this mailing list? We would have much more people reading |
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and commenting and more HCI experts to help the devs out if they need |
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to. Because now I think the reflexion here is more guided by intuitive |
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conceptions rather than theories, which is not bad but not the best way... |
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|
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Thanx, |
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Erick |
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-- |
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