It's time to retire the mom test
,----[ Quote ]
| One of the more humorous ad series today is the Geico "caveman" commercials,
| featuring a caveman complaining about the stereotype of something being "so
| easy a caveman could do it."
|
| [...]
|
| I'm not saying that anyone is deliberately trying to insult women by talking
| about the mom test, but it is time that we deliberately take steps to remove
| the phrase from our active lexicon.
`----
http://www.linux.com/feature/118863
Related:
Linux for your grandmother?
,----[ Quote ]
| I’m going with Kubuntu (my favorite desktop) although Opensuse is really nice
| for newbies to understand. Also, if you are going to try this project please
| use the OpenDNS servers for DNS so kids don’t end up on the wrong sites.
`----
http://blog.banksnetworking.com/2007/08/31/linux-for-your-grandmother/
The 10 Commandments for Windows Users
,----[ Quote ]
| 1. Thou shalt not use the system without expecting a random reboot
| make sure you back files up, nothing quite like an unexpected reboot caused
| by windows updates.
|
| [...]
`----
http://www.searchfriendly.co.uk/the-10-commandments-for-windows-users/
Making My Grandparents Leet Linux Users - Part 2
,----[ Quote ]
| Thunderbird, along with Firefox, are overkill for most Grandparents. Simpler
| applications would be easier to use. Epiphany is a good Firefox replacement,
| but I am not familiar with any other lighter-weight email clients.
`----
http://tomdryer.com/blog/index.php/2007/08/19/making-my-grandparents-leet-linux-users-part-2/
Cutting the Velvet Chain
,----[ Quote ]
| *Ed does what the "safe mode" help screen tells him to do. He finds and calls
| the number.
|
| *Ed stays on hold for 73 minutes using a toll number because he was told the
| hold time on the 800 number would be 30.
|
| *Ed reaches a tech support agent for his system and is asked a string of
| questions no casual computer user can answer.
|
| *After 49 minutes on the phone with the tech support agent, he is told that
| his system is broken and he must reinstall.
|
| *Ed dutifully holds while he is transferred and then reaches someone who
| convinces him that Vista is indeed his solution.
|
| *Ed dutifully goes to CompUSA to purchase Microsoft Vista.
|
| *Ed finds a sales person and inquires about Vista.
`----
http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/262-Cutting-the-Velvet-Chain.html
Making My Grandparents Leet Linux Users - Part 1
,----[ Quote ]
| It was time for a new computer for my Grandparents. Their ancient Windows 98
| PC had become so slow that it was unusable. The replacement, an inexpensive
| Acer PC, came with Windows Vista preinstalled. It was up to me to set up the
| new computer and support it. So I decided to wipe out Vista with a Debian 4
| base install and set up an easy to use environment for my Grandparents. In
| this multi-part series I will tell you about how I did it, starting with my
| reasons for choosing Linux over Vista.
`----
http://tomdryer.com/blog/index.php/2007/08/17/making-my-grandparents-leet-linux-users-part-1/
Grandpa Gets a Dell with Ubuntu Linux Preinstalled
,----[ Quote ]
| I'm very happy with my computer. I feel the price was reasonable, and the
| service was good. In fact, Dell appears to have gone to the "Scotty school of
| engineering" -- project how long you expect a project to take, then double
| the time. Then, when you come in under that time, you look like a whiz.
`----
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070725085521830
Ubuntu for your grandmother.
,----[ Quote ]
| They say its for geeks, they say its for nerds, they say its for those
| whose pinkie finger has the imprint of the enter key tattooed on it. We
| say its for your grandmother ! Yes my friends, I kid you not, for all
| of those who are afraid to dip their little toe into the great Linux-Lake
| let us reassure you : If your grandmother can do it ? So can you. Before
| we start , let me clarify : We are not talking about turning your
| Linux machine into a clustered database server with SQL, PHP, Apache,
| Samba and what have you. We are talking about the advantages of using
| Linux .. as a desktop.
`----
http://www.knightwise.com/content/view/154/9/
Desktop Adapted for Dad
,----[ Quote ]
| I set my father's computer up with a GNU/Linux operating system. One
| basic feature of Linux is that each user has their own login to the
| system, and normally you do not login to the system as the super-user.
| This limits what my father is able to do on the system as he is not the
| super-user. To my surprise my father was delighted that he was restricted
| in that way, because then he knows that he cannot break the system by
| accident.
|
| To conclude I would say that my experience with my father and other
| inexperienced computer users convinces me that the modern desktop software
| is not obvious but that with basic training it is very easy to use. I
| firmly believe that anyone can use a computer, but it is essential that
| users have a properly configured desktop suitable for their use, as one
| size does not fit all.
`----
http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/466
When will we hear the end of computer quacks?
,----[ Quote ]
| So why beat the dead skunk again? Check it out: Don Norman discovered
| command line interfaces! And he's about to take his discovery to the
| press! Yes, he thinks this is an original discovery all his own.
|
| [...]
|
| I can't wait until Microsoft invents apt-get so he can fawn over it next...
`----
http://penguinpetes.com/b2evo/index.php?title=when_will_we_hear_the_end_of_computer_qu&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Geek to Live: The command line comeback
,----[ Quote ]
| The advent of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) forever
| revolutionized personal computing. A windowed system with point
| and click icons made computers usable for anyone who couldn't deal
| with a black screen and a prompt waiting for arcane textual commands.
| But in recent years, this enormous interface change is coming full
| circle. Amongst power users - and more and more, regular Joe's - the
| command line is making a comeback in modern web and desktop
| applications.
`----
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/command-line/geek-to-live--the-command-line-comeback-226223.php
http://tinyurl.com/y88w3w
Who needs the command line? (Well, actually, we all do)
,----[ Quote ]
| "We'll always have Paris", Humphrey Bogart said to Ingrid Bergman
| in the iconic climax of Casablanca - and we will always have the
| command line. Here's looking at you kid!
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/who_needs_the_command_line_we_all_do
Death of the command line
,----[ Quote ]
| It's hard for me to imagine using an OS without a strong command line.
| Even Microsoft has recognized the for that with their Monad Shell
| (though they are at least temporarily removing that from Vista). Linux
| of course has its Bash shell, Mac OS X has Terminal (which now defaults
| to Bash) - everybody knows you need a shell.
`----
http://aplawrence.com/Unixart/command_line_death.html
You use Command Lines all the time and don't know it!!!
,----[ Quote ]
| Man, the heat Linux catches over command lines! The flames! The trolls!
| The clueless screaming for help! And all the while, command lines are
| right under your nose the whole time! Yes, even on the most mousy,
| GUI-driven, WIMPy, point-n-drool interface, whether it be Macs or
| Microsofties, you're typing commands into prompts every day!
`----
http://penguinpetes.com/b2evo/index.php?p=156&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
|
|
