On 21 May 2013 06:14, Ashwin Dixit ganeshacomputes@gmail.com wrote:
When a Windows or BSD ( *BSD | OS X ) user locates a desired application on the Internet, they pretty much know it will run for them. On Linux, you have to use the right package manager to install a desired application based on its package format, and your architecture. Choice is great for the brilliant Linux hacker, but terrible for the average Linux user.
Care to give an example? Almost all the third-party apps that I have seen clearly says something along the lines of "Download for Windows, OS X, Fedora, Debian....". Where is the confusion here? If I am running Fedora I download the Fedora version. If I am running Debian, I download the Debian version.
For an OS to be intelligent and user-friendly, it has to hide its complexity from the common user. The OS should just DWIM ( Do What I Mean ).
The average human user, is statistically more error-prone than a modern machine. The user should be removed from the loops of most decisions.
That is the line of thinking Microsoft adopted, and the larger FOSS community wisely rejected. Why do you think the software is more intelligent than the human and can take better decisions?
The OS should shield the common user from decisions such as: "Software updates available. Install now?" "Do you want to trust this site?"
See above. Why do you think the computer is better poised to answer either of these questions? Extending this line of thought, will you let the computer order stuff from Flipkart for you on its own (and charge your credit card)?
Binand