On 2/19/17 9:52 AM, Wolf K wrote:
On 2017-02-19 10:54, Mike Easter wrote:
philo wrote:
if given a choice most people do not want to use Linux so I never try to
force it upon them.

If given a 'choice' (for some metric of choice), most of those same
people would choose to still be using XP.

The choice would need to include an XP with the capabilities of using a
modern browser.

It is sometimes strange to consider how people's 'choice' is
guided/dictated.

All choices are constrained. The trick is to see the constraints. All of
us have trouble doing that, since having any kind of choice makes us
feel we can choose anything we want. But you obviously can't choose
what's not available.

Exactly. With Windows and Macs, you have one choice, the current
operating system, and previous systems still on the shelves.

I think there are two issues with new Windows and Mac systems for many
users. The actual complexity of the system, and the complexity of the
UI in accessing the system. I've been helping 3 seniors who are totally
confused with the W10 interface, yet all 3 have used XP systems. Only 1
of the 3 is actually going through what looks to be a very good
beginner's book on using Windows 10.

On a side note, I'm working slowing on some small help documents for
folks in that position, which benefits me in learning W10, as well as a
particular page layout program.

My interest in Linux came from an effort to find some way to a) prolong
the life of the hardware when nothing was wrong with it, and b) find a
simpler UI/system that was easier to learn for people who were
definitely not computer literate.

That led me to Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop. Which, when I've
shown it to people, there's been an overall positive response. We even
set up a system at work for people to see, and when the customer has
been thinking about a different computer, the response has also been
generally positive.

Elementary Linux looks simple, but I've not had the time to play with it.



Etc. the psychology of choice is "poorly
understood", as they say, but the research shows quite clearly that most
of the time choice is just another illusion. "Marketing" is all about
creating that illusion to the seller's advantage.

Have a good day,



--
Ken
Mac OS X 10.11.6
Firefox 51.0.1 (64 bit)
Thunderbird 45.7.1
"My brain is like lightning, a quick flash
and it's gone!"