Will you recommend fedora to a newcomer?

[Jacques B.]

On 4/15/06, Tim <ignored_mailbox at yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> Not a problem unique to Linux, though.  I've seen plenty of Windows
> users who've just got used to <something> crashing while they're using
> it, or they just give up using it.

No question it's not unique to Linux.  But there is no arguing that MS
Windows is more user friendly than most (if not all) Linux distros
when it comes to installing applications, plugins, mounting drives,
etc.  Can a Linux distro be made to be nearly as user friendly?  Most
likely it can (and yes I realize useability and security are at
opposite ends of the spectrum so a more user friendly OS is typically
less secure because it's designed to remove decision making from the
user and manage it through the OS and the application trying to
install itself - but that's not the issue being discussed here).  But
at the end of the day Win32 developers have an easy task of creating
an install routine to automate installing their application for end
users because of a common environment among the users.  Linux poses
more of a challenge to a developer because of the various distros with
differing packages installed (so some may lack dependencies that an
application would require), different kernels, different folder
structures - all which can impact a seemless install.  Hence why they
(MS) can develop a more user-friendly environment.

I'm not trying to advocate MS Windows over Linux.  Simply pointing out
the obvious that must be considered as it relates to the original
question.  MS Windows is easier than Linux for end users who want a
point and click OS that automates just about everything for them.  So
if you are dealing with that level of user it becomes even more
important to find just the right distro that best meets the user's
daily requirements.  Otherwise you'll quickly lose that user.

I use both OS.  I rarely face a challenge when trying to install
something in MS Windows, or when a browser plugin tries to
auto-install itself.  I can't say the same for Linux.  That doesn't
mean MS Windows is better.  We are talking purely user friendliness,
the feature being sought by the original poster for a Linux distro.

Jacques B.