Re: [MLUG] News Alert from NYTimes.com

["Dev Null" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

"Kmicic" <EMAIL:PROTECTED> wrote:

> i take an issue with that. most users i have come to know (this is 1.5
> years as a sysadmin/tech, and 3+ years as a ta) dont know how to manage
> files on their computer.

This is true.  I deal with this day-to-day.

> my guess is that your monther is among them ("what do you mean
> i clicked on this emai lattachment and it installed a virus on my
> computer...?").

Actually, I explained these things to her in person when we set Outlook
Express up for her.  Say what you will about the woman, she's capable of
reasoning, basic problem solving, and following instructions.  8)

> what you are saying is: your mother could not use linux,
> because you are not a competent linux admin, and you feel much more
> comfortable setting up windows for her.

Don't call me incompetent because other people can't manage (what we think
of as) simple tasks.  It's impolite.

Here's my reasoning (where my mommie is concerned):

My mother is 56 years old.  She uses Windows applications both at work and
at home.  She also prefers to purchase software at Wal-Mart rather than
download something she'll have to unpack (and so forth) because she finds
that process lengthy.  She's not very confident with computers (I remember
she preferred to use dosshell years ago).  For her, they're a tool for word
processing, e-mail, making family trees, and the like.

Most of what my mother wants to do is best done under the Windows platform
for compatibility and ease of use (I don't even want to start explaining how
to install and uninstall stuff).  Also, she's still using a Pentium 60.  The
new version of KDE would grind to a halt every three clicks for her.

I'm also of the opinion that my mother could (mostly) install and configure
Windows without my help.  I'm not sure she could do that with Linux.

T3/Dev
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