Re: [MLUG] News Alert from NYTimes.com

[Kmicic <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

first of all my apologies to anyone who had to put up with my screwed up
date stamp. i hope it's fixed now


Dev Null wrote:
 
> 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)
...
> 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.
...
> 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.

ack. on close inspection sounds like your mother is an intermediate
computer user. for those indeed, windows would be a better choice (why
not win2k, though?). your initial remark made it seem like your mother
was a stereotypical mom qualifying for the "mom test" (do we still have
that section on the mlug webpage?)

> > 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.

your post lit up a red lamp for the stereotypical cliche ("windows is
better for ignorant users") to which i have conditioned a response.
somewhere there in my charge on the windmills you and your mother got in
the way... sorry, i hate stampeding over innocent civilians like that.
once again, no offense intended

/paul
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