Opinion: why Linux sucks at being user friendly

Davey Winder
Thursday, 06 November 2008 19:39

Business IT - Open Source

3. Linux forces users to be programmers

It is true, admit it. You can forget it if you don't know (or could care less) what compiling from source means, or have an inherent fear of configuring software from scratch.

Recompiling because of a hardware change is not a selling point, and God forbid you don't think that upgrading your OS every five minutes is fun and just want to get on with using your computer for the task at hand.

4. Linux doesn't understand the true meaning of help files

Someone, somewhere, needs to get a grip on writing help files for real users, you know the non-developer, non-programmer, non-techie types who just want to know how to get their printer working rather than be faced by what is often more of a high level discussion on the technical issues.

The Linux user experience will always suck until and unless the confusion between 'help file' and 'technical white paper' is sorted out.

5. Linux doesn't communicate

Whether or not you think that Windows is too chatty is besides the point, at least when you plug a flash drive into a Windows PC it lets you know it recognises it (or not) and installs and required drivers (or not) and then opens up a window with the contents displayed.

Typically Linux does nothing visible, in the same example you are left to open a Terminal Window and mount the drive. Real user friendly.

6. And now for the 'shoot me' bit

Finally, and I appreciate I am wearing a target on my forehead here but it needs to be said, criticise Linux and the response is likely to be both acrid and instant. Linux is not a religion, it is an OS, and people who question it should not be treated as infidels and issued with a fatwa as a result!

That said, I am putting on my kevlar body armour as I type...