[Leaplist] Dell to offer GNU/Linux

[Fuzzy Conner]

>> I think that it could be a formula for disaster, for the Linux world,
>> if Dell's are bought by windiots!
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6506027.stm


I was curious about this kind of thing a year or so ago, so I conducted an experiment with a user.

My cousin was living at my house and needed a typical end-user PC experience--check email, browse the web, and the typical music CD things (listen, rip, burn).  He also bought a new digital camera with a USB interface and he liked to print things.  My cousin represents most PC consumers in that he really doesn't care how it works so long as it just works.  Sooooo he became my "guinea pig." :)

The experiment:  Install GNU/Linux with KDE and "nonfree" codecs and media players on a modern PC, tell the user his name and password, and wait to see if he required any assistance.

I told a few friends at the time what I was planning.  Everyone said
"Great!  You should document this."  There really was nothing to
write:  The user needed no assistance whatsoever.  Email and web browsing with Firefox, burning CD's with K3b, and his camera all worked perfectly.  He used the PC about 4 days a week for over 9 months and never had any questions.









 
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