My grandpa was over for a visit and he wanted to show me how to play the card game FreeCell. I had a few versions bundled in these huge card suites for Linux already installed, and I thought these packages would impress him. To make a long story short, he was unable to use any of the card games that we tried. The Windows versions of these games were better simply suited to someone who had trouble using a mouse. Operations such as drag and drop and double-click are not so easy for everyone to use.

If Linux went through a usability study, on subjects from various demographics, small changes could improve Linux dramatically. Does anyone know if such a study has ever been conducted?

FreeCell on my computer has a 'click to move' option. No need to drag and drop or double click anything. No study needed ... only a setter-upper.

Are you saying the Windows version of Freecell has keyboard shortcuts instead of having people use the mouse?

Yes it has.
1..8 are the columns, 0 is the left top and 9 is right top
So sequence 4 3 will move cards from column 4 to column 3, 8 0 will move a card from column 8 to left top.
Select a card in left top by pressing 0 a couple of times, move it to column by pressing column number or to right top by pressing 9.

Score one for Windows, then.

Yes it has.
The fact alone you can even name them all... Hmm.


If Linux went through a usability study, on subjects from various demographics, small changes could improve Linux dramatically. Does anyone know if such a study has ever been conducted?
AFAIK the major DE's devote time to usability studies, though I think Gnome's one is somewhat lesser unknown for it. I remember reading some stories about usability, best check the main Linux news sites for any.