I found this nice article:

Linux has recently made huge progress in the desktop area. Corporate interest peaked as Microsoft tighted its monopolistic screws with its new licensing program earlier this year. However, there are a few things that I think still need improving in top grade distributions such as Mandrake or Redhat. This list was developed over a year of watching my wife using the kde, gnome and fluxbox interfaces primarily in Mandrake 8.x.


1. Consistent menus/Widgets
For example with the File - Open menu some applications use the gnome file widget and some use kde and others have their own or modified versions of the standard (mozilla/xine/xmms). Users find this confusing.

Other menus in Windows that are consistent that make life easier for users
File - Print
File - Save
File - Save As
Help Files

2. Improved Fonts
Much has been made of the lack of a good set of true type fonts. Mandrake has made up for this by making easy to use font importation. And Redhat has made some progress. 'nuf said

3. Reliable Copy and Paste
We have to make sure it works across all kde and gnome applications. Again, in the past there has been a lot of discussion about this.

4. Troubleshooting Wizards
Troubleshooting wizards are far and few between in Linux. Typically if something doesn't work users are directed to the command line to use obscure programs such as vi to edit files. We need more tools for troubleshooting and for them to be consistent.

5. To Practice Information hiding
One of the best features of Mac which Windows has copied recently is data hiding. Hide all information - i.e. menus / options etc. that are not relevant to the task at hand. This is completely contrary to the UNIX way of doing things.

An example is gnome CD roaster - an excellent tool. CD Roaster has dozens of options that are not documented in the user interface - and really for most CD burning are not relevant. Why not hide all but the crucial options (e.g. CD burn speed) and the file browser and let the user request the options.

Another hideous example are man pages - which are very confusing for end users. Info pages aren't much better and help commands are inconsistent.

6. Easier Application Installation
Recent distributions installations are excellent. For applications it is getting better - but not quite there yet.

What I would like to see are urpmi or apt-get style web links. Here is an example workflow for an end user:
1) User needs a newsreader and so he searches icewalkers/google and some other places and find out that other people recommend pan.
2) Unaware that his distro includes it he downloads it
3) Launches Nautilus or konqueror
4) Locates the file And clicks to install it
5) The user is not running as root so the installation fails
6) User changes to root and installs the app
7) Launches the app

What could happen is :
1) User searches the web for a newsreader
2) Unaware that his distro includes it he clicks on it.
a. An application with mime type associated with rpm launches.
b. The application checks the rpm database and notices that the app is available on the CD - prompts them for their local copy or to install via the Internet
3) If the user chooses via network it checks the signatures to make sure they are valid and prompts the user for the root password. It finishes the install and launches the application.

7. A better file manager
Users need to manage their files - and not just via applications. Windows has been making it harder and harder for users to properly manage their files. For example they hide explorer under accessories and try to make all applications write to " my documents " which at times can be hidden under the c:\windows directory. I think Mac OS 10.2 has got this right and nautalis and konqueror are getting better.

Lesser Items include:

8. Install all plugins for the browsers
Lets face it - the number one application for new users is typically the browser. And many first time users of Linux download their distribution or get a copy of a free download from a friend. Why not make sure that the flash/Java/xpdf/acroread & shockwave plugins work for Mozilla/galeon & konqueror right from the start on the download editions of the distributions?

9. Fewer initial choice of applications
UNIX users value choice - and a variety of sharp tools to get the job done.
However, your typical home user gets confused by too much choice( the information hiding principle). Distros such as mandrake have made strides in this area by making task oriented menus.

10. What was that command again?
One project I have started is a simple command browser for the linux terminal session. Commands are clustered by function so it is easy to find a command you may have forgotten.

>> " For example they hide explorer under accessories and try to make all applications write to " my documents " which at times can be hidden under the c:\windows directory."

my guess is that thats the preparation for "brainless" computing in the future ...


//dont over-work on that thing at this moment ...


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Mandrake 8 came and went in 2002. Used KDE Release 2.something.

Totally obsolete; any list based upon it is similarly obsolete.

yeah guys, this is just a spammer. please ignore.

have to agree ... what makes spammers think that they are so new ...


//stupid anonymous people ...

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I rather agree with 6. And it could be done.
And to a lesser extent with 8.
I don't agree with the rest however. But I'm not the typical user, so...

Yves.

how hard is it to understand "this is spam. please ignore"?