documentation Re: Linux is not for consumers!
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003, Wendell Cochran wrote:
> This thread concerns both (a) proper documentation of programs -- &
> also (b) translation into clear English for the notional Aunt Tilly.
>
> That suggests need for a list on finding the right words & putting
> them in the right order, but even Debian has limits.
manuals is NOT an issue for "aunt tilly"
most "aunt tilly" i know, have not read or even gonna bother reading
the manual ... where o where do i start in the manuals .... i know,
i'll invite wendell to dinner :-) he'll fix it !!
( windows look-n-feel is assumed --> kde/gnome + openoffice )
they just want to know ...
- why does it not print anymore ??
- why does it not send/receive emails anymore ??
- why does it not boot anymore ??
( i just hit the power switch yesterday cause i was in a hurry )
- ooops.. i erased a file i didnt mean to ... help... now please..
all else is non-issue for the majority of "aunt tilly's" world
they are not gonna look up the "manuals" for
is it a bash problem, is it a printcap problem is it
a power cord problem, is it a "i forgot the caps lock problem"
vs not caring about it is a glibc or zlib problem
or that ssh has a exploit or the kernel has an exploit
- it simply gotta work .. flawlessly for months and months
that approaches a year... than you have a happy convert
and much much more willing to go the next step and do
periodic updates ...
-- changing her box daily with apt-get is just
gonna confuse um
-- they dont even run window-update daily now
which it too can be automated ... but they dont
-- updates is NOT an issue for them.. even if it
should be
- if you have to do updates .. at least do it from "stable"
and do tell them ... "its all 100% automated like the other big
boyz in washington"
- non techies do NOT like a moving/crashing target ...
- they just want it to work
- guess you can add more things for the braver folks
- i want to play/burn my dvds
- i want to record "lucy" on the tv and play it when i want
- i want to use it as my "home office" email for
jane@aunt-tilly.com and have http://www.aunt-tilly.com
- all else is again non-issue for them ... until the machine crashes
for one reason or another and hopefully not due to a cracker
or little joe/sally that happens to sneak online and play and broke
it by mistake
c ya
alvin
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