For some bloggers this is a perennial topic of conversation. Can Linux really be used by the casual, non-technical users? My answer and reason after the break.
I gauge everything Tech from the perspective of my Mother. She is about as non-technical person as you can get. As an Elementary teacher she brought computers into her classroom. She saw the Apple Macintosh as the perfect vehicle for her classroom, and she had a built-in IT department to maintain her machines; me.
The school district finally got on the stick and provided computers and even a Palm Trio. The computers that they provided were really windows boxes. She continued to use her Macintoshes in actual instruction, and the Windows machine languished only being used for attendance and grades.
Her main bone of contention was the lack of adequate training on the attendance and grade applications. She said it felt rushed. She felt pushed into something that she really saw no value in. The Palm was apart of a grant that tried to get tech into schools, but with no training she saw no purpose in the device except it was one more thing to keep track of, so that it did not disappear during the day.
So after a few years of this pushing she started to hate tech. It only got worse when she bought a PC for her home use for email and web surfing. She hated using the computer even though she discovered the delight of Googling for information.
I give you this background, because something wonderful happened a couple of months ago. She finally let me install a new OS on her PCs. Ubuntu 10.04 came out and her computer could handle it. I installed it and put a few icons on her desktop, so that she could use the computer for what she wanted, email, web surfing, and writing the occasional document.
After a couple months my Mother said to me that she was very happy with her new computer. Remember, this was her original PC, but with Ubuntu 10.04 installed. She said it felt faster, easier to use, and got the job done. She was finally happy with her computer.
I got to thinking that if my Mother could be happy with PC hardware running Ubuntu, then Linux has made it to the prime time and is worthy of consideration for most people. The Ubuntu install CD is easy to use and fairly self explanatory. Most people can install the OS to their satisfaction. Most of the big apps are installed by default, Firefox, Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and presentations software. There is a photo management software. Everything that she would need. There is even a smattering of games installed for those that would like them.
So, yes, in my opinion, Linux has made the Primetime.
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