Maybe some of us wizened old Linux geeks have forgotten what it's like in Windowsland. It's ugly. It's smelly. Exploring your system does not reward you with a deeper understanding of how it works, first of all because "works" is only superficially accurate- it limps along, barely. Exploring your system only reveals more and weirder hazards the deeper you go.
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16 years 4 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago
Learn the nature of the computer first
Computers are senseless and stupid. Computers are not creative and they do not learn very much from the users (let's disregard the various learning algorithms for now). Computers do one thing and one thing only which is perform menial mathematical tasks which are known as computer programs. Programmers write programs in order to make the computer do something useful. This is the nature of the computer.
In order to be able to use a general and programmable computer system, the user has to be trained certain things so they can use it successfully and so, users WILL have a training and familiarity period. In my opinion, current computer systems intended for the masses are needlessly complex and abstract and as a result, needlessly wastes hours of our time and physical and mental effort over the space of a year. This opinion also extends to the so called "intuitive computer system" known as the Apple OS X. I believe the only way to fix this complexity is for a new design in human-computer interaction that better fits the strengths and weaknesses of the user.
Proprietary resources such as computer programs, data formats or network protocols are designed to subject the user and make them helpless. This subjugation is the primary reason why their favourite proprietary programs fail to work on GNU/Linux. Such resources are harmful to the user and should be avoided.
So if you do manage to get users to use a free Unix-like operating system, please be aware that:
1) the user is probably unfamiliar with the various models of interaction presented to them
2) the system they are presented is most probably needlessly complex for their requirements
3) ANY computer program/system designed to be distributed to the general public WILL BE INADEQUATE to somebody. The user should fix up the system so that it does serve the user
4) proprietary resources are designed to subject the user. If the user depends on anything proprietary, the only solutions would be to dual boot Windows, do without it, or sponsor a project to help liberate the proprietary technology (recommended)
5) it's always good to have a knowledgeable mentor that can help answer questions and fix problems A.S.A.P.