Yet another Ubuntu desktopreadiness thread..

[quinnten83]

but this time with a small twist based on this blog entry (http://www.openweblog.com/users/hexmode/493342.html).
lately, I've read a lot about folks introducing their folks to Ubuntu, and some seem to complain that it sometimes is still too difficult for the average 50 year old user (then again everything technological seems to be too difficult for them). So, I was wondering, instead of just testing and submitting bugs, why don' t we ask the ones around us that do not know how to use Ubuntu yet, to try it and tell us what they find difficult about and report bugs? That way we can best evaluate what works for total noobs and what doesn't. This should help improve usability and also introduce more people to linux in general/ Ubuntu in particular.

What do you think?

[Lem]

I built a computer for my mother with Ubuntu on. Now my mother is not half as IT literate as the guys mother in the blog post above.
I have set up VNC and SSH forwarding on her router should she encounter problems, but she's come along very well in the last 6 months.
We have progressed from her not realising the 'screens hidden behind others' could easily be accessed on the window bar at the botton of the screen to her upgrading to Gutsy quite happily by herself.
She likes the fact that there isn't the malware threat and without reasonable console knowledge it's pretty hard to muck up your system by accident.

This christmas I bought her a digital camera. She spoke to a friend about setting it up and had been told that she'd 'have to install drivers etc', which sounded a bit daunting.
She was quite suprised when I said to put the disk in the bin and just plug it in. Ubuntu detected the camera and asked her if she'd like to import the photos.
She is now recommending Ubuntu to her friends. I fear I may be a busy man next time I visit!

[billgoldberg]

My mother is as green as they come when talking about technology and computers.

Yet after an half an hour she could browse, use msn, play songs and check here mail (i had to configure evolution for her).

What hard about ubuntu now?

There is an applications button you can't miss.

Then there's an internet button and then there firefox webbrowser or evolution or amsn (pidgin), ...
?

Then there is places with documents, videos, music. Click on the one you want and double click it to open a file.

What's to improve?

You could even make destkop icons for the needed programs, if it still to hard.

(maar toch, alles kan beter)

[aysiu]

That blog entry is a lame experiment. It's not as if the blogger's 56-year-old grandmother would be installing and configuring Windows herself either.

[Nerrep]

I've been thinking about this in recent days, with the intention of writing an article of sorts on it.

I'm enjoying my shiny new Ubuntu installation, but I fear the answer is inevitably going to be 'no'. Give it a few days first though, eh?