Linux open source is not for the PC layman!

This is especially true for notebook owners!

I once allowed myself the fun and evaluated the last 100 customer feedback from my company on the subject of Linux and Linux beginners.

For a better understanding: we offer online and face-to-face seminars on Linux.

Finding 1:

90 out of 100 customers had no basic PC knowledge and could not work properly with Windows. Using the file manager (outside the My Documents folder) was a huge problem for most of them.

Finding 2:

None of the usual distributions (Xandros, Suse, Knoppix, Kanotix, Ubuntu, Fedora, …) worked right away – manual reworking was always necessary, sometimes with notebooks with a lot of effort that no beginner could ever manage.

Finding 3:

None of the customers had the idea to look for a solution on the Internet, partly because the problem was not understood at all, partly because the Internet connection wasn’t even working.

Finding 4:

Linux requires PC knowledge beyond the bit by bit existing beginner knowledge. This knowledge should be imparted in a Linux beginners seminar.

Finding 5:

The general fear of PCs is still very pronounced among the 40+ generation. These people are mentally not ready for a new “PC adventure”.

Here the integration failed most often:

• built-in WiFi
• integrated camera
• Sound
• Email and contacts transfer from Outlook
• itunes alternative
• ipod integration

What the Linux beginners found the biggest hurdles:

• Fonts and appearance different from Windows
• Printouts under Linux are displayed differently or cut off by the printer
• No search for drivers is offered for a new device
• No automatic display of accessible WLA Ns

What basic knowledge the customers do not have at all:

• Working with the file manager, knowledge of file types, file extensions and linking to applications
• Character encodings and the representation of umlauts and other special characters
• Power management of a notebook
• Screen resolutions

My recommendation for all small business owners with little PC knowledge:

Keep your hands off Linux if you’re not ready (and have the time) to get the necessary knowledge about your PC. Windows is not so bad that a beginner would not be able to handle it, and if you have problems you have at least “millions” of other people who may have just that little bit of knowledge that will help in your case.

Note:

Linux still takes time and a good Linux teacher and willingness and ability to learn and a lot of practice.

Many Linux specialists will vehemently contradict me – that’s okay!

If you, as a Linux layman, decide for Linux and it goes wrong, please do not send me any emails afterwards about how terrible Linux is.