Quite often nowadays, there is a discussion on Linux’s sutability for genereal desktop use. In my opinion, some of this discussion is misguided, as ‘desktop user’ is used to cover many quite varying types of user. I would say that there are at least two different types of desktop user - home and office. The suitability of Linux for both of these area depends on very different factors.
In the office, the main needs for the OS are the ability to integrate many computers over a large area. This need tends to be above the usabiliy of the programs. Most people at work, given the programs they need to do their job, would not care whether the OS was Windows or Unix. Many would not even notice, especially if a desktop environment like KDE or Gnome was used. In the office it isn’t a case of ease of use for the user, more for the sysadmin.
With programs like Evolution and OpenOffice now reaching a high level of stability and functionality, the tools that users need to carry out their work are arriving. In many companies, many applications are run from Unix servers, via a text interface. Using Linux as a desktop OS for the users would probably make it easier to integrate with these platforms and users would be able to carry over their experience with the text based terminal interface with Unix to their general desktop system. Given basic training, most people have no problem using whatever interface you put infront of them.
So I would say that Linux is definitely suited to the needs of small businesses. With IBM also backing Linux in a big way, soon large businesses may look seriously at Linux so their desktop machines are not running a different OS to their servers, thus reducing the need for tech support specialised for each OS.
Home users, on the otherhand, have completely different needs. They don’t have any tech support to call if their PC stops working. Therefore the main thing they many people want in an OS is that it just works. Not having any inclination to mess with the settings, most people like the way that Windows will do everything for them without much thought on their part.
The home user segment also splits into at least two parts - the ‘just email, word processing and browsing’ (basic) part and the ‘more customisation’ section. The basic part would be happy with Linux if it was all set up for them. As long as there is an easy way to browse the web, check their email and write the occasional letter they also wouldn’t care what OS or program they actually use to do it. This is why IE has so much market share. Noone goes looking for another browser when they can quite happily use the one on their PC. Shown other browsers, many people will switch if shown a feature they find useful. However, most will never see there is a choice, and so quite happily continue with whatever they happen to have in front of them.
The customisation user like to alter how things work in their system. However, this is mainly cosmetic customising, such as cursors and wallpaper. They like to think that they are quite hardcore as they installed the latest nVidia driver last night. I would posit that these are the people least likely to like Linux, as they like being able to change things quickly - the MTV generation intrigue. Having to take time to learn the new system wouldn’t appeal to them, especially one like Linux where many of the cooler features are hidden behind quite arcane interfaces. Just today, I watched one of my friends opening Nautilus just to copy a file. The cool thing about Linux is that a simple one line, 2 second cp command would have done the same thing. But the users don’t have the time to learn this stuff and so Linux just appears like a harder version of Windows, not something special that can be so much better. They are just unwilling to make the change in mindset.
In conclusion, I think that there needs to be different focuses for desktop Linux. Companies seems to have that - Red Hat does alot of corporate stuff, Mandrake seems to go more for home users. It’s just sometime the distinction between these two very different environments goes un-noticed in the rush and flames over so-called ‘desktop linux’.
I guess that some people won’t agree with this at all - mail me and tell me what you think!