Posted on 10/11/2005 12:56:54 PM PDT by N3WBI3
Welcome!
Better Desktop is a project dedicated to sharing usability data with Linux developers. Over the past year, we have conducted many usability tests on different parts of the KDE and GNOME desktops. We created this site to serve as a place where developers can watch videos of these tests. Here you will find over 200 videos of people using Mozilla Firefox, Evolution, Open Office, Banshee, F-Spot and other applications. All of these can be found in the data section of this site.
The video repository on this site is growing. We will continue to add video as we produce it. Please visit us again soon to see what is new.
Better Desktop is sponsored by Novell. It is part of the OpenSUSE project. Why We Do Usability Testing
We do usability testing at Novell because we want Linux to be easy-to-use and easy-to-learn. Usability testing provides us with a reliable way to measure how well different software designs meet these goals. We do usability tests for three main reasons:
1. To find out which parts of a given design work well for our target audience and which parts don't. For example, we ran general tests on the F-Spot photo organizer because we wanted to gain an overall understanding of what its interface did well, and what it did poorly.
2. To compare the effectiveness of various designs. For example, we ran comparison tests on KDM and GDM to figure out which program was more usable for members of our target audience.
3. To verify that our specific usability goals have been satisfied. For example, after running several iterations of tests on the Gnome sound capplet, we proposed a set of changes to its user interface. After these changes were made, we ran a round of usability tests on the capplet to ensure that our changes did in fact help us to meet our goals for that tool. Data
Our testing methodology allows us to collect many kinds of data, including behavioral data, qualititative data, and quantitative data. Each of these types of data helps us to build better software in a different way:
1. We collect behavioral data simply by watching our test subjects use our software. By paying close attention to what they are doing and saying as they go through our tests, we learn about their habits, their workflows and their expectations. This data helps us to gain a more complete understanding of how people in the real world relate to computers.
2. We collect qualitiative data by videotaping our subjects as they think outloud about our software. This data helps us to make educated guesses about how to improve our designs. It helps us to understand how our test subjects feel about the software they are using. By paying attention to our test subjects' expressions, tones of voice, gestures and pauses, we can learn to improve the quality of their experience. We use qualititative data to help us make using our software pleasant.
3. We collect quantitative data by keeping track of statistics like how many test subjects completed a given task correctly, the average time it took to complete a given task, the percentage of test subjects who gave up on a given task, etc. Over time, we will add more statistical data to this site.
No doubt. I had a pretty hard time choosing one when I decided to give it a try. I ran thru about 6 or 7 of them until I found one that was not too ridiculous to install. Luckily I had help from n3wbi3 to suggest a few of the one's he has tried or I probably would have given up in frustration. I think Linux has a future, but you are right, there are way too many versions out there and the average user would not be able to find one right for them. Microsoft has the advantage in that area. Also in how user friendly it is, terrific "explorer" navigation and how easy it is to install and run 3rd party software.
Problem is, the average user would have no way of knowing this. I speak from experience on this subject because I wasted many hours tracking down dependencies just to get a few things installed. Linux will have a hard time in the "desktop" world until they can make these things as easy to install as MS does.
Just an anecdotal story. I kept WinXP on a partition here at the house. I needed to review a couple of items related to some stuff at work on Windows, so I booted into XP and have been working on it the last few days. Both my wife and my daughter have been griping about "when are we going back to Mepis.... I liked it better..... Windows is too SLOW.... there are too many popups in Windows (IE)." It is just an anecdotal story, I know, but it is an illustration that for the avg computer user just looking to check mail and surf, Linux is fine and serves the end user well. I should add that my wife is terribly digitally illiterate and my youngest daughter has a measured IQ of 68 (she finished the 8th grade).
The "loyalty" people have to windows is just familiarity, nothing more.
Mandriva, Ubuntu, Xandros, and (my favorite) Mepis. All are VERY simple to install.
My point was that the average user wouldn't be on FR to obtain this advice, get frustrated and give up.
And I actually did search for easy-to-install Linux. Every Linux person out there has a different opinion on what is "easiest" to install. There are probably several freepers here who would disagree with your choices.
See what I mean? The average user is not going to go thru this hassle. We are talking about people who open a box, plug in the monitor & PC, connect the internet and go. That's about the extent of their ability to run a PC.
The geek in charge of naming these products should be fired.
Agreed. I did spend a bit of time installing dependencies for some software. The nice thing about using RPMFind[dot]net is that all the dependencies are listed with links in the package description. The dependencies really should be included with the package, though. I try to check for what I want to install on the Distro installation disk first, since it will automatically install dependencies. If it's not there, I go to RPMFind.
WindowsXP: sure, my hardware was easy to install. But I really wish my USB mouse didn't make that irritating buzzing noise on my speakers, something that doesn't happen on Linux (which recognized and installed all my hardware just as easily).
Sorry, that was what I was trying to quote in the last reply. Guess I need to go get some coffee.
Exactly. I was claiming that, while it could be difficult to learn, it's easy to use once it's been learned. Most people define "easy" as "easy to learn"--I was defining it as "easy to use". There is a difference, and I think we actually agree on it.
I believe it. However, I was defining "easy" as "easy to use" not "easy to learn."
BTW--my family is the oppostite. They like linux as well or better than windows. The only introduction I gave them was to assign them a username and password. I didn't perform any training at all, and they have no problems with it.
What are you doing with the other 14 minutes and 50 seconds?
Huh? I single click executable files all the time to start them up.
and installing 3rd party software can lead to ulcers.
Learn to use the tools. :) yum and apt work wonders for dependencies. I don't know of anyone (new users included) who have had to deal with dependencies for quite a while.
Its a nice story ;)
The only places where I see Linux as not being ok is for Gamers (very slowly improving) and if there is one or two killer apps somebody needs like visio, and *no* DIA is not there yet..
But youre 100% for for getting on the web, checking mail, writing reports for school Linux is a great tool for the average user...
You eft out Fedora: a new user can click default a handful of times..
Yup--and an existing user doesn't even have to do that since s/he's got the magic of a kickstart file.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.