🚀 go-pugleaf

cs94367@cs.ualberta.ca (Jon Martin) wrote:

>
>     No denying that UNIX and friends have a steep learning curve.  Once you do
>learn how to use it, you will never turn back.  When I started using UNIX 
>systems about a year ago I hated it.  Why couldn't we use DOS at school, whine,
>whine...  Then after I invested some time in learning about how the system works
>I found I hated the limitations and inflexibility of DOS.  Give Linux a chance.
>It is well worth it.

UNIX, and I assume its counterpart LINUX, just totally fails to hide OS details from the 
user.  It seems I have to learn a whole new language (can anyone explain EMACSese, for 
example?) just to operate it.  What it needs is a really good OOUI/GUI that gives 
drag'n'drop functionality.  I've seen its windowing system, X-windows, and I don't think 
much of it.

Using a computer is going to be as basic a skill as literacy, if it isn't already, and 
that means people aren't going to be able to cope if they have to conform to some 
computer scientist's idea of a handy mnemonic command.  GREP?

My ideal OS would assume very little knowledge for the user get started (so kids can use 
it) but would allow progressively more detailed and lower level manipulation for the         
technically minded.  It would also have sound technical foundations incorporating all the 
latest OS technology, with a large capacity for expansion.  The closest thing to this 
ideal is, of course,  

OS/2