Re: What is GNOME and Getting some real data on users

[Richard Hoelscher <richardhoelscher gmail com>]

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 02:21:27 +0100, Claus Schwarm <c schwarm gmx net> wrote:
> I just read an interview with Matthias Ettrich, KDE founder and Qt
> developer, see [1]. He said:
> 
> "A typical GNOME user seems to avoid KDE applications as the devil
> avoids holy water. Vice versa, a typical KDE user tends to avoid Gtk+ or
> Gnome-based applications. This creates unhealthy pressure to clone any
> good idea that shows up in one camp, which in turns creates lesser
> friendly feelings towards each other."

The interview is
http://www.fosdem.org/index/interviews/interviews_ettrich , and in the
paragraph that this quote came from, Matthias Ettrich was talking
about user camps... he clearly stated that this rift really isn't a
big issue among developers.

Why does it exist? For better or worse, many users will associate the
tech they use with their identity, and ego is a powerful thing... Just
look at your average iPod user. While it is natural that some people
will feel strongly about one platform over another, trying to harness
all of that power for good would be as tough as hearding cats.

I'd also submit the tech rift isn't large. "Beauty, Confusion,
Efforts, and Resources" highlight inconviences that could be overcome,
and are hardly showstoppers for either platform or their apps... The
problem is that IT press is quick to highlight them as talking points
for lack of anything better, and die-hard fans are quick to adopt
them.

> ...
> IMHO, higher consistency would make Linux on the desktop more likely, so
> answers on these questions are very relevant.

I don't think consistency requires much marketing focus, as the users
that benefit are almost in a niche... Either GNOME or KDE on their own
may be more than capable of serving basic needs for many people,
everything from web browsing to solitaire.

Going back to John's questions... I'd like to see energy go to target
markets that have not yet been exposed to either KDE or GNOME. For
example, much of the IT market outside of America has been living
under a very real and damaging culture of software piracy. After
people have rationalized piracy of foreign software (yes, you know
what I'm talking about...), then they are a hop, skip and jump away
from doing the same to domestic software, music, and movies. There are
efforts to turn back the clock underway, exhibit A being software
patent efforts in Europe.

Having GNOME as an option means that vulnerable IT departments can
ethically deploy desktop software without the same track record of
vulnerability and usability of software that came before, and at an
affordable price. It's just one of many openings that "just works".

BTW, sorry... I signed up to the list so I could work on art and media
rather than ramble on about these subjects... :)

-Richard Hoelscher
http://rahga.com/svg/