Re: [PLUG] observational: user hostility

[Julien Vehent <julien@linuxwall.info>]

On 2011-12-14 10:08, jeff wrote:
> Whenever I used to do anything with graphics, back before linux, I'd open
> Photoshop (largely because I had it).  Do not construe usership with 
> ability
> though...
>
> Yesterday I wanted to do a tiny amount of graphic manipulation so I fired 
> up
> GIMP.  To say I'm not a power user is an understatement.  In fact, it's 
> like
> giving me a Ferrari when I drive a land yacht.
>
> No matter how I tried, I could not do what I wanted.  I called over a
> coworker, who does graphics, for help.  She had that same sideways stare: 
> it
> was the blind leading the stupid.
>
> Not wishing to take a course in GIMP, I found a program for the Other OS, 
> in
> which I finally managed to do what I wanted (put a Santa hat on my dog).  
> My
> coworker said it would have been easier to put an actual hat on the dog 
> and
> take a picture.
>
> I am not blaming GIMP nor promoting anything else.  Just seems that the 
> other
> program was less user-hostile (to the way I do things).  Might just be 
> that
> I'm a graphical nincompoop....
>
> But when you gotta put a Santa hat on your dog, you gotta put a Santa hat 
> on
> your dog.  No amount of manual-scanning will do.


I found both photoshop and gimp to be equally frustrating from a beginner's 
perspective.

After a while, and a few dozens pictures/photos manipulation with gimp, I'd 
say it's an excellent tool for the job.

Question is: up to what point can you really make complicated things 
user-friendly ? I wouldn't expect to know how to drive a ferrari without 
taking at least one driving lesson. Same goes, I think, with most evolved 
software.

--
Julien Vehent - http://1nw.eu/!j
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