[Tfug] Why not do usability research?

[Justin Zeigler]

Jim Secan wrote
| From a price perspective, I agree.  But this isn't the box a "typical" home
| user would be buying.

If we were testing complete systems, this would definitely be a hard
point to get around, but the entire point of such a test would be
usability of a desktop environment. Thus, let me amend the idea:

Each test group would receive a baseline system of /well/ proven
hardware. The systems will be pre-installed, and the users will
have support in customizing the system for themselves on the first 
day (this entails Internet setup, email client and other
'personalization' things and /not/ theme, colors, skins or 
background).

As for distro, I do not consider Debian an option, due to the staleness
of the current 'Released' version(woody). RedHat has precluded itself
already, and SUSE is firmly aimed at Corporate users.  This would leave
mainly Mandrake, Xandros, Lycros and Lindows (am I missing any?)  

I know that for me, Slack, Gentoo and Debian are vastly superior, But
unless you are living with a hard-core geek, you are not getting these
dists in the home.

-- 
Justin Zeigler
Human, and all around person

Religion is like alcohol, in moderation it can make you feel tingly 
all over, but when you have to much, you start pissing people off.