As much as people hate on Windows, Microsoft very clearly put their software in front of people to learn where the pain points are and fix them. Maybe Linux desktops should do likewise because some of them are a usability joke and it hurts uptake. I was playing around with Ubuntu 26.x with KDE last night and there is so much noise and grit in the UI I wonder what is going on with it.
Microsoft put their software in front of people who want to use it to do stuff. They ask them to copy a file, launch a program, select something and copy/paste etc. and they observe their reactions, how long it takes them to find & do the thing. Then they focus on where the people had issues and try to simplify the flow, rinse and repeat.
I would never say Microsoft puts in as much effort to UX as Apple, they still put a fuck tonne more in than any Linux dist. Even GNOME. And the KDE desktop is a dog’s dinner despite basically copying Windows and trying to play the same tune without understanding the notes.
As much as people hate on Windows, Microsoft very clearly put their software in front of people to learn where the pain points are and fix them. Maybe Linux desktops should do likewise because some of them are a usability joke and it hurts uptake. I was playing around with Ubuntu 26.x with KDE last night and there is so much noise and grit in the UI I wonder what is going on with it.
They put it in front of kids in schools to get them used to it so they could sell more copies of windows. Don’t act like it’s some sort of altruism.
Microsoft put their software in front of people who want to use it to do stuff. They ask them to copy a file, launch a program, select something and copy/paste etc. and they observe their reactions, how long it takes them to find & do the thing. Then they focus on where the people had issues and try to simplify the flow, rinse and repeat.
I would never say Microsoft puts in as much effort to UX as Apple, they still put a fuck tonne more in than any Linux dist. Even GNOME. And the KDE desktop is a dog’s dinner despite basically copying Windows and trying to play the same tune without understanding the notes.
Unpopular opinion but KDE is a usability nightmare. Mate, Cinnamon or XFCE are much better in this regard.