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List: kde-devel
Subject: Re: Who are our users?
From: Shantanu Tushar Jha <shaan7in () gmail ! com>
Date: 2014-04-25 9:21:57
Message-ID: CABQ4Km9=J5HUOsE_7x-bpdAv1G5xQv0Hp=MaJG4Kuyqm=eu0AA () mail ! gmail ! com
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On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 12:52 PM, Ian Wadham <iandw.au@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 25/04/2014, at 1:07 AM, Shantanu Tushar Jha wrote:
> > Each of us keep an idea about our target users when we write KDE
> software, be it our workspaces, our applications or anything. From recent
> threads on the list, I have started doubting if the ideas I have in mind
> have been correct or not all the years I've been in KDE. So, I started
> asking myself about what my answer would be to "of all users of KDE
> software, what type of users are the majority?".
>
> Doubt and self-questioning are the beginning of enlightenment … :-)
>
> > ** When I look at a desktop[1] computer users today, I categorize
> them[2] as-
> >
> > == Casual users ==
> > These users primarily want their computer to do a set of tasks, and do
> it as soon as possible. Whatever it takes, they *try* to spend the least
> time on the computer.
>
> I think you have these guys wrong. They are not necessarily "casual".
> Some spend
> hours a day in front of a screen. And they are not necessarily "task"
> oriented, unless
> they are paying bills, doing some on-line banking or shopping or running a
> small
> business.
>
What would they be doing when they are not paying bills or some similar
"serious" activity? I can think of online social media stuff, but I think
they'd prefer more to go out and meet real people ;) My father for example,
uses Kubuntu on his computer but only when he has to edit some documents
etc and take printouts.
> > == Advanced users ==
> > These users are similar to casual ones in the sense that they want their
> work done as soon as possible. However, they go the extra mile to figure
> out ways in which they can optimize their workflow or use some software
> cleverly. This way they are actually able to get more done.
>
> Do you include here people who see a computer as a means to an end,
> rather than an end in itself? I am thinking of architects, designers,
> musicians and
> film makers, for example. I see myself as one of these. My goal is to
> develop
> software for KDE, but I am not greatly concerned about which OS/desktop I
> use.
>
Yes even these folks are actually using the computer as a tool which helps
them accomplish a certain task, like the ones you mentioned.
>
> > == Power users ==
> > These users generally use their computer for a even broader set of tasks
> and will try to solve each and every real world problem using software on
> their computers. Something that is very important for such users is the
> software to be highly customizable to suit their style of working. They
> will juice out each and every feature of the software to get the maximum
> benefit they can. Time is usually less of a problem for these folks,
> however they are also very picky about choosing a software that meets their
> needs.
>
> Are these people seeing the computer as an end in itself?
>
Yes, that was my idea of such users (and this is where I put myself :P)
>
> > == Students, employees on their company-provided computers ==
> > This category will actually have users from all of the above. However,
> there is a difference in the sense that they will not be the ones making
> the choice on what OS they will be using. The choice will usually be made
> for them by their schools, and companies respectively.
> > ** Now, given the above set of users, going by only my observation and
> experience, the Operating System choice looks something like this-
> >
> > == Casual users ==
> > most of them will use Windows as it still is the most popular among
> similar people,
>
> Popular maybe because there has been no choice. Most computers you see in
> shops already have Windows installed. And I guess people like to follow
> the crowd
> and not be the only member of their group who has something different.
>
> > some of them will use OSX - mostly people who can afford an Apple
> computer
>
> I don't think Apple computers are significantly more expensive any more
> --- not for
> several years, not since the iPhone and iPad appeared. Apple do not want
> to
> compete unevenly with themselves ...
>
> Also I think people (your casual users) are migrating to tablets and
> phones in droves.
> They do almost everything such a user wants, are cheaper and are much
> easier to
> set up and use. Even my four grandchildren, aged 3 to 8, are using them …
> :-)
>
Yes, that is exactly why for this discussion I am focusing only on people
who still use a non-mobile phone/non-tablet computer like a desktop or a
laptop. It is true that KDE is no longer just restricted to these, but I
wanted to tackle one "super category" at a time.
>
> > == Advanced users ==
> > The number of people using Windows will be a bit higher than the number
> of people using OSX, followed by a small fraction using a Linux distribution
> >
> > == Power users ==
> > There will be some Windows users who install lot of tweaking tools, and
> quite some OSX users with the same pattern. However, most of these users
> will be using a Linux distribution (or BSD etc) with a choice of a desktop
> environment, email client etc) because they find the ease of customization
> and the feeling of control of the whole system.
> > Now, just in Power users, there will be a huge variety of distros and
> DEs that people will choose. When I think about DEs, (again this is only
> from experience and blog posts on the Internet) people who choose KDE do
> that because we offer *lots* of features and the maximum level of
> customization when compared to any other DEs.
> >
> > So, that was my attempt at recollecting my thoughts from the last few
> days. I'll love to hear what you guys think about it - is it close to the
> reality? Or, did I get it all wrong? Or, there's just no way to be even
> remotely sure?
>
> You can only find this out by observation and collecting evidence and by
> meeting
> actual users.
>
> For me, this is one of the greatest difficulties of being in the KDE
> community. You
> very rarely meet end-users and find out what they think of your work. Bug
> reports
> and complaints from knockers can be de-motivating, unless you have
> developed a
> thick skin. Before I stopped work, I would meet end-users regularly. I
> really miss that.
>
Yep that is very true. Here in India, its very very scarce that I see a
computer running a Linux distro and even more scarce to see KDE. And every
time I do find one, the user turns out to be a geek.
> > This it will help me a lot as a KDE contributor, to make sure the
> software I write is a delight to our users.
> >
> > [1] and laptops, netbooks etc, excluding mobile devices though
> > [2] and I am no usability expert as well, so I can be wrong about user
> profiles
> >
> > Cheers!
>
> Thanks for trying to reach out …
>
> All the best, Ian W.
>
> >> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to
> unsubscribe <<
>
That was nice, anyone with more ideas?
--
Shantanu Tushar (UTC +0530)
http://www.shantanutushar.com
[Attachment #5 (text/html)]
<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, \
Apr 25, 2014 at 12:52 PM, Ian Wadham <span dir="ltr"><<a \
href="mailto:iandw.au@gmail.com" target="_blank">iandw.au@gmail.com</a>></span> \
wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px \
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="">On \
25/04/2014, at 1:07 AM, Shantanu Tushar Jha wrote:<br> > Each of us keep an idea \
about our target users when we write KDE software, be it our workspaces, our \
applications or anything. From recent threads on the list, I have started doubting if \
the ideas I have in mind have been correct or not all the years I've been in KDE. \
So, I started asking myself about what my answer would be to "of all users of \
KDE software, what type of users are the majority?".<br>
<br>
</div>Doubt and self-questioning are the beginning of enlightenment … :-)<br>
<div class=""><br>
> ** When I look at a desktop[1] computer users today, I categorize them[2] \
as-<br> ><br>
> == Casual users ==<br>
> These users primarily want their computer to do a set of tasks, and do it as \
soon as possible. Whatever it takes, they *try* to spend the least time on the \
computer.<br> <br>
</div>I think you have these guys wrong. They are not necessarily \
"casual". Some spend<br> hours a day in front of a screen. And they are \
not necessarily "task" oriented, unless<br> they are paying bills, doing \
some on-line banking or shopping or running a small<br> \
business.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>What would they be doing when they are \
not paying bills or some similar "serious" activity? I can think of online \
social media stuff, but I think they'd prefer more to go out and meet real people \
;) My father for example, uses Kubuntu on his computer but only when he has to edit \
some documents etc and take printouts.<br> </div><div><br></div><blockquote \
class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid \
rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"> <div class=""><br>
> == Advanced users ==<br>
> These users are similar to casual ones in the sense that they want their work \
done as soon as possible. However, they go the extra mile to figure out ways in which \
they can optimize their workflow or use some software cleverly. This way they are \
actually able to get more done.<br>
<br>
</div>Do you include here people who see a computer as a means to an end,<br>
rather than an end in itself? I am thinking of architects, designers, musicians \
and<br> film makers, for example. I see myself as one of these. My goal is to \
develop<br> software for KDE, but I am not greatly concerned about which OS/desktop I \
use.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yes even these folks are actually using the \
computer as a tool which helps them accomplish a certain task, like the ones you \
mentioned.<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px \
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"> <div class=""><br>
> == Power users ==<br>
> These users generally use their computer for a even broader set of tasks and \
will try to solve each and every real world problem using software on their \
computers. Something that is very important for such users is the software to be \
highly customizable to suit their style of working. They will juice out each and \
every feature of the software to get the maximum benefit they can. Time is usually \
less of a problem for these folks, however they are also very picky about choosing a \
software that meets their needs.<br>
<br>
</div>Are these people seeing the computer as an end in \
itself?<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yes, that was my idea of such users (and \
this is where I put myself :P)<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" \
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid \
rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div class=""><br>
> == Students, employees on their company-provided computers ==<br>
> This category will actually have users from all of the above. However, there is \
a difference in the sense that they will not be the ones making the choice on what OS \
they will be using. The choice will usually be made for them by their schools, and \
companies respectively.<br>
> ** Now, given the above set of users, going by only my observation and \
experience, the Operating System choice looks something like this-<br> ><br>
> == Casual users ==<br>
> most of them will use Windows as it still is the most popular among similar \
people,<br> <br>
</div>Popular maybe because there has been no choice. Most computers you see in<br>
shops already have Windows installed. And I guess people like to follow the \
crowd<br> and not be the only member of their group who has something different.<br>
<div class=""><br>
> some of them will use OSX - mostly people who can afford an Apple computer<br>
<br>
</div>I don't think Apple computers are significantly more expensive any more --- \
not for<br> several years, not since the iPhone and iPad appeared. Apple do not \
want to<br> compete unevenly with themselves ... <br></blockquote><blockquote \
class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid \
rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"> <br>
Also I think people (your casual users) are migrating to tablets and phones in \
droves.<br> They do almost everything such a user wants, are cheaper and are much \
easier to<br> set up and use. Even my four grandchildren, aged 3 to 8, are using \
them … :-)<br></blockquote><div><br>Yes, that is exactly why for this discussion I \
am focusing only on people who still use a non-mobile phone/non-tablet computer like \
a desktop or a laptop. It is true that KDE is no longer just restricted to these, but \
I wanted to tackle one "super category" at a time.<br> \
<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px \
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div class=""><br>
> == Advanced users ==<br>
> The number of people using Windows will be a bit higher than the number of \
people using OSX, followed by a small fraction using a Linux distribution<br> \
><br> > == Power users ==<br>
> There will be some Windows users who install lot of tweaking tools, and quite \
some OSX users with the same pattern. However, most of these users will be using a \
Linux distribution (or BSD etc) with a choice of a desktop environment, email client \
etc) because they find the ease of customization and the feeling of control of the \
whole system.<br>
> Now, just in Power users, there will be a huge variety of distros and DEs that \
people will choose. When I think about DEs, (again this is only from experience and \
blog posts on the Internet) people who choose KDE do that because we offer *lots* of \
features and the maximum level of customization when compared to any other DEs.<br>
><br>
> So, that was my attempt at recollecting my thoughts from the last few days. \
I'll love to hear what you guys think about it - is it close to the reality? Or, \
did I get it all wrong? Or, there's just no way to be even remotely sure?<br>
<br>
</div>You can only find this out by observation and collecting evidence and by \
meeting<br> actual users.<br>
<br>
For me, this is one of the greatest difficulties of being in the KDE community. \
You<br> very rarely meet end-users and find out what they think of your work. Bug \
reports<br> and complaints from knockers can be de-motivating, unless you have \
developed a<br> thick skin. Before I stopped work, I would meet end-users \
regularly. I really miss that.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yep that is very \
true. Here in India, its very very scarce that I see a computer running a Linux \
distro and even more scarce to see KDE. And every time I do find one, the user turns \
out to be a geek.<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px \
0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"> <div \
class=""><br> > This it will help me a lot as a KDE contributor, to make sure the \
software I write is a delight to our users.<br> ><br>
> [1] and laptops, netbooks etc, excluding mobile devices though<br>
> [2] and I am no usability expert as well, so I can be wrong about user \
profiles<br> ><br>
> Cheers!<br>
<br>
</div>Thanks for trying to reach out …<br>
<br>
All the best, Ian W.<br>
<br>
>> Visit <a href="http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub" \
target="_blank">http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub</a> to \
unsubscribe <<<br> </blockquote></div><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">That \
was nice, anyone with more ideas?<br clear="all"></div><div \
class="gmail_extra"><br>-- <br>Shantanu Tushar (UTC +0530)<br><a \
href="http://www.shantanutushar.com" \
target="_blank">http://www.shantanutushar.com</a> </div></div>
>> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<
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