Quote: "The only people I know who tout Linux are programmers and other similarly computer-literate people. While I can understand that it's excellent for those who can tear out parts and make it exactly as they want, most don't."
You don't have to do this with Linux -- you
can, which is cool, but you don't have to -- there are many Linux distributions with competent WIMP interfaces.
Slightly off topic: I'd like to see a map of the world displaying the popularity of different operating systems in different countries. Whenever I go to Linux forums there's a huge amount of Indians, Eastern Europeans and South Americans, which makes me think Linux is a lot more popular outside of America and Western Europe.
If we break down the terms included in "WIMP" we can see what the essentials are:
* Windows: A way of displaying and distinguishing between work areas for simultaneously running programs.
* Icons: A way for the user to call specific programs, files and directories.
* Menus: A way to alter the behaviour of a program or manipulate a file or directory.
* Pointer (which is a poor choice of word when applied to computing, but acronyms...): A way to control user input.
So none of the actual terms are concrete, but I think we will always need terms that fit those descriptions; but not necessarily split into these four areas, we might merge some or split some in half. I can't see mouse pointers disappearing any time soon: the mouse is a work of genius -- I think it's a travesty to have a clunky old slim-typewriter sat next to it -- but certainly it is input devices that have the biggest impact on how our requirements for human-computer interaction are resolved. Touch-screens might be a great method of input but there are still situations where a mouse and keyboard are preferable.
Now how do we replace the keyboard?
