OpenGEU – Luna Serena
Let me start by saying I like OpenGEU quite a bit; it’s a very nicely done distribution, it seems to be solid, and it seems to have most of what an individual would want loaded by default.
However…
It’s not really very Mac-ish.
So before I continue talking about my finding on OpenGEU I want to redefine the parameters…
In my mind it’s not necessary for an operating system to mimic Windows or OS-X in order to have a reasonably good usability, in fact we can see from the steady evolution of the operating system and the money and resources that Microsoft and Apple throw at the problem that they don’t have it right — they just feel they’re on the right path.
So… I’m not looking for a Mac clone (if I were I would have put Hackintosh on the original list); I’m looking for an operating system default installation that achieves a highly usable system that non-computer users will be comfortable using and highly productive on from the start.
Now I feel like I should find an attorney to write me a lengthy disclaimer…
OpenGEU may well be a very good candidate for non-computer users who wish to find alternatives to Microsoft and Apple (either because they simply don’t have the money to stay on the upgrade roller-coaster or because they feel they do not want their productivity and destiny tied so closely to a commercial software venture).
OpenGEU installs easily, it creates a simple, easy to use, easy to understand desktop environment. Most every tool you might want or need is there; and of course the package manager can help you get updates and new software fairly easily.
While I cannot tell you that all the multimedia software that I would like to see are present by default, there’s enough to get the average user started.
The overwhelming characteristic of OpenGEU that I feel I must underscore is how clean the appearance is — a testament to the fact that a designer may in fact be much better qualified to create human usable software than an engineer is.
OpenGEU makes the cut; and deserves a thorough evaluation.
I’ll publish a much more extensive article on OpenGEU when I’ve finished going through the candidates and had more time to use it… but I’m excited at the possibilities!
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