Difficulties in Modeling GNU/Linux User Behaviors

Creating models of user behavior has been helpful in predicting basic outcomes of computer usability testing involving human subjects. However, models and methods have been based on a narrow view of computer use; namely, they are not compatible with behaviors resulting from using the Linux operating system. How different could Linux be from other operating systems?! This article provides a few points of comparison.

Queen, Matt. Usability Professionals Association (2004). Articles>Usability>Operating Systems>Linux

The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering

The development of the user interface for a large commercial software product like Microsoft Windows 95 involves many people, broad design goals, and an aggressive work schedule. This design briefing describes how the usability engineering principles of iterative design and problem tracking were successfully applied to make the development of the UI more manageable. Specific design problems and their solutions are also discussed.

Sullivan, Kent. Microsoft (1995). Articles>Usability>Operating Systems>Microsoft Windows

The Windows 95 User Interface: Iterative Design and Problem Tracking in Action  

The Windows 95 user interface: iterative design and problem tracking in action.

Sullivan, Kent. Microsoft (2004). Articles>Usability>Operating Systems>Microsoft Windows

Living Free With Linux: 2 Weeks without Windows

Ubuntu's biggest Achilles heel is software installation and updating. Installing some software was simple, but installing others was so baffling as to be nearly incomprehensible. The same holds true for updates; I ultimately gave up on even trying to update OpenOffice.org.

Gralla, Preston. Computerworld (2009). Articles>Usability>Operating Systems>Linux