For the average joe computer user, if you ask them to "open a console" on their computer they'll stare at you dumbly. For the uninitiated the "console" is the Linux equivalent (loosly) of the "command prompt" or "dos prompt".

So, I just don't understand why it is that a lot of Linux sites and magazines (yes, I'm talking to you, Linux Journal!) insist on forcing the console on everyone for tasks that are just as easy to do without it. Yes, it's nice to know how, and there certainly needs to be a way to find out more about the console, but I firmly believe the console should be reserved for power users and not try to force it on everyone.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not really dissing on Linux Journal. It's a great magazine and it's really targeted more towards the power users like me who will use the console on a daily basis even if you show us a GUI (Graphical User Interface - something everyone has been using since before 1995) that is 10x faster for most people. It's just that the Linux Journal articles recently got me thinking about Linux broadscale desktop adoption.

Perspective