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I'd need more evidence that 'backward thinking' doesn't exist before I could be persuaded to attend a conference. It's not about 'opening my mind' but about being clear-minded about what is and isn't on offer.

Academic users are not the same as the general public. Their needs are different and the approach is different - but I'm not sure how many academic users appreciate the differences.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Jan 30th, 2009 at 10:43:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
... users, is it? There are more corporate users of GIS than academic users.


I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Fri Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:04:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Corporate users aren't the general public either... They have SysAdmins to take care of the computers...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Fri Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:09:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, but unlike the general public, corporate users are a big part of determining what the de facto standard is for productivity application document files. Small businesses with corporate clients or suppliers have to be able to handle the file formats (and, of course, fonts) of the files their clients and suppliers attach to emails, and have to get people with the skills to use those applications, where the use of Microsoft Office products is taught in community colleges and business colleges all across the country.


I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Fri Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:32:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Good comment.

Until a software system - application or OS - provides overwhelmingly superior advantages for a user it's not worth it for them to spend the time required to learn a new system.

by ATinNM on Sat Jan 31st, 2009 at 01:36:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well said

Thats always the biggest factor. For most users the most important thing to do is what they want to do, not learn a new piece of software that is 'better' in termes of a vague philosophy that someone else is trying to persade them of.

The MAC/PC/Linux argument is in a lot of ways irrelevent to the user.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Jan 31st, 2009 at 02:18:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, this is why there is much more plasticity in an application domain that is rapidly gaining new users, since they do not have the investment in the status quo, and a much smaller advantage is required to gain user share.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Jan 31st, 2009 at 02:45:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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