Analysis of Windows XP and SUSE Linux 9.1 Operating SystemsA Usability Study

1
Analysis of Windows XP and SUSE Linux 9.1
Operating SystemsA Usability Study

• John Stubbe
• Advanced Usability
• INF 385G
• Dr. Randolph Bias

2
Content

• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results and Analysis
• Conclusions

3
Introduction

• Origin of the Project
• Evolution of the Project
• Goals of the Project

4
Methodology

• Six participants installed both Windows XP
  Professional and SUSE Linux 9.1 Professional
  operating systems. Ultimate task was to open the
  word processing application.
• Participants were presented with the boxed
  versions of the operating systems and asked to
  install the OS and open the word processing
  application.
• Participants were encouraged to dialog with the
  computer and talk aloud about what they were
  doing.

5
Methodology, cont'd

• As a counterbalancing measure, 3 participants
  installed Windows then Linux, and 3 installed
  Linux followed by Windows
  
• Phone was located next to computer in case
  participant needed to call the 'help desk'
  
• Participants were observed.
• Participants completed questionnaires before and
  after installations.
  

6
Methodology, cont'd

• Equipment
• 2 Dell OptiPlex computers on loan from iSchool
  computer lab.
  
• System Dell Computer Corporation - OptiPlex
  GX240
  
• Processor Intel(R) Pentium 4 CPU 1.80GHz
• Main Memory 256 MB
• Monitor Dell Computer Corporation - E153 15-inch
  Flat Panel Color LCD
  
• Keyboard Dell Quietkey Keyboard
• Mouse Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse

7
Results and Analysis

• About the Participants (Pre-test)
• About the Software (Post-test)
• Miscellaneous (Observations)

8
About the Participants

• Sex
• Male 4
• Female 2

• Age
• Under 18 0
• 18-25 2
• 26-35 0
• 36-45 3
• 45-55 1
• Over 55 0

9
About the Participants

• Computer Use
• Every day 2
• 3-5 days/week 4

• Most frequently used operating system
• Windows 4
• Mac OS 1
• Both 1

10
About the Participants

• Installed Windows OS?
• Yes 2
• No 4

• Installed Linux OS?
• Yes 0
• No 6
• 2 participants had never heard of Linux

11
About the Software

• Windows XP
• Avg. Install Time
• 1 hour, 21.33 mins.
• (81.33 mins)

• SUSE Linux
• Avg. Install Time
• 57.66 mins

12
About the Software

• "I found Windows XP easy to install."
• Strongly agree 2
• Somewhat agree 2
• Undecided 2
• Somewhat disagree 0
• Strongly disagree 0

13
About the Software

• "I found SUSE Linux easy to install."
• Strongly agree 0
• Somewhat agree 3
• Undecided 2
• Somewhat disagree 1
• Strongly disagree 0

14
About the Software

• "I found the amount of time needed to install
  Windows XP acceptable."
  
• Strongly agree 0
• Somewhat agree 3
• Undecided 1
• Somewhat disagree 2
• Strongly disagree 0

15
About the Software

• "I found the amount of time needed to install
  SUSE Linux acceptable."
  
• Strongly agree 0
• Somewhat agree 4
• Undecided 2
• Somewhat disagree 0
• Strongly disagree 0

16
About the Software

• "Overall, I was satisfied with the installation
  for Windows XP."
  
• Strongly agree 2
• Somewhat agree 2
• Undecided 2
• Somewhat disagree 0
• Strongly disagree 0

17
About the Software

• "Overall, I was satisfied with the installation
  for SUSE Linux."
  
• Strongly agree 0
• Somewhat agree 3
• Undecided 3
• Somewhat disagree 0
• Strongly disagree 0

18
Miscellaneous Results and Analysis

• Boot to Disk Default SUSE Linux
• "What just happened?"
• "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
• Press F2 for Details SUSE Linux
• "Am I supposed to press F2?"
• 3 of 6 participants pressed F2 even though it
  wasn't necessary.

19
Miscellaneous Results and Analysis

• Warning! SUSE Linux
• "Why is it warning me if everything's okay?"
• Windows had very few problems it took longer to
  install, but only because it's a heavier OS.

20
Quotes

• "Windows took longer to install, but it didn't
  seem as long. There was always some kind of
  interaction. That wasn't the case with the
  Linux."
• --Participant 6
• "Windows is really efficient, but it's a little
  creepy too. It's like it's trying to be my
  friend."
  
• --Participant 5
• "I kept waiting for something to happen during
  the Linux part. I'd read what was on the screen
  and then just sit and wait. The timing was really
  bad."
• --Participant 2

21
Conclusions--Software

• Despite the fact that Windows XP takes longer to
  install, participants still demonstrated a
  preference for it.
  
• Interactivity of Windows XP makes the waiting
  easier to endure.
  
• In order for SUSE Linux to compete in the market
  place, it needs more than a "superior" product
  it needs a more refined and user-friendly
  installation program

22
Conclusions--Study

• Need to include a question about aesthetics in
  the post-test questionnaire.
  
• Example "I like the appearance of software
  name." with Likert scale
  
• Rephrase "use most frequently?" question in
  pre-test.
  
• Allot more time between users. Barely had time to
  uninstall OS.