[Libreoffice-ux-advise] [Bug 117463] Create a Dialog that shows up on first boot of Writer/Calc/Impress for the user to pick its default UI

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=117463

--- Comment #29 from John Mills <jmills59@yahoo.com> ---
Hi jan d,

Just on your statement:

> For me it hinges a bit on who is the target group for LO. If it is people who are about open 
> source software: Options and showing community efforts are great.

> But if we assume we compete more with software for office workers who otherwise use MSO or 
> SoftMaker or WPS… Then I would go with the UX principle of choosing a decent default options – 
> since most people leave it as it is. 


The LibreOffice Next Decade manifesto:

https://www.documentfoundation.org/assets/Documents/tdf-manifesto.pdf

The very first point:

WE COMMIT OURSELVES:

'To eliminate the digital divide in society by giving everyone access to office
productivity tools free of charge to enable them to participate as full
citizens in the 21st century'

I don't see any other way that other than LibreOffice is targeted at typical
users of office software. No where in that manifesto can I see it saying that
this is targeted at open source 'activists' first. 

The wonderful thing about LibreOffice and FLOSS software in particular is that
is a great equalizer. From the poorest to richest the our rights are the same.
The document foundation provide a fantastic Office suite that respects user
freedoms and empowers them. 

That is critical, anything that enables this and encourages more users to break
away from proprietary software should be encouraged. I think a providing a user
interface similar to what > 90% of users interact with can only be a positive
step, it's a great starting point.

Note also the first value rejected.

'The ownership of office productivity tools by monopoly suppliers which imposes
a de-facto tax on global electronic free speech and penalises the economically
disadvantaged.'

LibreOffice competes for the poorest users against 'pirated' versions of
Microsoft Office. When a user has no inclination that something free
(libre/gratis)exists that respects them they become a prisoner. It is
insidious. 

Anyway I apologise if off topic, but I just wanted to make clear who could
benefit by this decision.

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