Talk:Power user

I think everyone is right in some way, but power user is more of a new term that isn't that well defined. It could mean different things, as someone said below. This article seems to focus on the networking aspect. To me a power user is just someone who uses the more demanding functions/resources of a computer. A power user actually has the computer use more of its RAM and processing power, therefore the term "power" user.. the average user or layman uses the more basic functions. It's not a derogatory thing to be an average user, but a power user pushes the computer's resources a little more. Not to the extent of a graphic designer or a gamer, but these categories could overlap too.

After a casual reading of this article, it seems to me to be skirting on violation the NPOV policy and in any case needs improving. First, it strikes me as being condescending towards non-"Power Users." The advanced features and tasks that are performed by power users are never detailed or explained, they're just some magical skills that normal people don't have.
 * actually, i consider it a derogatory term - ime a power user is someone with a big ego because they know some keyboard shortcuts and how to read dialog boxes

Second, maybe I'm just reading too much into the article, but it seems to have a strong pro-Windows bias. No concrete definition for what a Power User is is ever explained in the article, but even if it were, it should clarify what a Power User is on each major type of OS--Windows, OS X, Linux, etc.

Third, the definition itself. What actually makes a Power User a Power User? Is it because I use tabs, themes, and keyboard shortcuts on Firefox in OS X? Is it because I installed some software for Outlook?  Is it because I use deliberately outdated hardware to painfully and slowly complete complicated computations?  As far as I am aware, there's no real consensus on what a Power User is. A Power User could be someone who uses a browser other than Internet Explorer to check their webmail, or it could be someone who programs from the command line in OpenBSD.
 * no that'd be a programmer or developer —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.125.110.223 (talk) 21:51, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Yeah, exactly. A power user is someone who is "good with computers" but doesn't actually do anything specific -- a programmer programs, a developer develops, etc. etc.. It seems to vaguely describe just about every child in the First World above the age of 8. --86.146.103.87 (talk) 18:52, 28 October 2011 (UTC)

Lastly, I think the second paragraph about Microsoft's Power Users group should be forked. That type of Power User, in terms of privileges, has nothing to do with what this article is actually trying to define. Is my grandmother a "System Administrator" just because she set up her computer with only one, Administrator user account? No. The second part is about a permissions level, and it should be distinguished as something completely separate from the mantra of a "Power User." --156.143.81.192 19:23, 19 May 2007 (UTC) KeplerNiko

It says power users want products with the most features and fastest performance. (Isn't that a contridiction in terms?) -- Chris Fletcher (2007-06-01)
 * probably but that's power users for you. it's just a simple matter of programming to add both. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.125.110.223 (talk) 14:41, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Just my opinion, but a power user would be someone who gets something done, whether theres a program for it or not. There's no true definition that I can find so mostly anything besides what this article contains would have to made up via opinion.76.19.30.95 15:23, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Power user: Windows Vista has not removed the Power Users group (which Wikipedia says "per User Account Control"). You can add a user to the "Power Users" group in Windows Vista or Windows 7 using lusrmgr.msc (but not the standard "User Accounts" control panel). Go to Users, double-click on an item in the list, go to the "Member Of" tab, click on "Add", type in "Power Users" and click "OK", then click on "Apply". For User Account Control in Windows Vista and Windows 7, "Power Users" are treated as administrators for installing or removing most software, but not for making changes to Windows settings or installing software that replaces system files (such as Windows Updates). -- X 6  8  6  01:46, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

I think this article is flawed. A Power User is a member of a group with elevated permissions on a computer system. It is a user with fewer privileges than an Administrator but more than a User. This should not be confused with a Super User who has greater privileges than an Administrator on many systems. It is not someone who uses the resources of a computer more than an average user because that would make any person who can run a high quality video a power user. You have your specialists who do require elevated privileges on systems due to the nature of their work and they can be Power Users. You can have your specific users (e.g.graphic designers) who demand a lot of power from their systems due to what they do but they do not have to be Power Users and they usually are not. I think the article here should be reviewed because it is defining and validating the common misnomer of "power user" wherein a user is simply more knowledgeable than a regular user giving a person greater "power" with the use of a system. It is also defining power users along the lines of "resource hogs" because they are "users" who demand more "power" from their systems than other users do. This makes it harder for people who use the term in their professional capacities because power users are defined by permissions whenever computer systems are discussed. I would cite references but, sadly, I no longer have my information systems text books on hand. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.247.126.130 (talk) 19:44, 2 June 2015 (UTC)

Mac OS X docent have power users
"I think this article has strong pro windows bias" Well, power users do not exist in mac os x. dunno about linux — Preceding unsigned comment added by Helloguyssmart (talk • contribs) 22:01, 14 July 2020 (UTC)