I have been thinking of this sort of thing lately and have contemplated starting a project of some sort around it.
My idea is basically this. Take a look at what defines a "desktop" in a Win or Mac environment and look at open source alternatives to what is already there. Take a look at the projects out there; particularly those whose scope covers multiple platforms and present those to people. Some uses Windows....show them that they don't need to abandon their OS...someone used Mac....show them they can have the same applications as their Linux and Windows brethren. I would imagine that there are similar projects out there and this be duplicating efforts, but I think it would go a long way to promoting Open Source software and hopefully towards Linux as well. Perhaps there is a way to tie with Roy Souther in Lethbridge. I know they have a similar project underway with their FLOSS disk, and perhaps we can contribute to that as well. Maybe get ELUG and POSS involved as well and build that brotherhood among LUG's. If I recall, Roy has an event coming up (August 28th???) and they are looking for something that they can do. Maybe we could compile a list of survey questions between the different LUG's in Alberta and survey people about what they use their computers for and share that data between the LUG's. Aaron mentioned that there are a variety of "Desktops" out there. Let's ask them what "Desktop" they use and ask them there apps. I think you can see where I am going here. I will give an example of what I am talking about: * Office Suite: OpenOffice.org (Windows, Mac & Linux versions) * Instant Messaging: Gaim (Windows, Mac & Linux versions) * Database: MySQL (Windows, Mac & Linux versions...I think?) ...Get the point? So...what do people think? > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of Andrew Graupe > Sent: August 12, 2004 9:21 PM > To: CLUG General > Subject: [clug-talk] What does "Ready for the Desktop" really mean? > > > Since I am told linux is ready for the desktop, I've been thinking about > converting Windows-using family and friends to linux. This has, in > turn, made me think about what I do on a regular basis to keep my linux > system working perfectly, which can't exactly be described as > user-friendly. This brings me to an interesting point: what does "ready > for the desktop" actually mean? > > It is a good-sounding phrase for one thing, but it is ambigous as to > meaning. Does it mean that linux can be used in a desktop (personal > daily computing) environment? If so, then linux is definitely ready for > the desktop. Or does it mean that it is ready for use by the average > computer user that justs wants to surf the web, check e-mail, and play > games (collectively, the "Desktop" market, note the capital D)? I would > argue that linux, although it is good, is not quite there yet. > > What are some thoughts on this? > > Regards, > > Andrew > > > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
