Thanks for the endorsement of SFD Jim, which has unlimited potential
worldwide and for 2006 locally now that NZOSS has it as a focus date.
Thanks to Jim, Nick, Warwick, and David, for contributing time to SFD 1
and 2. It is good to see the area of FOSS/Linux promotion work raised
early in the year - cheers Ross!
Nick Rout wrote:
On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:53:50 +1300
Chris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
On Thursday 09 February 2006 13:29, Ross Drummond wrote:
My reasoning is that Linux with modern distributions is becoming easier to
install.
It is true that Linux is now far easier to install than that difficult
microsoft system, and that with the help of such utilities as symatic package
manager alterations are now simpler than "the other side"
However, Joe blow is entirely unaware of this. Joe Blow will to see Linux as
scary until shown otherwise.
A dear friend of mine was on my laptop a few weeks ago and made a comment that
said it all. When i asked her what she thinks of using Linux, she said: "Is
this Linux? I thought Linux was all command line!" She is someone who works
with computers doing video editing, so shes probably more clued up than the
avourage Joe.
It is also true that there are some rare difficulty's, i for one had to try
several different distros before i settled on MEPIS because of issues in
getting the mouse, sound, and some other thing going. MEPIS worked with
everything first time. Several other distros didn't
This sort of thing would scare Joe Blow right away, even though similar issues
exist in windows world and the likes. Some assurance from those who know
about such things, and the resources that are likely to be at a meeting are
always a good thing to have for ones first Linux experience.
Good comment Chris. I suggested an installfest come fixup come demo.
but what we really need is education of the masses, so lets put "demo"
at the front of that. Make it a kind of expo.
The advertising might run like:
"Why should you use linux on your home computer?
Why should you use linux in your business?
Come and see and try linux running on a PC like yours.
If you like it, find out how to get linux installed
If you've tried, and don't like the result, let us fix it for you..."
or something like that.
I agree that there's a whole lot of consistent time and work required to
ease migration of that small percentage ready for real computing
freedom. More would follow them though, and working towards scale is the
best preparation we can make, I believe. So here's a pitch for how we
could get started. 'One big integrated solution', in summary:
Make every day InstallFest & SFD, through establishment of a drop-in
workshop facility downtown that is sponsorship, recycling & training
driven. This would build on Dave's OSTC model by adding more public
access to an internet-enabled workstation suite, and donated materials
for learners to build up, use, and own at nominal cost.
Shared between the several sponsors likely to support such a venture
(IBM. HP, CCC, CDC, tertiary, etc, etc), the costs would not be high:
lease, power, telecoms, consumables. Volunteer staffing is the key to
the project's success. I am now willing to rely on my FOSS business's
health to help/manage full-time, without salary, for the CV-value alone.
Low- & no-cost forms the main, unique attribute of our cultural
interface, I believe - the one most reliable for 'selling' the idea
widely enough to succeed. CLUG & friends rotating yourselves randomly
through the doors should provide sufficient extra skill, supervision,
and enthusiasm to make it viable. :-)
The exercise must be conducted at arm's length from any private
interest, so Task #1 is recruitment of a respectable and diligent Trust
Board, to safeguard financing. Six to eight members would be an
efficient size to begin, and this is where List members could take the
initiative - by nominating themselves or willing industry players, on or
off list - which step thwarted the OSTC iirc.
Solving these logistical problems is my current daily work, until such
time as it is proven that this plan will not work. We have a working
project title, which remains open to review towards concensus:
'Free Software Training House' (& The FST Trust).
I think this name most simply & non-technically gets the implication of
our school across to the uninitiated, in an inviting way. But let's hear
all views.
InstallFest & SFD would thus become unnecessary or special events, based
upon the level of support most guaranteed to fix Linux experiences as
positive and ongoing ones, for the general public.
Comments most welcome. Please help us get started.
--
Rik Tindall, http://www.SoftwareFreedomDay.org team lead Christchurch,
Aotearoa-NZ team coordination volunteer.
