--- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com, Roy <linuxcan...@...> wrote:
>
> Installfests are a great idea. It gets Linux into the hands of users who
> might be intimidated otherwise. Once a Linuxbox is going it is much easier
> to manage than anything else as it takes very little maintenance. You have
> no AV software to setup and maintain,no anti-trojan, anti-malware,
> anti-hijacking software, no disk defragmentation, etc.
>
> If only more people could get Linux factory installed then we might have a
> different story. Sadly, people get Windows and have problems. That is not to
> say that they would not have Linux problems, but that Windows has a whole
> set of problems that you don't get with Linux.
>
> An aside on this discussion is that Microsoft is developing its own package
> management system and patenting things like sudo. I am not sure what there
> plans are, but you can be sure that Linux is something that they have been
> looking at.
>
> Roy
>
> Using Kubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat, 64-bit
> Location: Canada
>
>
> On 20 October 2010 00:56, dbneeley <dbnee...@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Ray,
> >
> > Because of the level of enthusiasm of many Linux users, a newbie can often
> > get help with installation and whatnot from other individuals. Also, many
> > Linux user groups have "installfests" in which anyone can take their machine
> > and be guided through an installation. I know the one in Dallas does this
> > before every meeting, as one example.
> >
> > Today, more people are becoming accustomed to looking for help on the
> > Internet; some distributions have excellent community support where newbies
> > are welcome (the Ubuntu family is famous for this), while others still are
> > populated by "OS snobs" who are distinctly unfriendly to newcomers. To me,
> > that is a factor in which distributions to recommend to newcomers, in fact.
> >
> > Although many don't want to be bothered by reading anything, there is also
> > a large number of books dedicated to new users which can be extremely
> > helpful--even some which are downloadable in ebook format for free.
> >
> > The HeliOS project in Austin, Texas, gives computers to disadvantaged
> > kids--the machines are donated and often rebuilt by volunteers with that
> > project. These kids range from early elementary age (and younger siblings)
> > through high school--and few have any real issues using Linux. They seem to
> > pick it up very rapidly. Some even complain when they must use Windows as
> > being so difficult and non-intuitive!
> >
> > Obviously, there are those who will regard Windows as the path of least
> > resistance--and they put up with the endless rounds of updates and malware
> > difficulties as if that is a necessary and unavoidable part of computing.
> > Even when you try to tell them there is a better way, those folks are the
> > last to switch to anything new...even when, as you pointed out, the change
> > from one generation of Windows to another is at least as difficult as going
> > from Windows to Linux.
> >
> > Meanwhile, though, we continue to attract others who are finally ready for
> > a switch. In my view, if you have a friend, relative, or colleague who tries
> > Linux you should not abandon them from that point--but continue to help and
> > encourage as you can.
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> > --- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com <LINUX_Newbies%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Ray Drouillard <ray-lists@> wrote:
> > >
> > > This turned out to be one of the more informative threads. Thanks,
> > > everyone, for your insight.
> > >
> > > No matter how easy it is to pop in a live CD and go, a lot of people
> > > aren't going to do it simply because they have never and never intend to
> > > load a CD. They buy a Dell or Gateway, pull it out of the box, fumble
> > > with the cables, and go. In a year, their desktop is covered with junk
> > > from everything they pulled off of the web or installed. If they don't
> > > have malware, it's a miracle.
> > >
> > > It's possible to buy a car and never raise the hood. Fifty years ago,
> > > owning a car meant changing your own oil, and probably changing your
> > > points, plug, condenser, wires, and distributor. Now, you drive it off
> > > the lot and take it to an oil change place or back to the dealership
> > > every three months or 3000 miles. We're almost there with computers,
> > > but not quite -- except, perhaps, for the Mac. When we see more Linux
> > > machines pre-loaded straight out of the box, Linux will be used more.
> > >
> > > When Wal-Mart sold Linux boxes, I was going to get one. I never got
> > > around to it due to financial considerations.
> > >
> > > The main thing that kept me from Linux was that I didn't know how to use
> > > Unix, and I didn't want to chase all over the internet for drivers. I
> > > used to manually install drivers in MS DOS machines, but doing so in an
> > > unfamiliar system that wasn't up and running yet didn't sound like a
> > > good use of my time.
> > >
> > > While I wasn't looking, someone invented the live CD, and designed a
> > > number of desktop environments that were ready for the big time. When a
> > > friend suggested Linux Mint, I downloaded an ISO, burned it, and was
> > > soon running Elyssa. It took a little while to really get used to the
> > > GUI, but no more than switching up from Windows 98 (which I had been
> > > running for the last eight years or so) to Win 2K and Win XP.
> > >
> > > I had a few issues getting the most out of my video card when I upgraded
> > > to Mint 6, so I skipped it. Mint 7 Gloria worked fine. Mint 8 Helena
> > > didn't. I'm currently running Mint 9 Isadora on brand-new hardware.
> > >
> > > My point is that loading an OS, any OS, is a crap shoot. If some parts
> > > don't work (like the wireless controller or bluetooth,) most people
> > > can't do anything about it. Even an experienced Windows user isn't
> > > necessarily going to know where to find drivers or change configuration
> > > files. That's still an issue with me. Just where the &*^% is the
> > > Tomboy Notes data stored in Mint 9, anyhow? I moved the .Tomboy
> > > directory over from my old machine, and my new one doesn't see it. To
> > > me, it's an annoyance and an opportunity to learn. To an appliance
> > > operator (to borrow an old ham radio term,) it's a show stopper.
> > >
> > > In summary, if someone is used to buying a machine and running it out of
> > > the box, the fact that Linux is free doesn't mean anything because his
> > > new computer already has an OS. Who would swap the engine out of their
> > > car for a new one, even if the new one is free? A few, but by no means
> > > the majority.
> > >
> > > If you want to introduce an appliance operator to Linux, you need to
> > > either set the machine up for him, or point him to one of the machines
> > > that come with Linux pre-installed.
> > >
> > >
> > > Ray Drouillard
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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