Yes, yes, I know about Openoffice, but that is the perception. Besides, the way MS owns and holds the file formats a secret (XML? Ha! More likely to be a binary dump inside an <MS /> tag) OOo cannot keep up and be 100% compatible. Hell, *MS* can't keep up.
Wait.. weren't the XML formats standardized or something? I remember reading something to that effect on Slashdot.
On 5/18/06, jtd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
THAT is the key. Setting up and hand holding the defector. If u are not available when the defector is stuck he will reboot into familiar territory. The incentive to switch is the disincentive of the ad nauseum window problems - but the pressure to get things done is much more. And from a business point of view handholding for weeks a defector is a total drain. OTOH handholding a newbie on ANY os is an equal pain. So much for "user friendly" UIs.
Yup, some hand-holding is necessary. I don't think this is rocket science but most users (moreso business users) are used to the applications they use rather than the OS environment. So here's what I did: 1. Removed MS Office and put in OOo so trhat they get used to it. 2. Installed Firefox. I didn't have to waste any time trying to convince them to use it. They used it once and liked it :) 3. Used Thunderbird as the defacto email client for my mother's business. Once they got used to the applications all I had to do was introduce them to the cooler looking UI ;) And they're loving it. Also, I guess I must give much of the credit to them for actually wanting to change. I guess most of the migrations get stalled due to this very resistance to change. Siddhesh PS: Completely OT I guess, but did anyone see the FOSS program (part 2) on BBC today? A decent and insightful documentary I thought. The Baramati bus computers idea was awesome! I think there's a thread with alternate timings on this list for those who missed it. -- http://siddhesh.tk -- http://mm.glug-bom.org/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
