What about trying to get a local supplier to install OEM linux on his pcs and sell them that way...many customers would wipe their hdds or choose to have windows pre-installed but some would also keep it im sure and try to use it. I know it would be a hard thing to do but for that supplier his computers would be a good Lm40 cheaper (even more now with vista afaik) a distro such as ubuntu shouldnt be too hard for anyone to use (geek talking here)
What d'ya think ? Ubuntu comes with a selection of perfectly usable (and very similar to windows counterparts with it) naming: firefox, OOo, evolution etc etc On 3/11/07, Jean Azzopardi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I also think that killer apps might be very useful, as well as serving as an introduction as to how good OSS can be. Firefox has already made a deep impact...many students like it. OpenOffice - speed issues, but it's also good, and bundled with many computers nowadays...although I suspect that they are wiped with MS office afterwards..still, who knows? Jean Azzopardi wrote: > Could we ask MS to foot the bill? :) > > Is there anywhere rather than a hotel? Some parish hall maybe? > > Anton Xuereb wrote: > >> ara if ud like the grandmaster hall at radisson costs LM575 per day :) >> >> On 3/11/07, *Jean Azzopardi* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: >> >> Personally, I play tremulous the most...followed by UT 2004, Quake 4, >> and Wesnoth. >> >> 2 or 3 days hardcore linux...cool, but location, location... >> >> James Attard wrote: >> > My dream is twofold: >> > >> > 1) linux bootcamps - like 2 or 3 days hardcore linux, we discuss >> > things, technical stuff etc >> > 2) >> > linux conferecens - we see Oracle talks, .NET talks, Microsoft >> talks - why not organize meetings open for the public at >> conference halls like in hotels where we TECHNICALLY talk about >> linux or opensource products - we see conferences about ORacle and >> MSSQL - why not about mysql? we should volunteer ourselves in such >> activities. I am quite confident that these attract many geeks. >> > >> > >> > As regard gaming, I'm an 'Enemy Territory' hardcore, running on >> linux. >> > >> > James >> > >> > On 3/11/07, *Jean Azzopardi* < [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> wrote: >> > >> > I heard about the Linux courses, and I did notice that there >> are a >> > number of people out there who are interested in it. My >> concern is >> > people in secondary-tertiary schools. >> > >> > Anton was at my school, and as you remember, an average of >> only 1-10 >> > per 200 people used linux regularly. The others either don't >> care or >> > else give up. And gaming plays a huge part...when you >> mention that >> > Linux >> > cannot be used for hardcore gaming without some major >> tweaking, their >> > eyes glaze over and I know I've lost them. >> > >> > However, there is hope when it comes to restoring old >> computers. A guy >> > in my class restored an old laptop with Zenwalk Linux and >> liked it >> > quite >> > a lot. Another one tried out Linux for Beryl and >> managed...but got >> > bored. >> > >> > The perception is usually like this: >> > >> > 1. It's free...so it's either pirated or it has to suck. >> > 2. It's difficult. It's command line only...Youch, I >> hate the >> > terminal. >> > 3. No games. >> > 4. What, no Word? No Excel? >> > >> > And try and try to convince them, they remain skeptics to the >> > bitter end. >> > >> > And in Malta, the price issue is not that much as elsewhere. >> Given >> > that >> > most students either crack Windows and other software...hell >> I know >> > students who never paid for Windows...the price difference >> is not that >> > much in their eyes, so what are we making a fuss about? >> Piracy is >> > illegal? Everyone does it, why bother? >> > >> > Still, where people do care about piracy being illegal, the >> fact that >> > Linux is gratis means a lot...even though they don't >> know/care what >> > opensource really means. >> > >> > Linux bootcamp, I'll go for it. What's also needed is >> showing how >> > Linux >> > is perfectly usable, even in a dualboot configuration alongside >> > Windows. >> > Personally, I managed to use Linux for the whole of sixth >> form...even >> > going so far as to use Dosbox to run Turbo Pascal on >> Linux...so I >> > wouldn't dualboot to work on my cs project. >> > >> > How's the situation in Uni? Does anyone know if Linux is the >> champ >> > there? >> > >> > Regarding Xarabank...yeah, a lot of publicity there...but >> does Joe >> > Public care? >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Anton Xuereb wrote: >> > > I would go on the panel of xarabank.. >> > > >> > > now seriously... >> > > >> > > there is quite an interesting trend that is taking shape >> > lately...for >> > > instance..the MIIT is doing linux courses..David Degaetano >> is making >> > > LPI courses...so Is STC Along with RHCE Courses..also (even if >> > > stupidly and without any actual grounding) STC pushed hp's IT >> > > Essentials 2 courses as covering lots of linux (were >> infact only an >> > > introduction is covered)..I worked at STC up to a few >> weeks ago and >> > > the response was amazing...lots of ppl called in to ask >> about the >> > > lajnux courses...M$ of course can afford to push stuff >> that everyone >> > > already knows about and thus many ppl will flock to buy >> the cheap >> > > office 2007 and vista packages...An upcoming activity that >> the LUG >> > > will be doing will (altho discussions are still taking >> place) be >> > that >> > > of doing a linux bootcamp and try to attract as many pc users >> > > interested (or not ) in linux as possible. >> > > >> > > M >> > > >> > > On 3/11/07, *Philip Serracino Inglott* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> > > <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>> wrote: >> > > >> > > Sadly, I feel that this situation is partly our fault >> too. >> > We, as >> > > the Linux community, might not be doing enough to >> spread the >> > word. >> > > In a sense its not our job. As a USER group our aim is to >> > support >> > > established and interested users (I'm sure there are >> many more >> > > Linux users out there in Malta who are not reading any >> of this). >> > > But if we have to take advocacy seriously, its a pretty >> > tough job >> > > to take on purely as volunteers. >> > > >> > > Think of what would happen if we found a sponsor and >> published a >> > > bunch of Edubuntu CDs with informative leaflets and >> distributed >> > > them in schools. Image the press release "Local NGO >> > distributes a >> > > few million Euros worth of software to all secondry school >> > > students studying Computers", That would have an impact! >> > (btw. the >> > > amount would be based on a study, wich i don't have at >> hand, >> > that >> > > calculates the cost of recreating Debian from scratch) >> > > >> > > But really how many of us on this list would be willing to >> > try and >> > > approach peppi to try and have a Xarabank on how the >> > government's >> > > IT strategy vis-a-vis free software? I fell that us >> linux guys >> > > tend to be a bit snobbish sometimes. >> > > >> > > Probably if we want to change the tide there are two >> things we >> > > need to do, 1. Swell our numbers. 2. at the first >> opportunity >> > > issue a FORMAL reaction to something the government >> does. This >> > > second step is important to establish MLUG as an >> interested >> > party. >> > > >> > > Philip >> > > >> > > >> > > On 11/03/07, *James Attard* < [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>> wrote: >> > > >> > > Hey Jean, >> > > >> > > Coincidentally I was just writing an article on my >> website >> > > >> > < >> http://www.jamesattard.com/2007/03/linux-education-programme.html> >> > > about the situation, but remarking a sign of hope. >> This is >> > > after the Linux Education Programme happening as >> of next >> > week >> > > due to an agreement between IBM and MIIIT. So I >> believe >> > things >> > > are getting better. >> > > >> > > James >> > > >> > > >> > > On 3/11/07, *Jean Azzopardi* < >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>> wrote: >> > > >> > > I am going to be as frank as I possibly can. >> > > >> > > The situation is scaring me. All over Europe, >> we can see >> > > governments >> > > warming towards linux, educating students to use >> > Linux, etc. >> > > In Malta, on the other hand, all we hear about is >> > > Microsoft, and how the >> > > government is sucking up towards it. How >> offers are >> > being >> > > made from >> > > Microsoft towards our students, how Microsoft is >> > "innovating", >> > > anyway...microsoft, microsoft, microsoft. >> > > >> > > Linux never gets a say...it's like the >> Government has >> > > totally ignored >> > > it. Why is this so? >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > MLUG-list mailing list >> > > [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> > <mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> <mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> > <mailto: [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>>> >> > > >> > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> <http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list> >> > <http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list> >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > -- >> > > http://www.jamesattard.com >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > MLUG-list mailing list >> > > [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> >> > <mailto: [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>>> >> > > >> http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> <http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list> >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > MLUG-list mailing list >> > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >> > <mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> <mailto: [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>>> >> > > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> > < http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list> >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > MLUG-list mailing list >> > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >> > > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > MLUG-list mailing list >> > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >> > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > http://www.jamesattard.com >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > MLUG-list mailing list >> > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> MLUG-list mailing list >> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> MLUG-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list >> >> > _______________________________________________ > MLUG-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > _______________________________________________ MLUG-list mailing list [email protected] http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list
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