Hi, first time posting on this mailing list, but here goes :P
Continuing to what Raphael said, it is a bit difficult to push linux
into people who only use their computer for fun and don't even know what
e-mail program they're using. Therefore pushing OSS first is key to
achieve this. Firefox and OOo are of course ahead of the rest and have
already starting diffusing amongst the 'normal users'... Firefox sort of
seems 'cooler' than 'you know what', and maybe that helped in pushing
Firefox to these people. OOo was pushed because it was installed on
people's PC instead of office (saves money no?). Amarok unfortunately
doesn't have a Windows version yet so these users cannot really try it
and see what it's like.
Moreover it will take some time before a stable build with features that
overcome WMP's, and only at that point can the software be pushed
forward. I would suggest pushing ahead software which has already been
in the Windows scene for quite some time. What about VLC? A video player
that saves the hassle of downloading a million and one codecs for any
film or tv series you download, which WMP can't play by default. I've
heard lots of complaints from people who can't play their videos, and
always solved their problems by redirecting them to VLC.
Gimp is a cool piece of software too but unfortunately not many people
are into graphic design, and those who are would already use other
software, so it's quite useless. What about Thunderbird? Great email
program providing everything that Outlook provides, of course with
customisable looks and stuff which Outlook doesn't have in addition to
those.
However, what I think would be a good thing to promote, that most people
should start learning to do... would be sourceforge.net a site for
downloading any random software you'd need. People still search on
google to find software that converts MKV to AVI... they find some
program that needs you to pay, and download the program and the crack
from Ares. We can show people that searching for open source software on
sites such as sourceforge they would find programs that fit to any of
their needs are work better than the ones they spent ages to find,
download and crack.
Sorry for the long post... but this comes from a user who's still pretty
new to Linux and doesn't have much background in it, I think these are
some points that normal users MIGHT be interested in changing to :)
- bix
Anton Xuereb wrote:
Seems I missed out a lot on the thread. Some
people live at their desks it seems.
I try to but don't always manage :(
On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 5:11 PM, Raphael Borg Ellul Vincenti
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
Personally I see it as a big sign of disrespect. Although the tshirt
banner wasn't as bad. Seems I missed out a lot on the thread. Some
people live at their desks it seems. I would like to voice a couple of
things on the top of my head.
First of all, I see a big difficulty in HR scene regarding Linux and
or other system programing experience on the island. Based on the CVs
that I see on my desk, yes we find it extremely difficult to find the
right people to join our company. Yes we have products which are based
on Linux let alone core infrastructure. So its crucial for us (2X) to
find local talent which we could surely use.
Second of all, Anton you forgot world domination somewhere in your
list. :)
The workshop is on the top of our list. Well it was before we lost our
mirror and the world collapsed. Angelo, we would really like to help
out if there is the need for OSS awareness. Even from the academic
point of view since OSS reflects most values in academia of publishing
your work. I am not talking about MS vs Linux here.
Regarding other arguments, yes conversion starts from the applications
which we use daily on our linux desktops and then to the actual linux
distribution. I know that after Firefox and OOo, Amarok will be a big
pusher in the propaganda of OSS and free (as in speech) online music
stores.
On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 2:08 PM, Anton Xuereb
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
> that egging video was hilarious
>
> On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 1:59 PM, Jean Azzopardi
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
> wrote:
>>
>> Yes..or some hungarian students will get creative with some dairy
>> products.
>>
>> On Sat, 2008-05-24 at 13:48 +0200, Anton Xuereb wrote:
>>
>> > Something tells me that Ballmer wouldn't accept and for the
love of
>> > God don't expect me to stand still while so many chairs would be
>> > waiting to be broken against his back :(
>> >
>> > ;)
>> >
>> > M
>> >
>> > On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 1:45 PM, Jean Azzopardi
>> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
>> >
>> > I vote for Stallman, Torvalds, Shuttleworth and
Ballmer as
>> > guest
>> > speakers.
>> >
>> >
>> > On Sat, 2008-05-24 at 13:30 +0200, Sebastian Cachia
wrote:
>> > > Regards OOo, I used to teach ECDL a few years back,
and can
>> > back up
>> > > what Anton said, that a number of students had
bought PCs
>> > with OOo
>> > > pre-installed, and either just stuck with it, or
didn't even
>> > know they
>> > > were using a different product. Getting people to
switch to
>> > Linux
>> > > would be great, but as Jean said, a number of other
open
>> > source
>> > > applications exist, and getting people to switch
would be a
>> > great step
>> > > forward. Also once people are used to using
products like
>> > Firefox,
>> > > OOo, Gimp, etc, the prospect of using Linux is no
longer so
>> > bad.
>> > > Afterall, for average user, the concept of the OS
is purely
>> > at an
>> > > Application layer, and has little to do with what
kernel is
>> > running
>> > > underneath.
>> > >
>> > > Last year at Uni, we had an Introduction to Operating
>> > Systems course
>> > > (or something like that) by the CIS department. It is
>> > however
>> > > generally accepted to have been quite a disapointment.
>> > >
>> > > A good place to start might be some sort of Open Source
>> > seminar,
>> > > organized by MLUG for Uni ICT students. A list of guest
>> > speakers could
>> > > be identified, both from within MLUG, as well as
the Uni
>> > staff. Also,
>> > > it is generally better to get people interested through
>> > seeing and
>> > > doing. Some sort of workshop, in a linux lab
perhaps, where
>> > anybody
>> > > can bring along a laptop and be led through a given
topic by
>> > somebody.
>> > > Perhaps these could all be joined together to form
some sort
>> > of day
>> > > long event.
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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>> >
>> >
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