Heather; As a Network Consultant, I fully understand your perspective. I hear these kinds of concerns every day from clients who are unfamiliar with Linux, but curious enough that they are willing to experiment. My best guess (for the moment) is that Linux will acheive gradual acceptance over the next few years, but until then, and until friendlier desktops show up, I can see where "Newbie's" and casual users might have a problem. I respect the work you do by the way. Our LUG here in Montreal has been refurbishing used PC's and installing Linux for low-income families and senior citizens for a while now.
But, (here it comes!), I've seen a large number of PC owners/users migrate over to dual-boot systems, or completely to Linux, without any major problems. While they may be used to Windows, I've found that they're more used to finding their programs with conventional names. What I mean is that it's not Linux they're afraid of, but the unknown (Please do a web-search on the term "cognitive dissonance"). To ease their worries, I typically set up their Linux apps with names and/or icons that resemble their M$ counterparts. For Example, change the Kmail icon to an Outlook Express icon, and rename the icon. Then give them a quick demo on Kmail. If they're using a dial-up Internet account, name the Kppp icon "Connect to the Internet" or something similar. Most of the problems I see with new users is usually related to unfamiliarity, and these kinds of modifications seem to do the trick. By the way, if you still need help with Linux to Windows communication, email me off the list, and I'll be glad to help. Go figure! Lanman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heather Reed" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 6:16 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] Minimizing the cult factor > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Rick [Kitty5]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 10:59 AM > Subject: Re: [newbie] Minimizing the cult factor > > > > > > So (beat me with a stick) I have to have a Windows box right here next to > my > > Linux box. > > > > Hope I've got the right poster here :-)) As a total linux newbie I will add > my two pennorth - I work as a coordinator and support person for housebound > people - repairing pcs, getting them on the net etc etc. Whatever the level > of skill, everyone here on this list is, by default, either a full blown > 'techie' of some sort or an enthusiast who wants to learn more about OS > innards. I would go further and say that everyone with a linux PC falls more > or less in those categories. The day I can take a linux box round to one of > my clients, and say 'there you go, you can get on and install your > games/ISP/favourite app..' and leave them to it is the day linux will have > blown windows away. I've been at it for a week and still haven't sussed how > to get 2 way communication going between linux and windows, and learning > this OS is going to take a hell of a lot of reading, swearing and sleepless > nights :-)) I'm loving every minute of rediscovering my own stupidity, but I > am not the average computer owner, and neither are any of you! I suspect > that nearly all of us have 2 pcs at least running both windows and linux > (apologies for sweeping statement :-)). Mr and Mrs Average have just one, > and whats more, they want to turn it on, do their thing, turn it off and > forget about it. Giving them linux would be rather like chucking them an > unprogrammed cisco router and saying 'off you go and connect to the net!' > Thats where windows scores, and what linux will have to offer eventually to > take the market share away from M$. Thats my contribution - I'll crawl back > down my hole now and figure out how to remove linneighbourhood when package > manager keeps crashing :-)) > > Heather > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com >
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
