Thanks for the encouragement ;)
Christ:
Any given saturday I am available but PROBABLY only after 1 (and setting
up before 10:30 ?). I can probably get there by 12 but I can only
commit to 1. And I can *possibly* be there even earlier. Depends if I
can adjust my work schedule or not. (Which I probably can.) I would like
to do this towards the beginning/middle of October so that we have time
to prepare/promote.
All:
For promotional purposes, we should put together some sort of list of
why Linux is better. (StarOffice = MSOffice, gimp=photoshop,
mpg123/xmms=winamp, stability, configurability, "freedom", dual-boot)
Basically quick answers to most people's reservations regarding Linux.
We can direct everyone to Desert Books with a list of books to purchase.
Maybe we can borrow a projector to connect to a laptop. This laptop
could have multiple window managers and desktop environments and a bunch
of apps. Maybe after a group of, say, 5-10 people have finished
installing Linux these 5-10 people can be given a quick demonstration
and some advice. I imagine we can use some script to set up a basic
desktop from which most people can run most programs without having to
delve into command-line. Most newbies probably fear the command-line.
It might even be fun to have a few newbie seminars during the week/month
after the installfest about, say... how to install rpm's, how to use the
config utilities with the distro we choose, how to use the internet
(e.g. good ftp clients, icq clients, irc clients, etc.), maybe how to
compile programs, the kernel, how libraries work, and an overview of
security. Of course we should provide links to how-to- and
program-repositories. Basically we could have a sign up list for these
"seminars" and if there is enough interest have them.. somewhere. (With
lots of handouts or maybe a web page with the material.)
I forgot whose company was offering linux courses, but these wouldn't be
a substitute. Those people who are truly interested in learning Linux
would probably learn far more with those courses and would still attend
them.
Big ?: Which distro? I humbly recommend RH because it comes with many
X-based config utilities. (And of course because I use it, mainly
because of intertia.) Maybe Mandrake. Something with a small
(relatively) learning curve.
I would also recommend kde/wm with the windows look just to help people
become familiar with their system.
I do remember that at the Rice U installfest about 20 people showed up
so we can expect several times that given good publicity.
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