Wow, I'm not the only one up at this time of night. I schedule on Saturday
mornings/afternoons are fairly flexible as well. I'm more than willing to
help out.
More specifically, we should provide an agenda and a few goals so people
know what they're getting into. Also, maybe a FAQ on misc. tidbits (ie.
popular apps (and like Paul recommended, their Windows counterparts),
Telesys/ISP support, how the IDE works, gamming, simple networking --a
significant number install linux for apartment LANs, etc...)
Be sure to give Lynn ample notice to get the suggested books in stock. Maybe
recommend the just released third edition of Running Linux?? It has a good
mix of what people want. Maybe we can get Lynn to come down and set up a
stand or something for the books. I think if we can get enough people to
come we might be able to make a little money on linux t-shirts and maybe
cheesy stickers to put on their cases or something.
As for a distro, I'm using Debian, but I think the best route for people who
know nothing about Linux is Mandrake... Almost everything is already set up
for them (video, sound, imwheel, KDE, etc). The installation takes less than
10 minutes off a CD. Speaking of which, I've got a stash of silver/blue cd
blanks and a 4x burner that I wouldn't mind pitching in if some one will
help me pick up the costs (I can afford to give out 25, but I think we need
a lot more). Also, I think the new version of Mandrake just came out/soon
will come out (6.1) so it's timing might be exactly what we need.
I could have sworn I mentioned all of this to Omar during the Summer
(instead of doing EE316). I'm glad someone else is thinking about this. I
mentioned to him that in order to expand the membership/interest of
Siglinux, we should hold periodic installfests and how-to sessions so people
don't have to ask the same question on the listserv. I'm guilty of it as
well, but aren't we tired of seeing "Help! Telesys won't work"
Ok. It's late.
-ks
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Paul Sack
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 3:52 AM
To: christ; Linux
Subject: Re: installfest
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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