On Sun, Dec 03, 2006 at 09:09:58PM +1100, Sonia Hamilton wrote: > Here's an ethical question for you. I have a middle aged friend who > wants to "learn computers"; he's never used computers before (he's a > builder). In exchange for some work he's doing for me, I'm going to > install everything, get him connected to the net and teach him how to do > email, use the internet, write basic documents, and whatever else comes > up (eg playing music, watching videos). As a builder he also wants to be > able to submit documents to councils - I haven't been able to pin down > the format required by councils yet. > > Do I install and teach him 'doze/M$ Office or Ubuntu? Or, setup dual > boot and teach him both? Or, install Ubuntu and Cross Over office? > > The Linux lover and advocate in me says "Linux, of course", but is that > ethical? What I mean is that some time in the future I mightn't be > around to help him, then he'll be at the tender mercies of other > friends, PC shops, ISP phone support, etc, who probably won't know > Linux. If he goes to an internet cafe or reads a newspaper article, > he'll also be stuck in a 'doze world. I can point him at SLUG, but is > that really helping him? > > On the other hand, with Linux he'll get everything extra for free, won't > have to learn about nagware/cracks, won't be stuck in the "upgrade > treadmill", won't have virus problems, and generally have less > problems... > > I'm not trolling here - this is a serious question - imagine if you were > in the same situation with a friend/parent, and weren't going to be > around for ever to help them.
What does your friend say when you broach him with these facts ? How much does ubuntu support cost ? My gut say install windows with Open Office + some anti virus + firewall + some easy way to backup to DVD > > -- > Sonia Hamilton. GPG key A8B77238. > -- > SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ > Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html >
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