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.
