On Monday 04 December 2006 07:49, [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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.
[snip] > I've had similar experiences, I have put linux on for my parents, 3 guys > at work and quite a number of other people. Usually this is after their > existing OS dies under a pile of virus's worms etc, but a couple where > just plain new users. If you approach it the right way, and explain that > most people will tell them that windows is somehow better, then they > fair just fine. Everyone I have converted to date, have loved and stuck > with Linux, despite their friends telling them they are mad. My brother > in law actually got told not to let me install Linux cause it is not > stable and just crashes all the time (this from a windows user!) > > In saying all that, it really does depend on the person. There was one > person I installed windows for, and that was my grandmother, she lives > just too far away for me to give her tuition on sending email etc etc, > so she goes to community computer classes, and of course they use > windows, so for her it was right. > > My opinion, is, only install Linux for him, if you are willing to finish > the job, ie make sure EVERYTHING he is likely to do is already set up. > Make sure all video codecs work, set openoffice to auto save in .doc and > .xls format, put flashplayer 9 on as well as java etc etc. Even install > dvd shrink (wine is fine, you dont need crossover), I normally put dvd > shrink on for people as the evolutionary line dictates that as they get > better, they will want to do the cool stuff their friends are doing, I > also make an icon on the desktop that runs a script to run dvdbackup, > cause dvdshrink just does not cut it for decryption these days. [snip] I guess the key issue is the intended use: linux is not a good option for an avid desktop user who wants to do all stuff, and is linux-unaware. The cases I cite, and the case Sonya presents are for a stable system that does the exact same thing year after year, without fuss or bother, and does not ever do new-stuff etc. In that situation it is a good fit. Show me the most sophisticated winders user who did not need to reinstall after a year or so! James -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
