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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Neil Winchurst wrote: > There have been several emails about getting more people to move over to > Linux. I have recently installed Linux on a laptop for my brother who > wanted to try it. I have also talked about the move across to several > friends. May I add my two pennyworth? > > Anyone who has used Windows up to now needs some kind of incentive to > try Linux. This could be curiosity, saving costs, security etc. But they > also need a lot of help in the early stages. It is no good installing it > for them and leaving them to it. They will all too easily give up and go > back to the OS they are used to. > > So, from my experience, what scares and worries Windows users about > moving to Linux? There seem to be several things. > > Linux has so many versions (distros). Distrowatch lists 100 and there > are more. To us that may seem like a strength but actually it is a > weakness. For most people Windows has just three choices, XP, Vista and > now Windows 7. That is already more than enough to worry about. Even > when I said that there were perhaps about 20 strong contenders that was > still scary. > > Most Windows users acquire their computer with the OS already installed. > The thought of having to install it was again really scary. Of course, > we would not expect anyone to do it the first time without help, but > even so ...... And I did not even mention partitions and dual booting. > > Learning about a different layout for files and folders on the hard > disk. Again, they all looked a bit worried and puzzled. The main > question was why? > > The user system was again a big problem. Learning about root, users and > their passwords, groups, the home folder etc. Wow. Scary again. > > Installing new packages. Well on Windows, I think, you either download > the exe file and double click on it or put the relevant CD/DVD in the > drive, wait for the install button to appear and click on it. On Linux I > could have mentioned apt-get, synaptic, adept, deb files, repositories, > RPM files, dependencies, well you get the idea. > > Conclusions > > Perhaps I have been talking to the wrong people but here are my suggestions. > > Need for an incentive to move. > Much help and hand holding required. > This help will sometimes need to be available for some time. > This will all require some organisation and co-ordination. No point in > going at it piecemeal or haphazardly. > So, a lot of work and planning and preparation I think. > > Sorry to be so long winded but this is important. We must get it right. > If we get it wrong not only will they give up and go back to Windows, > they will also tell all their friends!! > > Any thoughts and comments gratefully received > > Neil Winchurst > Looking at the bbc text service on friday germany suggested people used something other than IE I was reading today and france has followed suit. Ms claim MS IE 8 is the most secure ever and people should upgrade, I agree upgrade to something other than IE however. Paul - -- Paul Sutton www.zleap.net Ubuntu 9.10 is out : Visit www.ubuntu.com for details DCGLUG MEETINGS - Details on www.dcglug.org.uk/drupal6, - please click on Group meetings link on right hand side Aged 11 - 19 then dfey may be for you, please goto http://www.dfey.org for more details -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAktV7bwACgkQaggq1k2FJq3EFACeNDvx5sNNy+12ELRfGzkgSRSz XFQAnj5i2VeMBAEQtKZotVT/g6OakOZs =3D9o -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html