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Re: [LUG] Potential new Linux user near Holsworthy - Needs laptop & some help getting started?!

 

>> Hi All,
>>
>> Many thanks to all that replied to this post. I forwarded your advice
>> and Kim was *very* grateful. thank you :-)
>>
>> I think she going hold out for a laptop, although I will stress your
>> suggestions that a really cheap or even free (as Rob mentioned)
>> desktop would be a good interim solution.
>>
>> I will keep you posted as to what she decides to do.
>>
>
> Good luck with it all.  I've just been over to see well, I guess customer (a
> friend of a friend) who I provided a PC to for their local charity project.
>  The PC is running Ubuntu and was fine until an update borked the NVidia
> drivers (they are using a basic 15" LCD TV which doesn't do 1024x768 very
> well, I believe it's above the panel's native resolution.  Rather than mess
> around with NVidia drivers (which I had the hassle of last time) I installed
> Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 1 over the existing Ubuntu install.  Luckily I'd
> created a separate partition for /home, 45 mins or so later they were back
> up and running again.  Now if it was Windows I think I would have been there
> the best part of the day.
>
> The comment of the day would have to be "Ubuntu is so quick compared to
> Windows", and it's a modest spec PC - Athlon XP 2000+ (about 1.6GHz IIRC),
> 512MB Ram and an 80GB hard drive.
>
> Maybe when I have some more time I'd suggest they upgrade their laptop to
> Ubuntu from XP.
>
> That reminds me, I still haven't sorted out the bit of free Ubuntu promotion
> with them, considering Ubuntu 10.04 is being released at the end of the
> month, it might be a great time to get the article in the Herald Express and
> see if we can get a mention of the possible upcoming install day.
>
> Rob
>

Hi Rob,

>  Luckily I'd created a separate partition for /home
That sounds like a very sensible idea. Mentally noted!

> "Ubuntu is so quick compared to Windows"
Result! :-)   (see below...)

>  it might be a great time to get the article in the Herald Express and see > if we 
> can get a mention of the possible upcoming install day.
Sounds good.

Last night I went round to my friends (Ian) and showed him linux mint (live cd).

I spent about 4-5 hours (left at 1am!) discussing open source and some
of its history (Stallman, Linus - the bits that i know at least). He
totally loved it! I set him off using the command line and he really
liked the directness of it and enjoyed learning about various options
he could pass to common commands. He was impressed with the manual
(man) and we made his kids chuckle using "banner". I know,.... we
should really get a life! lol.

He is going to install it to disk (when I next go over), making it the
default OS on that box and begin his linux journey (hopefully)

I hoped to "clinch-the-deal" by showing off what a linux desktop is
capable of. I emailed him the following link...

http://maketecheasier.com/10-of-the-best-linux-desktop-customization-screenshots-to-inspire-your-creativity/2008/11/28

So - a good day for open source. :-) haha!

Best wishes
roly

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