Opportunity knocks
|
| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| dinotrac Aug 21, 2007 8:26 AM EDT |
This is not an isolated instance, though, we should note that it is a technically sophisticated user, not grandma. Vista sucks and doesn't seem to be getting any better. Wish we were just a little bit better prepared ... |
| Bob_Robertson Aug 21, 2007 9:57 AM EDT |
In three weeks, "Grandma" (specifically my Mother, so make that GreatGrandma) takes delivery of her new Linux laptop. I will be writing up her experience, or she will, or something like that. And, just like millions of other people, she will use something other than Windows for the first time in several years. The F/OSS community have been creating wonderful and useful tools and applications for decades. There is no function (as opposed to dis-function) of Windows which is not answered or bettered by F/OSS applications. Live CDs are exceptionally good tools for introducing people to something new. There are two specific draw-backs to using non-Windows systems: Specific applications that people want that are written Windows-Only; Specific hardware for which the makers drivers are written Windows-Only. Neither of these shortcomings are shortcomings of F/OSS, so nothing F/OSS people can do can fix them. Those must be resolved by the people who write and make Windows-Only products. This same issue exists regardless of what platforms one is talking about. There are Linux-only applications, Linux-only drivers, yet no one is complaining about not having them when moving to Windows. So what's left? How can anyone be better "prepared"? |
| rijelkentaurus Aug 21, 2007 11:02 AM EDT |
I just set up an older Dell PC for my girlfriend's nephew a couple of weeks ago, Ubuntu. He forgot his logon last week and called to ask me, but other than that he's been doing everything on his own. He even fixed some SNAFU with his wireless. He's 12. That's an effective way to spread the word, get the younger gens working on it. Works well to get the grannies of the world on it, too, because the young gens love the old gens...it's just the in-between parent gens that make no sense to them. |
| dinotrac Aug 21, 2007 1:57 PM EDT |
>There are two specific draw-backs to using non-Windows systems: There are three drawbacks to using non-Windows systems, and the biggest is the last: Just about everybody you know (well, maybe not you specifically) uses Windows. It's called a network effect and it is very powerful. |
| nalf38 Aug 21, 2007 2:15 PM EDT |
I've been Linux-only for about seven years now, but I got a new laptop and decided to give Vista a chance for a few months. Have any of you actually tried to use Vista? It is unbelievably slow, and Aero is nothing special, certainly not any better than CompizFusion. The only reason I could think of for keeping it is that I *paid* for it, and it would be a waste to erase something I paid for. I didn't have anything big enough to back it up onto, so I finally dumped it for Sabayon Linux (gentoo based). My girlfriend also uses Sabayon on her desktop without a hitch, as long as she doesn't have to install anything. But that's the thing---though she likes Linux because nothing breaks randomly, she probably wouldn't be using it if I weren't around. In fact, I recently realized that I don't know *anyone* personally who uses Linux besides me (besides aforementioned gf). I guess I'm not a very good Linux evangelist. |
| dinotrac Aug 21, 2007 2:20 PM EDT |
> I guess I'm not a very good Linux evangelist. A good evangelist understands what he or she is dealing with. My family members use Linux because they have me and they can. However, even my Linux-using wife uses Windows XP on her work machine because Linux is not an option. People who can use Linux on the desktop find it to be a wonderful world. People who can't, well, they're stuck with that "other stuff". |
| rijelkentaurus Aug 21, 2007 8:12 PM EDT |
Quoting: The only reason I could think of for keeping it is that I *paid* for it, and it would be a waste to erase something I paid for I just got a new Dell Vostro 1700, which came preinstalled with Vista Home Basic. I didn't give it a chance, I never booted to the hard drive, I threw in PCLOS and installed right away. Runs great. Vista just isn't worth worrying with. As an aside, no, I didn't want one of the preinstalled Dells with Ubuntu...I would have liked to have had one, but this Vostro is a monster and the laptops in the Ubuntu line aren't exactly high end. However, the fact that Dell is selling a preinstalled Linux is the reason I went with them, even thought MS counts me as a"Win" for their team. I considered the price for V Home Basic as part of the price I paid for getting a good laptop for Linux, which is unfortunate but true. |
Posting in this forum is limited to members of the group: [ForumMods, SITEADMINS, MEMBERS.]
Becoming a member of LXer is easy and free. Join Us!