Comments on Linux and Free software: How to convert non-techies to Linux.

I Hate WINDOWS! So tired of issues. I have restor...

2012-01-07T08:27:41.148-05:00

I Hate WINDOWS! So tired of issues. I have restored my hd image so many times do to windows poor management of there services, registor, est. I haqve never used Linix but I am surely going to try it. I am a some what of a ms techie, 30yrs exp. but I hate it. Wish me luck in my new adventure! I Love the article.

Computerman57

Thank you for nice post! :D I love linux, I love p...

2009-09-04T23:10:42.643-04:00

Thank you for nice post! :D I love linux, I love pinguins ;)

nice article....

2009-09-04T13:04:41.731-04:00

nice article....

I switched my dad to Linux :-) Yay ! Linux-1 Windo...

2009-09-04T08:27:19.276-04:00

I switched my dad to Linux :-) Yay ! Linux-1 Windows-0!

Well, the most important one is to find out WHY th...

2009-09-04T06:36:08.315-04:00

Well, the most important one is to find out WHY they want to switch OS'es. And check if Linux will provide what they need in detail. Also for future usabilities. (predict the users utilization). E.g. if the person is much into multimedia, then you might run into problems big time. This is because Multimedia is not Linux' shiny horse feature. It's more a little colibri.
It flies, but not powerfull. E.g. video editing is near feature/stability rich in available software packages, as to Windows and OSX availabilities. Also Hardware comes into play.

in other words: CHECK VERY CLOSELY WHAT THE USER REALLY NEEDS, NOW AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
not all non-techies can express it verbally, as we techies can. So try asking clear questions, in synonims instead of tech words. discuss about it indepth. Show them screenshots, let them do their work, and you watch how they do it. Etc..

If Linux is still a good alternative, then proceed with the posters list.

One NOTE: eyecandy can be nice for the first few user runs, but watchout to NOT overcandy it.
Compiz is something is would NOT use/activate for them by default, it's confusing to them (all those anim effects etc..)
better keep it solid but modern looking. (like apple does)
Also keep in mind that compiz can make other programs crash or not working properly.

NOTE 2: ALWAYS test the setup intensively before rolling it out to the enduser. Make documentation (simplified focussed on their tech knowlegde), for them too.

Indeed! I recently switched from XP to Ubuntu, an...

2009-09-03T20:17:25.175-04:00

Indeed!

I recently switched from XP to Ubuntu, and for me, the GUI was omnipresent. I did not even consider using the terminal--I would crawl through Synaptic before using apt-get. Only after careful, crafty, and very slow tweaking of my system (and calling my friend at all hours of the night, "How do I [x]?!"), did I feel comfortable enough to begin venturing into the terminal. I'm not nearly what one would call a Linux power user, but I'm getting there.

And when possible avoid giving command line help. ...

2009-09-03T19:34:44.828-04:00

And when possible avoid giving command line help. There's nothing non-techies loathe more than having to do important tasks with the CLI.

How true, good article. You are right that people ...

2009-09-03T17:56:41.759-04:00

How true, good article. You are right that people are not even aware that they have an alternative. I was helping a friend in April and suggested that he might want to try Linux. I had to start by explaining that it was kind of like a Mac (which he understood) and free (made him smile). I then did very much the same as you, installed a base system - 64-bit Ubuntu. Setup took a little more with Flash and Java, but I wanted it to be the best experience possible. I followed with apps. they would need for how they use the computer and then finished up with some eye candy. He has only come back to me once since the install and that was because he failed to shut it down properly and this was easily fixed with a fsck.