On Fri, 2007-07-13 at 09:13 -0700, Antonio Olivares wrote: > --- Mustafa Qasim <alajal@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Yes! I agree with you Mr. Erich but can you or > > anyone else tell me the key > > factors that are involved when convincing or guiding > > a person how much it is > > easy to move to Linux or how we can make it easy for > > them to take a test > > drive of Linux and then make them realize that it's > > really better their one. > > > > I thinks the "Satisfaction factor" comes here. What > > we need is to build > > their satisfaction factor in Linux greater then > > Windows then they'll > > naturally realize it instead of forcing them to make > > a blind jump. No one > > here will make a blind jump and if we force them to > > do it and after that we > > couldn't help them too much to keep them in ... then > > they will never ever > > come back... :P ... > > > > so, what r the points to build the satisfaction > > factor of a person on Linux? > > > > On 7/13/07, Erich Zigler <ezigler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > wrote: > > > > > > On Fri, July 13, 2007 8:16 am, Mustafa Qasim > > wrote: > > > > > > > I've tried to talk with my some friends about > > these issues but at the > > > end > > > > i > > > > came to know that they didn't need to listen the > > philosophy of FOSS they > > > > just want me to practically prove that Linux is > > much easier and secure > > > > then > > > > Windows. For them installing software from > > source or concept of mounting > > > a > > > > block device is much difficult because they > > didn't have to do this in M$ > > > > XP > > > > :p. > > > > > > I really do enjoy this subject. The bottom line is > > that most desktop users > > > out there do not care about licensing, holy wars, > > FOSS, etc. They only > > > care about one thing... does it work. > > > > > > Can they as a user sit down and get what they need > > to done or will they be > > > spending more time working on their workstation so > > they can then work on > > > their workstation. > > > > > > Linux has gotten much more "common man" user > > friendly then it used to be. > > > (Does any one else remember installing Slackware > > from 26 floppies?) At > > > this point in time I feel Linux has gotten to be > > user friendly enough for > > > the non-geeks out there to operate. People do not > > like change. Individuals > > > who were raised on Windows will stick with Windows > > because it is what they > > > know. Unless there is some stimulus for change it > > is difficult to convince > > > people to give it a shot. > > > > > > - Erich > > > > -- > > Mustafa Qasim > This is an excellent question, with many fine answers > from people across the world. > > One answer I can think of, is to go to a computer > store. Tell the salesperson that you just want the > computer no software no OS. > > Then ask the guy how much the computer costs. It > costs $X and that is fine. > > Then ask the guy if the computer has an OS, XP/Vista > and how much does more it cost. > > The bottom line here is to buy two computers for head > to head comparison. One with the default OS being > Vista/XP and one with no OS. On the machine with no OS > test it out with a liveCD and show the user how > everything works, sound/graphics/software and what > comes with a linux system. Fire up the other machine > which comes with nothing closed to it. Tell the > persons that to have something like all the software > already there, get linux. If they want to get the > software in windows download it and try getting it for > free or pay for it. > > The windows computer will need antivirus/firewalls/ > word processsing/spreadsheets, etc. it will usually > have it with a catch a trial version of MS Office for > 30 days or something like that. The linux machine > will have OpenOffice with no strings attached. > Furthermore, if the user does not like OpenOffice, > he/she can get Koffice, Abiword and Gnumeric. The > choices are there. In windows there is OpenOffice, > but you have to download it, it does not come with > Windows. The ones that come with windows is with a > catch, and catches like those not too many people > want. > > Also people need some time to test Linux on their > systems. Recommend a liveCD and take a test drive. > They need to see the advantages of linux vs the other > OS. > > These are just some little ideas because more things > come into play. The users might also want mp3 > playback, being able to watch their DVD's. The linux > that they will use, should have the ability to do > this, or make it simple for a user to install the > software required for this. They are not to be > worried about legality issues/patents or other stuff > which will be intimidating to them. In the end, the > decision to use linux/XP will come down to them, no > one will force themselves upon them. They should see > for themselves which system is more convenient for > them. Which one does more for less? > > Regards, > > Antonio > > And there is yet another "but". If the program(s) work for some time, and the user has a few megabytes of stuff in the OO or other FOSS forms, and then finds he/she cannot communicate with the Windows users because MS pulled another shift in modifying how the standards are interpreted, what happens? Do you think that person(s) will blame MS? I think not. It will be the fault of Linux, and the Windows help desk folks will push that view point. And they are the "professionals" and "experts", not the Linux hobby programmers, at least in the eyes of the consumer. The person they pay is the expert. The person they get for free is the "hacker" or hobby programmer (isn't hobbiest a word? my spell check rejects it.). This is a very very big hurdle. Having companies like RedHat on the scene makes it less "risky" to the consumer, so Microsoft's latest forays into these licensing deals is a double edged sword. On the one hand they are extending credibility to the Linux movement. But on the other they are threatening it by removing the cachet of respectability from Linux and the work of the developers who make it and keep it evolving. I don't know the answer, but I know that Linux is involved for a battle for its life, as is MS. Regards, Les H
