At 17:35 14/02/2004, you wrote:
I agree, I think you might need a "cross over" component that explains how to migrate your existing windows into Linux.
And compatibility - "I can't use Linux as I need to be able to read and write Microsoft Office documents". "OF course I won't be able to play WAV or mp3 files on linux will I?". "I need to be able to open Windoes images (by this they usually mean GIF or JPEG) so linux is no use to me". "Linux is Unix isn't it? I couldn't function without my mouse and a window". (Hence my worries about the first few seminars.)
While we may need to show people answers to these questions to make Linux more attractive, we are not trying to convert these people. They are going to use Linux, they have to and have no choice if they are to complete their courses. What we are aiming for primarily with these training is to help the students use Linux more effectivly for their course requirements (hence the focus on bash, editors etc). Hopefully if we do a good job of that we will get students interested in Linux in general. We will make sure that they realise that WLUG is there for them when/if they want to make the transition to Linux on machines at home. Teaching them some things like Linux gaming, wine and even gimp and mp3 players isn't going to be achieving our goal of helping them with their course related requirements.
I hate to flog the dead horse, but if you make it more attractive for them to use they will be better off then just a "you need to do it" situation. If they get a feeling for what they would normally do in a familiar environment it will be a win win at the end of the day. After all, no one likes too leave their comfort zone, and if they must it would be better for them to do so in a manor that would be easy for them to understand, and if that means exposing them too the side of linux that is not part of the course needs, will it really hurt? One problem I encounter with linux is the "server" impression of linux. Not many people really seem to be aware that linux can be a desktop platform, and as a result fun to use. If you can impose this on the students it would be a good start, in my opinion. Also if the students are using it at home then it will be better for them in a work situation as well.
On the other hand, we have talked about the March WLUG presentation being an intoductory presentation, perhaps going through installing a distro, setting it up and showing off solutions to the common issues you have discussed. Perhaps if we have time and enough interest / help we may follow this up with an installfest.
I think an installfest is long over due... be sure to sing out for help....
Jamie
_______________________________________________ wlug mailing list wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug