I wonder how best it would be to "ease" someone into the linux community. When i first started, it took a bit of getting used to. Now that i'm a little more experienced, its a lot easier. I dont know if i'm fostering a negative image, but those I talk to about linux seem to shy away and think its too difficult. For most people i know (gamer types) windows is what they understand, and dont need much outside of that. OTOH, a friend of mine was in nexus several months ago, and remarked on a box that was running an X windows interface on a SUSE install. he said it was "just like windows". I think that people perhaps might draw comfort from this, the familiarity of a gui, instead of working with the command line. I wonder...how do i approach people about linux in a way that doesn't make linux seem too complicated, or obtuse? I think that with a little effort and experience, people can get familiar with linux and what it can do for them. I wonder what roles linux could play for a new user?
On Mar 31, 2005 6:40 AM, Cameron Nikitiuk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Just thought I would share a couple chance meetings I had with > Linux/Potential Linux folks out there. > > I was recently browsing at a Chapter's (Damn I miss Nexus!) for a book and > taking a look at some magazines. This one gentleman was looking at some > Linux magazines and I happen to mention that I was currently reading the one > of the one's he was looking at. This started what was probably at least a > half hour conversation, in which he shared his frustration with Microsoft > and constantly paying through the nose for their software and how he was > looking for alternatives. I mentioned that I was a member of CLUG and he > said he was going to the next meeting. Well...to make what could be long > story short he had tried Linux before but had run into roadblocks and gave > up on it, but was willing to try it again and was specifically looking at > FLOSS project management software. I remembered the recent discussion we > had on that topic recently so I sent him a synopsis of some projects that > were mentioned and some I found on my own. I look forward to seeing Eric at > the next meeting. > > The second incident happened just a couple days ago. Was at Indigo this > time and was buying a magazine. Happen to comment to myself (but out loud) > that I couldn't find what I was looking for. he asked me my opinion on a > couple mags and we got to talking. Was funny, during our chat, both of our > computer widows happen to walk by at different times. LOL! Anyways, he was > a long time Windows user and was using some proprietary graphics software > (can't remember title) on Windows 98 and was just feeling a bit frustrated > with it. He has been looking at Linux lately (partial frustrations with > software costs for what you get) and I think started a business (or > starting) related to computer support. I mentioned the GIMP and a few other > things as well as CLUG. I gave him my e-mail and invited him to the > meeting. I got a nice warm fuzzy when he said that I seemed to know what I > was talking about and that my knowledge was better shared than some other > people he had met. Sure made me feel good! > > Anyways...thought I would share as a way to encourage those folks out there > that may see themselves as newbies or whatever. You don't have to be an > expert to spread the good word. > > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > [email protected] > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) > **Please remove these lines when replying > _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying
