Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Switching your family and friends to Linux
Last weekend at BarCamp Portland, I gave a brief talk on switching family and friends to Linux. I hear you asking, why would you want to do that? Well, for a number of reasons really: cost, principle, maintenance, all of the above, or any reason what so ever. In my case, my father's work PC was a constant source of trouble for him (and me). So, with his agreement (and my assistance), he made the switch to Ubuntu Linux. So far it's been a success, barring a few minor problems (printing envelopes from OpenOffice, for example). It might also be good to note that my own personal affinity for computers does not, to the best of my knowledge, come from Dad (thanks Mom!).
However, I don't want to give the whole story away. Instead I invite you dear readers to take a look at my presentation slides. Do you have family or friends that you have given thought to switching? Have you already switched someone? Let me know your experiences in the comments. I'd also enjoy any feedback or additional ideas that you may have.
Comments
28
Subscribe to commentsrMay 17th 2007 1:13PM
I would love to be on Linux, but without iPod support or Digital Photo download support, I just can't do it.
geograyMay 17th 2007 1:22PM
Sigh...Stories like this one are just sad. Why is it that this is even a story? Who really cares what operating system people use? Windows is NOT bad and neither is Linux nor Mac OS. Each has it's own merits and flaws. Linux suffers the most since it is truly an enthusiast's operating system-and that in itself is nothing bad. Look, my wife has an el-cheapo eMachine running Vista Basic in 512mb. The thing 'just works' and works well. It's not been re-booted other than to install video card. Vista Basic is more than capable for the email, web surfing and-yes-the Office 2007 stuff she uses. I'm sure Linux would have done just fine for her too...but the bloody machine came with Vista Basic already installed. We paid $250 for the machine at Compusa. How could I have done any better?
I had Ubuntu installed on another machine. Used it for about six months. I have since installed Windows overtop. It just works better for me.
kuriharuMay 17th 2007 9:11PM
Sounds great, but it's the "little things" like printing envelopes that mean a lot to users. Tell a user who can't print envelopes that the software's free and not controlled by Microsoft and they'll hear blah-blah-blah-Microsoft-blah-blah.
HuwMay 17th 2007 5:44PM
Superdx: Try reading my post again to get one (of many) responses to your point.
Clive: A current release of any of the most popular distros should be fine. Ubuntu's install couldn't be simpler.
Lane: Tried WINE to play Kyodai on Linux? http://tinyurl.com/ypxd7e
r: iPod support is included in all the major distros I have tried, works out of the box. What do you mean by digital photo download? If you mean grabbing stuff from a camera, that should work on any distro you try too.
AaronMay 17th 2007 7:40PM
I read through the recent how to article for installing Linux on the PC Magazine website (at least I think it was their website). After reading it through, I thought "why bother?"
I got caught up in all the hype about Ubuntu and checked it out but then I realized all of them are just operating systems. All an operating system does is let you run programs. I really don't care which operating system I'm using as long as it supports the PROGRAMS i'm interested in using.
FOr me at least, using my computer is about using software, not about the OS.
Take nothing away from how nice Ubuntu looks, how easy it is to use, how theere are comparable applications, etc, on and on from the Linux faithful. I appreciate and champion your enthusiasm and the philosphy of open source in general but at the end of the day, it is still just an operating system.
All it should be is a conduit for using the applications you need to use to actually get whatever it is you need done.
GooseMay 21st 2007 12:40PM
Several people comment:
"Why is it so that people want to convert others to Linux? I'm aware of their Open Source philosophy, but it doesn't make sense in that people use computers to do tasks and if they're accustomed to Windows, then let them be. From my experience on the office floor, probably 10% of the people will be able to configure Linux. 100% of them know how to use Windows."
I think that if you can afford to keep Windows for your family and relatives or yourself, then go ahead. The problem that alot of us run into is that our family and friends are not "Rich" and can't affort to spend $250 - $350 every time Microsoft comes out with a new operating system. And that doesn't include the ~ $500 that it costs to upgrade hardware.
I work for the Federal government and use OSX, Windows XP, Windows Vista and several forms of Linux. The only reason I run Windows XP and Vista at all anymore is that I need them for work because it is what the Fed Gov uses on the desktop. In the other part of my job, everything is Unix based and much more secure. If not for that, I would have switched completely over to Linux and OSX. My wife has commented multiple times how "it is just like XP."
Goose
JaymezMay 28th 2007 3:21AM
I switched my desktop over to Ubuntu last night. Aside from not being able to find audio drivers (AC97), it's working well enough. I want to learn a little more about it before making the switch on the rest of my family's machines.
It seems a bit slow on that machine, but, it's an old box with a whole 512MB and an Athlon 900MHz processor.
Once I pay off some bills, I may get another Hard Drive for my laptop and install Ubuntu on that as well.
I made the switch to Ubuntu to try something different. As someone wanting to break into the tech field, I think I should expand my knowlage a little beyond the world of Microsoft.
MS annoucning that Vista will be the last 32bit OS pissed me off. When I upgraded from 98 to XP, all I had to upgrade was my memory. To go from XP to Vista, I needed a new machine. Now, I'm going to need ANOTHER new machine for the next OS? Bite me, MS. I'll stick with the free OS, if at all possible.
If I can get Linux working the way I want (I don't care about games), I'll gladly leave Microsoft at work. I'd consider a Mac if it didn't require another hardware upgrade.
KevinJun 24th 2007 1:14PM
I've recently converted a friend to Linux (openSUSE 10.2), and they've never looked back. After having some fun getting sound, graphics (ATI) and a few things going, he hasn't started Windoze for ages, and has never looked back.
I also stuck SUSE on another friend's laptop, and he likes to have it.
Long Live Linux!