How to Encourage Use of OSS? 483
Marc Light asks: "I repair computers as a side line cause I want to keep up on what's going on in the world of computer technicians. When someone comes to me with a problem, if I have to reinstall I first try to convince them to install Ubuntu. For now I only have 25% of success, mostly because they usually use an app. or some hardware that would complicate their experience too much. When I install Windows, I also install Firefox, OpenOffice, VLC, Winamp (not open source but if they eventually switch to Linux, XMMS won't scare them), and CDex to drive them off Windows Media Player and DRM. I then take 15 to 30 minutes free of charge to explain to them the basics of their new software. For my part, I mostly got positive response. I'd say 80% of it is positive feedback. My questions to Slashdot readers: Do you think that computer technicians can make a difference in the adoption of OSS? And if they're for OSS, should they try to put some pressure on their users/clients?"
Converting (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Converting (Score:4, Insightful)
Why not? All they're trying to do is share something that they think is useful and good. It's entirely different from trying to convert someone religiously--it's not like we're saying "If you don't use this software instead, you're going to HELL!!!". It's just saying "Hey, in case you're interested, there is software that's free, useful, and developed cooperatively for the fun of it, instead of by companies." There's nothing wrong with it.
I know it can be awkward sometimes, and I'm not really comfortable just shoving it into people's faces, but there's nothing wrong with offering it.
Re:Converting (Score:5, Insightful)
If this guy is getting 25% of the people he deals with like he says then I have a hard time beliving that there isn't some heavy pressure here. These aren't the average
These are people who are calling someone else to fix their computer because they can't.
Re:Converting (Score:5, Insightful)
That's right. And it sounds like rather than fix the problems, he suggests open source alternatives to the software they're already using and comfortable with? That's just ridiculous. I suspect that this is a case of the customers going along with it because "the computer guy said it was better" and not because they even care about something like Windows DRM. I like open source software, but the evangelism--even if it's conducted with a minimum of pressure--is misplaced, unnecessary, and a huge turn-off to most people who aren't part of the tech crowd. According to this guy's rough stats, 75% or about 3 out of every 4 people say "no" anyway.
At least he is just turning his customers onto open source alternatives on the same platform, and in that sense what he's doing is fairly harmless. For instance, if you install Firefox on someone's Windows machine, and they discover they don't like it as much as you thought they might, at least they still have that trusty IE icon to click whenever they need to browse.
I've heard horror stories of young, presumptuous techs who promise to "fix" a computer, and then proceed to nuke somebody's Windows 95B OEM / Office 97 installation that they've been using for years, and install Ubuntu with OpenOffice. If they worked for my company, I would promptly fire them.
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Same here. If that would ever happen, it would be immediate termination, followed by asking them for full payment of the time it takes somene with common sense to redo all the work. Serving the customer is rarely
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I have heard that some white people kill and eat other people. I think white people should be monitored very closely to make sure that they don't kill and eat people.
See how that works?
"Or is that no longer possible being an OSS zealot?"
It's important to realize that every person who uses a mac or linux is a zealot. The reason is simple. There can be no rational reason not to use windows. Anybody who do
re: what about the long-term? (Score:3, Insightful)
I have no doubt you could construct an environment in open-source that initially pleases at least 1 out of 4 of your clients who need help. (Many people don't know enough about their computers to really understand what "Windows" is in the first place. I find a lot
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Possibly. I think Ubuntu requires less maintenance and technical know-how to keep running than Windows does.
``I mean it makes great sense to do this is I repaired machines for money - in 6 months time you just know they're going to turn up with a webcam or a printer they've bought and can't get to work.''
Many printers and webcams wil
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The best prospective converts would be people that are in my mom's boat. Email and websurfing, done securely. I agree with a few of the posters that say trying to conve
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Pleased to meet you. I'm a Systems Administrator (mostly Linux machines). I own an iBook, a Mac Mini (albeit running Windows MCE) and several PCs.
I use Windows on my desktop (both at home and at work) because I want to, not because I have to.
Re:Converting (Score:4, Insightful)
There certainly is nothing wrong with pointing out to people that alternatives exist that may serve their needs just as well, while being less susceptible to whatever it was that broke things this time. However, I know from experience that that's not how everyone presents it - just read slashdot at a low-ish threshold, and you'll see examples what I'm talking about.
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Otherwise, if he's forcing his favorite set of OpenSource applications on them without their getting any say in the matter, he should be forced to use an OS/360 emulated environment with appropriate apps, chosen by an old IBM card-whalloper, fo
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It is important to understand that a user who's recently purchased an OS and corresponding software packages, and established a working knowledge of those products has littl
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1) You must be new here.
2) Having seen numerous Linux-vs-BSD-vs-Windows-vs-Mac flame wars on Slashdot over the past several years, I think you're right - the operating system arguments are nothing like the religious arguments, they're far more vitriolic. There's nothing quite like a young nerdling with his panties in a twist.
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Re:Converting (Score:5, Informative)
You seem to have no experience with this at all. Please actually try or at least do research on the things you're talking about.
I installed Ubuntu on my sister's computer when she saw XGL running on mine and asked about it. She has a GeForce 2, which works with the legacy drivers in the repository. It does not break with kernel updates as you say it does. With Ubuntu's update manager she can perform updates by herself. She doesn't have a DVD drive on her computer, but on mine DVDs play fine, and even ignore region encoding (unlike Windows players). She thinks Shockwave games are stupid, like most people. Streaming video works fine. Her iPod Shuffle works well with Rhythmbox. Everything she wants to do is easily done, and she doesn't have to deal with the problems of Windows98 (which is what she used to have).
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Re:Converting (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Converting (Score:5, Insightful)
I know the more socialist segments (note, segments, not everyone) of the FOSS crowd doesn't like having to compete on merits instead of idealogy, but until FOSS can beat the MS platform on merits, FOSS won't gain general acceptance.
Here's a small lesson the FOSS community needs to learn: Insulting prospective customers doesn't do anything to win them over. This means not referring to MS products as "crap". This means not holding a holier-than-thou attitude when a noob comes to a forum and asks for help. This means keeping your documentation up to date and not assuming everyone will "figure it out" because they have access to all the source code.
Average Joe wants a computer that works. Telling Joe that what he's been happy with for the last X years is "crap" and that $LinuxDistributionOfTheWeek is "better" puts Joe on the defensive right away. Joe needs to be able to ask "how do I get XYZ to work" in a forum without being told to "go RTFM and come back when you know something" when the manual hasn't been updated for 4 releases and no longer applies, or worse, there's multiple versions of the manual and he has to figure out which one he needs.
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Now, I have a question for you. Person is running an old computer. Wants to get on the "internet", but on a very restricted budget (due to health concerns). Can afford the $70 (Canadian) for a PIII/800 computer. Of course, that computer DOES NOT COME WITH
Re:Converting (Score:4, Informative)
``I know the more socialist segments (note, segments, not everyone) of the FOSS crowd doesn't like having to compete on merits instead of idealogy''
Ideology is a merit. Not just in a warm fuzzy feeling kind of sense, but in the specific case of FOSS, there are tangible benefits, such as your product not being automagically end of life when the proprietor of the code stops supporting it (e.g. because they went belly up, or because they've introduced a New and Improved product).
``but until FOSS can beat the MS platform on merits, FOSS won't gain general acceptance.''
FOSS beats the MS platform on merits. Usability, security, stability, and price, just to name a few.
``Here's a small lesson the FOSS community needs to learn: Insulting prospective customers doesn't do anything to win them over. This means not referring to MS products as "crap". This means not holding a holier-than-thou attitude when a noob comes to a forum and asks for help. This means keeping your documentation up to date and not assuming everyone will "figure it out" because they have access to all the source code.''
There will always be people who do these things, but I think a general impression of various Linux fora these days is that people tend to be very helpful. Take a look at the Ubuntu fora, for example.
``Average Joe wants a computer that works.''
``Telling Joe that what he's been happy with for the last X years is "crap" and that $LinuxDistributionOfTheWeek is "better" puts Joe on the defensive right away.''
You're right, but the people saying these things may actually be speaking the truth. There's a saying in Dutch that translates "gentle doctors make stinking wounds." Would you rather upset people by telling them the truth, or leave them ignorant of their inferior situations?
``Joe needs to be able to ask "how do I get XYZ to work" in a forum without being told to "go RTFM and come back when you know something"''
That's not a response I've commonly seen given lately...nor in the past, outside the OpenBSD community. Many OpenBSD people feel that you shouldn't be using their system if you don't understand it. So, right, they're not making any converts...but that's not what they're after, either.
``when the manual hasn't been updated for 4 releases and no longer applies, or worse, there's multiple versions of the manual and he has to figure out which one he needs.''
If people tell you to RTFM under such circumstances, they are simply being abusive. However, I don't think the FOSS community in general is like that.
Re:Converting (Score:4, Insightful)
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Evidently it's been a while since you've used ubuntu. There is a package manager called Automatix. For those out there who are willing to rick l
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Ubuntu includes many nVidia drivers. I'm not to sure about the older ones, but all of the nVidia cards I've tried work out of the box.
You're thinking of Fedora which patches
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Um, the free software people have very philosophical attitudes, but open-source software people are usually more practical. I appreciate the work of RMS, as I assume most people do. I'm not quite as ideological, but I've become more so over time. And I wasn't talking about the community as a whole. I was talking about the particular action of offering such software to someone simply as an alternative, not as salvation. Besides, most of these people won't have heard of RMS or any of this--they'll just s
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That's so preposterous that most rational people don't want to believe it -- except the ones who have already discovered the hard way that every fucking word of i
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And yet isn't that exactly what an ad for a product is trying to do? At the very least people need to be informed of their options to even know they have them.
I don't like the use of his word "pressure," but I have no problem with proseltizing things I like, particularly if I am the one being called upon to support them, but don't otherwise have a direct profit motive (which just make the issue "sales," and I've been willing to sell stuff in my life).
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"twice as good"? "good" is 100% subjective in this situation.
Brakes can likely save your life, if your brakes fail you may harm/kill yourself and/or others. If windows crashes, or you can't figure out how to run something you've just downloaded it's really not a big deal.
so in short: your analogy is shit.
Yes/No/Maybe (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes--If they have older hardware and a Win9x system that's no longer supported.
I do 2 or 3 conversions like this a month. Usually it's a 300-450 Mhz box with 64 meg of ram or so. It ran 9x well enough, but it would be godawful running most of the 'Desktop Environment' based distros available today. I have a customized Debian package list with a set of light weight packages and WM. Total install space, with apps, is just under 300 megs. I've successfully installed it on everything from a Cyrix 133/32 meg to a P-II 450/64 meg. Every person I've done that for has been thrilled. They can do everything they were able to before (email, surf, word process, etc.) and not have to have the machine bogged down by anti-virus, anti-spyware, and application-based firewalls running all the time. And to top it off, the OS is updatable and supported.
No--If they're using AOL/some other proprietary connection software.
It's a god damn shame that after all this time, that AOL still hasn't come up with a software package for Linux, considering that their entire backend is *nix based. The 'AOL dialers' available for Linux are just that - dialers, and those used to using AOL aren't getting the same experience that they want. Some ISP dialers (i.e. Earthlink) are nothing more than just a standard DUN connection with some unnecessary eyecandy and other overhead... those can usually be set up pretty easily.
FYI - winmodems are the tools of the devil. ISA sound cards and and serial mice are nothing compared to those damned things.
Maybe--If they're on a highspeed line and have no idea about security measures with Microsoft Windows.
This is a pretty typical case. I've wow'd enough clients with the likes of Knoppix and they've been interested enough to at least dual-boot. More often than not, they tend to stick with the Linux side of the machine because the machine runs so much faster. Unless they're heavy gamers, they pretty rarely boot back into Microsoft Windows.
The key is no-pressure. It's their machine, and they shouldn't be forced into using something they're not comfortable with. I'm not a salesman, and I don't intend to be. I run Linux on a couple of laptops (P-II 233 Mhz/128 meg and a P-III 700/384 meg), and I carry whichever one most closely matches the client's machine, and let them play with it while I'm working on theirs to showcase its usability. They're always aghast when I tell them that all the software is _free_, and then show them the 15,000+ listings available in the repositories. Dual-booting is a damn nice option and allows people to try it out to their hearts' content and not have to commit to anything.
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You'd be surprised to learn what most people run - many people don't use their machine for anything resource intensive at all - web, email, IM, basic word/excel use, internet banking, p2p, playing mp3s, burning music cds, all sorts of board games / card games / other simple games can all be done with very modest hardware. That is not you but there's plent
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Re:Converting (Score:4, Interesting)
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Take the Force Out of Your Method (Score:5, Insightful)
The beautiful thing about OSS is that it's free. And you're not forced to use it (like Dell forces people to use Windows). Let's keep it that way.
Please only install this software on their machines if they give you permission. If their computer stops working soon after or they experience problems that they don't understand (file associations), they may just quietly blame it on those applications and tell that to all their friends and relatives.
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Dell doesn't force Windows on buyers.
This is as egotistical and lame a Geek fantasy as talk of the "Microsoft Tax."
Buyers in the millions flock to Dell because they know Windows, they want Windows, and they haven't the slightest interest in anything else.
Remember the big push for OEM Linux at Walmart? The revolving door of Linux distros and systems sold through Walmart.com?
Dead and buried.
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This is a fantastic showing for the OSS movement: A company offers an OSS alternative but some asshat is still willing to beat on them about something that happened years ago? My God... let it go. If you're going to rub peoples nose in the fact that they weren't always open source you're only going to do more damage.
If it makes you feel like a big man, pat yourself on the back in the privacy of your own home for being an "early" adopter. But
hmm, (Score:4, Insightful)
Some people just don't want to change - and they are the vast majority of people... These are also the same people who complain the second something doesn't work on linux and yet put up with endless crashes with windows (because windows never causes problems). I'm amazed that you have a 25% rate. Maybe you should be posting to use about how you have such a good level?
So you give your time (=money) away ... (Score:2, Funny)
Do you want to die a pauper?
How about just doing your job (Score:2, Insightful)
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It could be part of the job! (Score:2)
If a web browser was less vulnerable to spyware and malware, than I don't see any difference in installing it.
If I go out for sushi, I would certainly expect the itamae to suggest the fish that is fresher than others.
Re:How about just doing your job (Score:5, Insightful)
"Fix" is such an ambiguous word sometimes when it comes to computers, isn't it? It isn't like a flat tire because often I hear "Can you fix my computer and make that never happen again?" or something to that effect. If they are sincere about that last part, can you really put Windows back on their computer? I usually reply with "I can't guarantee you something like that won't happen again, but I can offer you something that will come as close as possible to that. I want you to understand that going this path is a bit different from what you are used to, but it shouldn't take long to feel right at home."
If they are interested, I explain further. It is with a tag line like this that you find out how serious they are about "make it never happen again" because as soon as they learn their favorite piece of software probably won't work (it might with Wine, but no guarantee), you find out what is really important.
I would argue that as a technician, your job is not only to "fix" the problem, but to offer them a solution. Reinstalling Windows is a fix. Installing Linux is a solution. Not all solutions in the world offer one to one options. Sometimes, some things must be given up to truly solve a problem.
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The waiter isn't trying to concert you out of principle.
The specials usually mean "we got a good deal | this stuff fell off a truck | the chef's in a state | it's easier to make one dish than seven"
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I would expect my waiter to turn me off of the spinach if there was an e-coli outbreak going around. I long ago told my own mother to never ask me another tech support question again if she continued using Windows. I just don't have the time or patience to deal with all the problems inherent to using shit software anymore. She bought a Mac. I still don't answer any tech support questio
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With computers many people don't realize why they need to be repaired when it's not a hardware problem. If you say to someone that you can make th
Re:How about just doing your job (Score:4, Insightful)
No, this would be more like the chef telling you a certain food combination won't work well, and recommending another.
(1. Waiters aren't experts. Chefs are. So are computer technicians. 2. Telling you not to eat lamb is a political action. Recommending a different complement of dishes for dinner isn't political, the chef probably knows what he's doing. Likewise, computer technicians know that certain open-source software packages are good to use because they have tangible benefits.)
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Yes, except:
- that the choice is on something you're most likely going to be stuck with for a while, and
- that the waiter makes his choice based on legal matters, not on quality alone; while that's ok by itself, people who thinks legal issues like licenses are more important than quality and think dealing with the consequences is worth it are a minority
- that usually the waiter doesn't mention any of this at all.
Oops, I may have broken the analogy, sorry :-)
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Basically, a computer repair technician is not in any position to recommend software. He's in a position to fix the computer and shut the hell up. Evangelism is annoying as hell, be it from a computer nerd trying to convert you to his political ideology*, or be it from an old guy with a Bible trying to convert you to his particular denomination. If the customer asks about alternatives, that's one thing, but that last thing your average
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Computer technicians are not experts. They're at the bottom of the knowledge pyramid. They're maintenance monkeys, not experts.
Experts do not work on standardized maintenance procedures that depend solely on encyclopedical knowledge. That's why we have low-wage technicians for, so we can save the experts for important, innovative jobs.
Computer people are always confusing their position, because they think that computers are special. Gues
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A waitress last night spent 5 minutes trying to convince me that I needed to buy pie. It was a more relaxed atmosphere than 'my PC is broke, fix it.' However, upsell is an important fact of life. You can order everything on the McDonadls Menu and get ask if you want more with that. That's part of why McDonalds sel
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He asked if you would like it if the waiter tried to pressure you against the lamb, not because of the taste/quality, but because lamb is bad for you/the enviroment/animal rights/etc.
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I damn well DO wish that my waiter would let me know if they think an item is gross and that there is a better item on the menu. I usally ask the waiter if it's any good first. To continue the analogy even further, the waiter DOES promote the daily specials.
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Besides, who says he isn't fixing their computer by suggesting a different OS?
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People that gripe about linux not supporting hardware dont seem to realize that if it was up to the linux devs, every piece of hardware in existance *would* be supported. But its not. The HW vendors like to keep their 'trade secrets', and like to give the specs to MS only (under NDA which MS happily agrees to, but developers of OSS would cant because otherwise they cant release the c
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Um...no. If someone asked "could you fix my computer please?" a reasonable person wouldn't see that as an invitation to completely change the operating system for them. Imagine (car analogy coming up) taking your car to a mechanic, and instead of fixing the exhaust they've resprayed it, changed the e
Careful (Score:5, Insightful)
Technicians can play a role in getting the word out on FOSS and you seem to be doing a good job with FF and OO. Just remember that you don't know how they use their computer and perhaps Linux just is not right for that user.
Install it (Score:4, Insightful)
consequences (Score:5, Insightful)
Long ago I helped a guy rationalise his laptop; upgraded DOS, and Wordperfect (shows how long ago this was...). Then weeks later I get a call "I can't save my file! You've messed up my computer! It worked before!!! etc...". Turns out he was trying to use an illegal filename. So a problem he created that had nothing to do with what I had done, had become my problem. And this continued for months. It only takes a few people like that to sour you on the whole idea, and you revert to "Reformat and reinstall; call MS if it doesn't work". Beware those who nod and agree when you make suggestions, often they have no idea what is going on and will come back to you time and time again to ask the same question and drive you insane. Unless you're either a BOFH or Mahatma Gandhi, don't be a suggester.
If you give them a "loaner" while their's is fixed (Score:2, Interesting)
But this only works for some people... Other people will just refuse to do anything with something that is different. So even if you set up the Linux desktop to look close to a standard default XP install, the tiny changes will be too much for some people.
Re:If you give them a "loaner" while their's is fi (Score:2)
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Converting doesn't become you. (Score:2)
1. forced to use Windows by company or government job
2. Don't want to switch because their software will no longer function.
If you've got kids in the house - they want to play games and use programs available freely on the net. It's an unfortunate fact of life that most of these programs are developed soley (soulessly?) for windows only.
I'm converting though... my daughter's PC will stay windows for a while until I can get educational / entertainment software working - b
Learn to create dual booting systems. (Score:4, Insightful)
I once created a triple booting system with windows98, windowx XP and Knoppix. I had to disallow either windows partition from seeing each others but had a common partition for anything that any of teh systems needed to access like user files. Of course Knoppix had full acces to the whole system as that didn't cause potential conflicts. I didn't create this system for myself but for a friend who had been running Window ME and letting all his friends and kids access the internet. It took over 15 minutes for it to boot, had over 600 items of spyware on it, and a few viruses. In trying to fix it I watched it deteriorate to the point of non-functional.
Choice is a wonderful thing, but removing windows altogether can be a plus to, as it forces the user to get use to linux.
Personally I prefer Linux, Ubuntu as of current, for general computing and even programming with python.
My use of windows at home has been reduce a great deal and only use it when I need to use an application only available in windows.
But I'm finding more that is not available in a windows environment. Linuxcnc machine controller, even just for simulation, uses the real time kernel and is not available on windows.
OS I look to for the no to distant future include AROS, DragonFlyBSD and look over at the HURD and Minix3. Something has to give!!! As even Linux is not as user empowering as computing should be. And Windows is probably becomming the worst in terms of user empowering (The shell is a good indicator)
I think you have the right idea... (Score:2)
Also, I think it would help if he were female and had great tits.
A few ideas... (Score:2)
A logo for OSS with a catchy saying is needed, like OSS-Read The Code, or No Smoke and Mirrors: OSS, or OSS- Tastes Good, Too! etc.
Use a color code to denote whether the code runs on Linux, BSD, MacOS, Windows, etc.
Use the logo on every OSS site, including the freaking owners of this one! Put the OSS logo on every home page run by OSS code. Stickers, bumper stickers, window stickers, whatever stickers. Promote because no one will sear
It's their computer, let the choice be theirs (Score:2)
What you can (and IMO should) do is to suggest it. Offer them to install the other soft, point out the increased security and usability (and the fact that that soft doesn't give a damn about DRM), and of course
I try to let it speak for itself (Score:2)
Asterisk is a perfect example. You can either drop some serious cash on a system which isn't as featureful or flexible, or you can get asterisk which is a fraction of the cost and works better ( in most cases ).
You don't need to really push this option. You just give them the options and they choose the one they want.
Techs can make a huge difference (Score:2)
Salesmen are known to misrepresent. Would one expect a salesman to tell a potential customer to try Open Office for instance when there is a copy of Word sitting for sale on the shelf? Would the salesman's manager be honest enough to tell their sales staff to do their best for the customer?
Since much of what people think they know tends to
When they don't own the software (Score:5, Interesting)
I tell them that I wont help them break the law and then tell them I have free alternatives they can try legally if it doesnt work I will be more than happy to assist them in purchasing and installing the software they want legaly. Normally with the cost of MS office everyone is willing to give it a try.
My load is
Open Office
Firefox
Seamonkey
Picasa2
paint.net
foxit reader
pdfcreator
iTunes
Quicktime
I know its not all OSS but it the load I find gives the most people what they want. Very rarely do I get called back to install MS office, and I have never come back to find an illegal copy of MS office after I load the OSS alternatives.
I have a question for you (Score:2)
I'm of two minds (Score:2)
On one hand everyone we switch over to OSS is one less spambot on the internet. Just that much less background noise in an already noisy ecosystem.
On the other hand, why do I care? If users aren't smart enough to ask for OSS or spend 15 minutes learning about it, why is that my problem to solve? I can sit back and laugh at the Windows threats making the rounds, make appropriately sympathetic noises when my friends claim their computer is getting more sluggish every time they boot up. I make a lot of m
The best tool for the job (Score:2)
At the end of the day, I think you should be promoting what will work best for the user. Pushing products without consideration for the user's needs is a disservice.
Charge for OSS (Score:2, Interesting)
In my experience people are put off by the word free, they assumed it would be crap, so now I simply say the software is more cost effective and as long as the charge is miles below M$ prices, they prefer it.
If not us, who? (Score:2)
I think it's very important that "ordinary" computer users are told about the enormous scam that is closed-source software. In no other field of endeavour would the standard practices of the closed-source software industry be tolerated. Whoever heard of a restaurant putting drugs into the food so you would return there again and again, or shoes that would not stay on your feet unless you were also wearing a particu
You don't (Score:2)
Free Samples (Score:2, Interesting)
Of course you can make a difference! (Score:2)
If you can't make a difference, who can? You are the expert and the customer has come to you for advice. If you think free software can meet the customer's needs, it's your duty to tell them so and why it might be better for them.
I've had better luck with Mepis [mepis.org] and Xandros than Ubunto or Fedora. Mepis is now based on Ubunto, so things might change, but it has been by far the easiest distribution to give a normal Wind
You are hurting the cause Linux must be their idea (Score:2)
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Wait (Score:2)
Quietly mention that you use something else, and let them make the first step.
I'm using this approach of "I use something else, it works better, but it takes quite a bit of work to get used to"
I think it is a better approach because then when they do come and ask, they expect they will have to put in some effort. Despite the ease of use of ubuntu, it's a change, and many end users will have some trouble adapting.
rare bird, most make $$ from fixing Windows (Score:2)
Yes. (Score:2)
So doing the math... (Score:2)
Just use it (Score:3, Insightful)
As more people - that others recognize for their technical ability - run a piece of software, the more it attracts attention. As other environments have problems, but your SELinux/ExecShield protected machine keeps chugging, people will notice. When they ask tell them, but don't try to sell them. Say "Linux" not Fedora, Ubuntu, Mandriva, SuSE, etc. Use a common term, so they can begin to associate the environment with the benefits in their own minds.
When other people are watching, don't use the command line. Yes it's easier to do some things that way, even on Mac OSX or WindowsXP. But when you use the command line, that's the association that people make with Linux.
Linux is already much bigger (installed base) than people recognize. It runs under the radar. No registration, no cost, no audit trail of downloads or copies. To help manufacturers understand that, everytime you purchase a product ask the vendor a question and mention Linux. Does it work with Linux? Are there Linux drivers? Is it Linux compatible? Even if the vendor is providing a product for another OS. Are the files this program creates compatible with "program X" on Linux? Can I move this USB device between "OS X" and Linux? Is the compact flash/USB/Firewire in this camera/camcorder/PDA/phone/etc. Linux friendly?
It doesn't take much to change the world; you just have to do something to let the world know you're there.
I usually do it without asking them. ;) (Score:4, Interesting)
Let the software speak for itself. You don't have to push it.
What I do... no really... (Score:3, Interesting)
I've recently done this (Score:4, Interesting)
We then went thru all the options with regards to running software.
Without getting on my FOSS high-horse I explained the following
* The cost of MS Office over 200 machines was $x and the cost of OpenOffice was $0
* The fact that for the money you would get (alledgedly) better product support with the MS product, but there was a lot of info on the net re: OO/Firefox etc
* The fact that they could go get a royalty free DVD of clipart and fonts from next door for $20 and the lack of clipart with OO wouldn't be an issue.
* The advantages/disadvantages of differing email clients
* The cost of an exchange server over the cost of a simple mail server on a linux box
As the machines we were providing all came with XP I decided not to go down the linux path, although it was raised by the customer and we did discuss it.
In the end, the customer is now running XP w/ Firefox/Thunderbird/OO and using apps like CDex and is quite happy.
They were not convinced around and OSS or free virus scanning though, and we ended up having to install TrendMicro at their request. (Also there was an aborted attempt to run WordPerfect Mail 10, but it was a huge piece of ass and Thunderbird was rolled out site wide)
All done without either zealotry or what I would consider over-advocacy.
Sometimes the goods speak for themselves, there are some solid apps out there now that don't requre a lot of effort to promote.
Just be calm, rational, listen to the persons concerns, explain your position and you'll be suprised what comes from that.
No-one will listen to you if you go down the zealot route....it smacks of desperation .
(and as someone above said, sadly most people DONT care about DRM, using that as your sole point is futile)
The Problem & the Solution (Score:5, Insightful)
If you really want to champion this movement, you have to recognize the problem before you can start to offer people solutions. You mention installing OSS apps that you seem to enjoy on everyone's machine.
While you may feel that this is doing them a world of good, what problem did you solve? Did they complain to you that they were sick of DRM? Did they complaining that they wish they hadn't bought MS Office and long for a free suite of editing and publishing tools? Was IE failing to fill its role in their lives?
For the average person, there are few problems with their computer experiences. If they have issues with security online or troubles coming up with the cash for MS Office, then you have definite problems that need solutions. And OSS is there for them, that's when it's your duty to step in and offer your services and free 15-30 minutes of time to explain how this new software works. Nobody wants to climb extra learning curves and, let's face it, commercial software products are usually years ahead of their OSS competitors.
A lot of open source applications are developed to satisfy a very specific problem. That is, they don't have a breadth of system requirements, just very very specific ones. They may come out fulfilling these few requirements far and above their competitors but they often lack the bells and whistles. For instance, I love CDex because it's simple and slimmed down with no DRM. Does this mean that my sister should also want to use it? No. She doesn't care or know what DRM is and my explanations bore her. Instead, she wants quick instant American gratification at the click of a button. iTunes gives this to her, CDex is ugly and foreign with no online tutorials or music store built into it.
So before you ask me how to encourage the use of OSS, you first need to tell me the problem that OSS needs to solve. I'm guessing for a lot of these people, there isn't one. Unfortunately, OSS is simply not for everyone.
If someone comes to you in distress with a problem, simply say, "you know, I use this app that
Re: (Score:2)
Bert
Who loves living in a country where blaming others rarely goes with sueing them
Who also believes that it would be more appropriate if the person who breached would be sued
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"Well, yes, however I don't see why would a person living off of repairing broken Windows would suggest that people would use something that doesn't break as often..."
Perhaps he wants to differentiate himself from everyone else ... maybe get a bit of "word of mouth" going?
Person A: My computer keeps getting bogged down by viruses
Person B: Mine used to also. Then I took it to __INSERT_NAME_HERE__ and I don't even need a virus scanner any more
Person A: Can I have their email/telephone/web site?