[wlug_org] Installfest update

[Wood Brent]

--- Ian Beardslee <itb@falcons.co.nz> wrote:
> Hmm I agree to a degree there, but not everyone who wants to learn play 
> with linux wants to be dumbed down to the point of a point and click 
> mandrake install (no insult intended)

Fair comment. There were some interesting discussions after the Halloween docs
were released, pointing out that Linux was essentially by geeks for geeks,
Windows was for the lowest common denominator. The conclusion being pretty much
that if Linux wants to become mainstream, it will also have to be useable by
the lowest common denominator. Windows has been a retail success because it is
generally easy to use, and people can run Explorer & Office.

I don't know anyone who buys a computer to run Windows. Non-Linux computer
clubs seldom get together to compare/discuss their OS. They buy computers to
run applications. IMHO the installfest should be pretty much about how you can
use Linux & OS software to do what you want on your computer. The focus should
be on functionality, not about Linux just because it is so great. Rather than
being evangelical about Linux, we should be there to solve attendees needs with
appropriate OS software.

IMHO, we should offer to install Open Office, maybe The GIMP & Mozilla (a few
selected apps) on Windows boxes, as well as Linux installs. Once people are
using OpenSource applications, the step to OpenSource operating systems is a
small one. CD's with Win32 versions of these for installs also???



A question again: can anyone pre-label blank CDR's with a WLUG logo, for any
distros/software we distribute??



> 
> I think we should be able to show that it is as simple as windows and as 
> complicated as ... well as complicated as you want it to be.  Having 
> someone with (B)LFS or a slackware install and being able to talk to 
> people about that would bea good plan.

No problem with that. I mentioned before that the majority of the people last
time were curious, rather than actually after help with an install. It is
important that we are there to inform as well as install.

If we set up a demo area, more clearly distinct from the install area than last
time, I suggest we have A4 or A3 posters for each demo, so people can see
exactly what each demo is about & stay to watch/discuss if they are interested
or move on to the next if not. We do need to be clear about what each demo is
about, and each should be there for someting specific.

   
Brent