[wlug_org] [wellylug] linux sold preinstalled

[Brent Wood]

--- Jethro Carr <jethro.carr at jethrocarr.com> wrote:

> hi all,
> 
> Good news from the world domination front, the Wellington region DSEs
> are going to be selling Linux-powered Acer laptops sometime soon.
> 
> http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/XC5822
> 
> They don't mention having wifi though.... having wifi work out-the-box
> would be great. :-)
> 
> 
> I've been approached by one of the stores, asking if we want to include
> any Wellylug promotional materials with these machines.
> 
> What do we all think? A good idea to promote Wellylug to these new
> users?
> 
> Perhaps if we created special meetings aimed for new users, it would be
> a useful resource that any Linux-seller can point people to for free
> community help? The current Wellylug meetings are quite technical and
> aimed at sysadmin level which is quite different to a normal home user
> level.


Hi Jethro, & the rest of you!!


The Lower Hutt meetings are more informal & less technical than the Wellington
ones, so that may be a more suitable venue for support. Being held in a
classroom is also a good start :-) If they are still going...

I'd like to contribute more, but was away for 6 months last year, & will be
away 
at least Feb/March this year, & probably June to August as well, which makes me
very unreliable for these things. Although I'm having pretty good success
generating interest in Linux & FOSS GIS software in Oman :-)

The last time I organised an installfest (2006), the manager of the Featherston
St DSE store was interested in the possibility of holding a Linux demo/workshop
there. He felt they could move a couple of displays to free up enough space.
Lack of time etc, meant I didn't follow this up, but it may be worth asking. 

It would be a good opportunity to introduce people to The GIMP & Open Office as
well as Linux. I understand the night classes at Onslow last year were not that
well attended, but if DSE were prepared to suggest these classes for their
customers, & we provided course info they could pass out, we may be able to try
again. I'd like to volunteer, but someone else needs to take ownership, as I
won't be here to help much.

IMO, the first step is for one or more members to step up & be counted,
generally others will help but it does need someone to take charge. If no one
is prepared to genuinely commit their time and energy, then we should not
promise something we can't deliver. However, whether it is a new meeting, space
at current meetings, something at DSE, tossing these ideas around is largely
futile without appropriate commitment from someone.

Offering the Wgtn meetings as a venue for new DSE Linux users to get help may
be unrealistic, the few I've attended since we shifted from Lan Place have had
a very different focus, meeting quite different needs. Not having been to a
Hutt LUG meeting for some months, I've no real idea what they are up to these
days. (Any comments Daniel?)


Cheers,

  Brent Wood