Alan Dayley wrote: | Derek Neighbors wrote: | |> Personally I would like to see AZOTO step up and run isntallfests and
|> their site should be much more static based and good for holding the
|> materials about such things. (IMO) |
| | Good idea. I don't think AZOTO's site is up to that right now.
No but it needs to be. Any volunteer's wanting to help AZOTO. :)
|> For this event, plugpresents.com is a good alternative. |
| | If not that, I will see about getting an easy link to a page in the
| current PLUG site. Something in the index or other prominant place.
Works for me.
|> The benefit is support. It is a LOT easier to support newbies if they
|> are
|> running some sort of standard. I would like to see us try to not only
|> have a "preferred desktop", but a "preferred distribution" as well. That
|> doesn't mean we wont install things people want (i.e. we wouldnt remove
|> the choice), but for the person that says "I want Linux" and really knows
|> nothing more, we should be consistent on the distribution, desktop,
|> window
|> manager etc we choose. (MHO) |
| | But that all implies:
| 1-That the people supporting the newbies are aware of and experienced
| with the preferred installation.
I am not suggesting we refuse to install other distributions. I think
that this lists answers questions for about all distributions. That
said most experienced users can answer questions regardless of
distribution. The point is the more newbies you get using the same
thing. The easier it becomes for them to support one another. It cuts
down a lot on confusion. (IMO)
| 2-That these people supporting are a assumed/designated/quasi-official
| group because those that don't use or know the preferred installation
| will not be able help with the support.
The more people using the preferred distribution the more support you
have. You can argue chicken vs egg if you like. I think those that
probably can offer the most help can use any distribution. Let's make
this perfectly clear. I am pro going a preferred distribution even if
that distribution is NOT Debian. I will be just as willing to support
it if it is Mandrake, Redhat or the likes. As long as it is not
something that violates users like Lindows.
| I am not against having a group of voluteers taking on the responsiblity
| of "first responders" to newbie support. It doesn't have to be a formal
| thing, but having a preferred installation implies "preferred
| supporters." If that is the way we want to go, fine.
I don't think it implies that at all. I think it implies that we are
trying to help institute some semblance of a standard. The more I deal
with suits and getting them to adopt GNU/Linux. Sadly their number one
gripe is there is too much choice. We see choice as good. They see
choice as bad. I am not suggesting we eliminate choice. I am merely
suggesting for those folks who want "cookie cutter" we offer them that
and foster an environment that helps them live in that world.
| Perhaps I should put up a poll on the web site to vote on which distro
| the members use or prefer. The winner becomes the groups preferred
| distro. Everyone would have to be honorable and vote only once. ;^)
I don't think this makes sense. Because something is "popular" does not
necessarily make it a good choice. If 80% of the people in group use
FooDistro, but the 20% that use Bar distro handle 90% of the support
questions, it would make more sense to try to get others to use Bar. (MHO)
| On the other hand, I cannot think of a single instance when someone
| approached the email list for help on a particular distro and did not
| get it. We have very good representation of skills and experience in
| the group. Is the depth of knowledge available for newbie support too
| shallow for lack of a standard distro? I don't think so. But have been
| wrong before.
Also to be clear, I dont think anyone is advocating not supporting other
distributions. Just when someone comes with a blank computer and says I
want GNU/Linux and doesn't say they want something specific, we choose
our preferred distribution.
| Well, not having used Debian I may be blowing hot air here, but it
| doesn't have the reputation for a newbie distro. Nor can I usually walk
The only reason it is not a newbie distro is because it is hard to
install. I can guarantee from experience Debian is the easiest to use.
~ It sucks to install and configure X and such the first time, but once
it is up it is easy. Especially with synaptic or such.
The point is we are doing the install, so the EXPERT part of Debian is
taken care of. I think that makes a WORLD of difference.
| into the local "Computer Stuff Emporium" and purchase a boxed copy of
| Debian. I think we would have to pick a distro that newbies may easily
| encounter outside of the Linux culture, like Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake,
| Lindows (urk!) or Lycoris. I have seen all of these in stores.
I think this line of reasoning is illogical. We are trying to get
people to use Open Office and other products that you can't buy off the
shelf. If anything we need to be educating people that software off the
shelf often times means buyer beware.
| I agree with KDE, however! :^)
I am ok with whatever. Distro or Desktop, but would like to see something.
Part of me says this is an up hill fight with too broad of a group.
Perhaps AZOTO should be tackling this as they have a forum in which it
would be easier to make the decision and they would benefit the most
from such a move in their aid helping people adopt GNU/Linux.
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