RE: Installfest, last Saturday of the month

EC and Alan,

I think the original idea was to do what we can do. To me this means, some months we may have presentations/demo's, some months we may not.

But, hopefully, each month we will have "Installs". Not always the same installers. Possibly not always the same distros.

Let me change gears here to a subject close to my heart.

Decision making suits (no disrespect intended) expand their comfort zones cautiously (slowly). If my new toy (new Linux box) decides not to work, I just don't get to play with my new toy. If a business system decides not to play, all 773H breaks lose.

Some 25 years ago, a Fortune 300 company, I worked for, would start sending people home if the corporate mainframe (IBM/MRP) was down for more than 15 minutes. They didn't know what to work on next. Business suits can't afford down time. Therefore, business suits need Linux, they just don't know it yet. But, their comfort zone expands slowly.

I would like to see a Demo of Linux running MS Office Suite (via CrossOver Office -or- WINE). This would include Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and IE 6. At the same time the box could demo Open Office (etc.). Start nudging their comfort zone.

I just happen to have such a box, and can make it available as needed.

The question here is, how do we get decision making suits to the event???

George

> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: ec <eculbert@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Installfest, last Saturday of the month, 10:00
>
> Sounds sound!!
>
> The only thing that COULD reasonably be in addition
> every month is for a couple computers that are already
> setup and ready to demo. That way, the install fest
> could be advertised as an 'come by and see it in
> action, then get it installed on your machine' type
> event. Maybe have them setup with a 'fake business
> with a fake data base, accounting dept, etc' for a
> business type to play with. A separate 'home' that the
> 'newbie user' could actually do 'work' in. I know this
> could not be done before this time, but something to
> think about.
>
> Maybe 'network' those two computers and demo
> administration type ability from one over the other if
> asked, etc. The two computers don't need to be 'state
> of the art speed freaks, just something workable.
>
> Just some idol thoughts.
>
> Anything to get more interest in Linux and installing
> it and running it.
>
> What MAY happen is for the first two or three months,
> we get a good turn out then it tappers off unless we
> get some draw besides install help. Hope I am wrong,
> but for now, installfest sounds great!
>
> How about posting the 'flyer' for the event to the
> website so we can download and possibly post places.
>
> --- Alan Dayley <alandd@consultpros.com> wrote:
> > On Tuesday 04 May 2004 01:08 pm, George Gambill
> > wrote:
> > --[clip]--
> > > I was told that 4 weeks is not enough time to pull
> > an InstallFest together.
> > > But, if we go on the idea that we get done what
> > we get done for this first
> > > cycle and get more done for next month, I'm all
> > for it.
> >
> > I want to jump in here to offer a touch of
> > flexibility to the idea of an
> > InstallFest and what I think it really is.
> >
> > The kind of InstallFest that George is referring to
> > is, and did a great job
> > putting together, was done on the model of the
> > previous two InstallFests.
> > Biggish events with demos, presentations, prizes
> > and, of course, installs.
> > For something of that magnitude 4 weeks is not
> > enough. It is very hard to
> > get many companies to commit to donating stuff in a
> > 4 week time limit, for
> > example.
> >
> > InstallFests can involve as little as 4 people
> > getting together to install
> > software and solve problems. All they do is
> > installs. There are LUGs out
> > there that limit the monthly InstallFest to 10
> > people who must sign up in
> > advance. I'm not sure I like that but the point is
> > that most InstallFests
> > are smaller than the almost "Free Software
> > Conferences" that we have put on
> > in the past.
> >
> > I envision a regular monthly InstallFest to be about
> > installs. The regular
> > committee, headed by Alexander, running the monthly
> > event should worry about
> > getting the resources to do installs. Period.
> > Trying to put on a
> > quasi-conference every month is more than a regular
> > InstallFest should be,
> > IMO. If they make sure they can help people get
> > Linux installed, they are
> > doing great! Save the big "Free Software Show" for
> > an annual or semi-annual
> > event, maybe put on by AZOTO and held in conjunction
> > with that month's PLUG
> > InstallFest.
> >
> > Now, if someone wants to demo or present something
> > at the InstallFest, fine,
> > get them a room and have them come. But keep such
> > things secondary to the
> > priority of getting software installed. I would
> > like the regular
> > InstallFests to happen every month without the
> > pressure to make it a big
> > event. Let's do installs and spread Free Software
> > around, that's the main
> > goal.
> >
> > Of course, if Alexander and the group want to do
> > something big every month,
> > and can pull it off, more power to them says I!
> >
> > Alan
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