[Liverpool] primary function of a LUG

[Lucy]

2009/2/22 Simon Johnson <simon.johnson at gmail.com>:
> There's an important point to be raised here. If Linux succeeded in
> destroying Window and OS X and Linux based operating systems had a market
> share of 98%, that would be just as bad a thing for the industry as the
> current Microsoft monopoly.

I disagree with this. Free software prevents lock-in, which creates
monopolies and is what makes them so bad. So I don't think Linux will
ever be in such a dominant position and there's always the opportunity
to fork the project to create other options.

[snip]

> I doubt very much that LUGs by themselves are capable of launching Linux as
> a household name. But they're certainly a part of that movement.
> I think widening the focus to "cool stuff with computers" makes LUGs more
> engaging and attracts a wider audience. If that wider audience causes an
> increase in free software adoption, than that's a nice side-effect.

I've recently been reading a blog by a new convert to Ubuntu [1]. It
really shows the difference that a little help and advice can make to
new users and I think this is something that a LUG can and should do.
That said, I still believe that a LUG is its members, so exactly what
help it can provide (and to what people) will vary from group to
group.

[1] http://amber.redvoodoo.org/