[SLUG] Poster idea, input requested

[john at johnallsopp.co.uk]

> Al Girling wrote:
>> I doubt people are
>> irritated with their computers because they don't know how it works.
>> They are irritated because the bloody thing crashes, does weird
>> things,
>> requires constant updates for AV and anti-spyware software, and
>> they're
>> frequently forced to pay for new versions of software they already
>> have
>> just to stay in the game etc!
> We're still having trouble identifying our audience aren't we?

It's a big question, and one we've not really addressed. The audience
for this exercise was chosen by the idea that we'll put up a display
at the library, rather than the other way around "who do we want to
reach, and where are they when they are most receptive".

> Through talking about this with friends I've come around to thinking
> that Linux is a niche o/s - it's for techies/enthusiasts/geeks.

I agree, mostly. That's a big issue if we're going to do an installfest.

The distribution that seems to be doing the most to create a desktop
Linux that normal people can use is Linspire
<http://www.linspire.com/>. Maybe we should take a look at it in one
of the meetings, no-one seems to have picked up on it.

I think it's Debian based, so users just choose the applications they
want, it installs, and they are ready to go. The promise is just
amazing.

> _If_ that's true then I'm not sure how many of that niche frequent the
> library - making it difficult to work out where you pitch is.

Yes, computer geeks probably won't go there, but dry stone walling
geeks, murder mystery geeks and aeronautical geeks will. These are
people who use their brain. They are our second wave of installers I
think.

Good discussion this.

> However I'm don't know much about computer use demographics - due to
> family experience I shudder when I find anyone over 40 using a PC
> because it usually means work for me to fix it for them, however the
> members of this group has shown me that my family is far from
> representative.

I think that's just your family. I've definitely seem Internet usage
stats that show only a small peak around the late teens early
twenties, otherwise all ages use the Internet equally.

J