[SLUG] Library display

[Al Girling]

John Allsopp wrote:
> 
> > Bob said:
> > Surely the Library Display should act as a gateway to finding out
> > more.  So
> > the display should be a set of posters advertising reasons for Linux.
> 
> I'd like to explore that further. The current display
> <http://www.johnallsopp.co.uk/slug/imgp1328Display.jpg> has got 11 A4
> posters. So, are we going to write 11 posters each with a different
> reason for using Linux? 11's too many .. the 7+/-2 rule.
> 
> What about having the central panel as a kind of motivational
> introduction to Linux, so, what is it, why does it matter, what can it
> do for you, that sort of thing.

This sounds good.  Any chance this can be on A3 or larger paper?  Lots
of sheets of A4 look scrappy to me.  We need to show there's more to
Linux than just being a free OS to replace Windows.

Something I'm always keen to show is how a Linux system does/can look.
Only yesterday I was speaking to someone who said he'd "thought about
looking at Linux, but it doesn't have a GUI and it's too difficult to
install etc."  Needless to say I'm going to give him a copy of Knoppix
to look at.  What I'm leading to is we need to dispel this idea that
Linux is for servers really and all you get to look at is a white cursor
flashing in the top left corner of the screen and it's only pasty faced
geeks working black magic at the command-line can use it.  How about some
pictures of screenshots showing how KDE, GNOME and others look.

> The left hand panel could be for leaflets to take away.
> 
> The right hand panel can be for the Linux challenge.
> 
> > Here is
> > list0.1:
> > You can use old/second hand equipment to put together a useable
> > computer system for 100 pounds or less:
> > You can find a software distribution for your specialist subject
> > (music?):
> 
> So that one's about explaining what a distribution is and giving some
> resources.
> 
> > Your home computer can have educational software that makes your
> > children brighter..............
> 
> One of many possibilities I guess.
> 
> > The posters should give website addresses for follow up.  The library
> > provides a free computing service, plus advice.
> 
> > Handouts never get read.
> 
> I strongly disagree with that one. If there's nothing for people to
> take away from our display .. even if it's one of those Indian Squaw
> frills with a phone number on it you see underneath posters
> advertising flatshares or drummer needed (ours would obviously have
> our website address).

I'm with you John, without handouts people may look at the display but
without something to take away they are very unlikely to remember an
http address.

> Incidentally, what I'd normally do for this would be to give out our
> address as http://www.scarborough.lug.org.uk/lib or something, which
> would go to a welcome page especially designed for newbies who have
> just seen our display. That way too, since there would be no other
> links to the page, we could see from the server logs how many visitors
> we'd had. Steve, r u up for that?

Very good idea.

> > I don't think giving out personal phone numbers, or offering home
> > visits are
> > good ideas.  They open cans of worms.  The mailing list address is
> > surely enough.
> 
> I don't think anyone's suggesting that.

I think Bob was referring to my mention of going to do installs at
peoples homes.  This comes from what I feel is the need to have
something in place to follow on from the display.

> > The whole display should be robust enough to be offered to outlying
> > branches
> > of the library, and perhaps colleges, and reused at the next
> > opportunity.
> 
> Excellent. I thought the blue folding substrate thing was provided by
> the library, are you saying we construct our own?

This is a good idea too.  It's already to use at other events as seen
fit.  If the SFD actually happens next year, say.  Or what about a bring
a box day so people get a chance to see systems in use?

> > I can (probably) demonstrate Beatrix at the next meeting.  It is a
> > very basic
> > distribution which has a Gnome front end and just does OpenOffice,
> > Firefox ,Evolution and a Messenger program.  The big advantage is that
> > it
> > runs in 64M and installs in around 20 minutes.  It could be a starting
> > point
> > for discussions about a distribution we could recommend.
> 
> Like I say, I don't (currently) think we should be thinking that way.
> We should be giving people a distribution that suits them, not trying
> to make our lives easier. That way, they'll be more likely to like
> Linux.

I'd have to say that BeatrIX and similar distro's are closer to my idea
of suitable distro's for newbies.  The big main distro's are too
overwhelming with the amount of software available.  Often having huge
repetitive menu's which put me off let alone someone fresh to Linux.  I
hope to have a look myself, but if not I'd be interested in seeing Bob
demonstrate at a meet.  A good choice bob.

Toodle pip,

Al

-- 

Al Girling

GPG: key ID 0xD826BCE9
Home page:                  <http://al.sdf-eu.org>
Linux User: #290080         <http://counter.li.org>
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