[SLUG] Installing for new users (was: Library display)

[john at johnallsopp.co.uk]

> John Allsopp wrote:
>
> --%<--
>
>>
>> > 2. Somewhere to do the install.  Preferably with an Internet
>> > connection.
>>
>> Well one possibility is the punter delivers the computer to the
>> person's house, and then collects it after a few days when the
>> installation's done.
>
> Hmm, not sure about this.  Do you think people will be willing to
> leave
> their machines with strangers?

Well, they take them to shops to get them upgraded and so on. I think
so, but it's up to them .. they can always do their own installation
of course, it's just an option.

Are you saying we might Gary Glitter them .. check around for images
and so on? Ah, I see, it's worse than that isn't it .. it's all sorts
of personal data, bank details and so on.

Maybe this is why installfests exist. We'd just have to do it at the
uni or somewhere we could get online.

>> > 3. Liability waiver form.
>>
>> I suggest it's in English rather than legalese. I can write things.
>>
>> > 4. A distro to become familiar with installing.  York are using
>> Ubunto
>> > this year.  Seems very popular.  Suggestions?
>>
>> Oh, interesting. I'd imagined we'd be choosing a suitable
>> distribution
>> for people's needs. Lindows (is that what it's called) for complete
>> newbies perhaps.
>
> See below.¹
>
>> > 5. Some way to get hardware info about the machine for the
>> > installation.
>> > is there an equivalent to 'lshw' in the windows world?  Get this
>> > beforehand to check hardware and driver availability.
>>
>> Maybe we need a sheet to tell them what we need and how to get it.
>> RAM
>> and CPU on bootup, disc size and free space from Explorer, list all
>> your peripherals, list all the software you use, etc.
>
> Good idea.
>
>> > 6. Practice sessions to trial this.
>> >
>> > 7. Really part of 5 but be able to say I'm sorry but your scanner
>> etc
>> > isn't supported under Linux and explain why.  Perhaps offer to
>> show an
>> > alternative working. So they don't go away thinking scanners etc
>> don't
>> > work with Linux.
>> >
>> > 8. Anything I've not thought of for now.
>>
>> I think this ties in with what I wanted to do, and possibly still
>> want
>> to do for our library stand, which is the Linux challenge.
>
> Good, this thread seems to be more concerned with Linux install than
> the
> contents of the library display now.  I've changed the subject to
> reflect this.

Yes, but it's about the consequences of our marketing. It's about how
we handle the interest (assuming we get any). There's no point doing
the marketing if we're not geared up for the response (we'll only piss
people off). But yes, change the title :-)

>>                                                               For
>> instance, my next door neighbour is a composer. He'll want Linux for
>> its stability and for all the free soft synths and so on. We might
>> choose Agnula for him.
>
> I'm very interested to see where Agnula goes.

Yes, I'll post about multi-booting in a mo

>> My mum has trained up in various Windows packages at night school ..
>> Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and so on. I think we might say to her,
>> forget it, stick with Windows.
>
> This is an interesting one.  Does your mother use the more advanced
> features provided by Office which make OpenOffice of little use. To
> what standard was she trained - CLAIT etc?

I don't know much about CLAIT tbh. I have a feeling perhaps she could
gather together her various bits of training and go for something
bigger, maybe that's CLAIT.

> Reading the homepage for
> BeautIX (from Bob) there's an excellent piece about a government who
> after changing to OSS had a visit from an MS rep.  Mr MS says why use
> OpenOffice, you're losing all the latest and greatest features.  To
> which Mr government replies.  Well, we don't use them.  So why should
> we pay for them.
>
> One of the things I've never understood is why so many who use Linux
> continue to use MS products for surfing/e-mail etc with all the
> security/virus issues that entails.  To me your mum would be an ideal
> candidate as she must fall in the group least likely to maintain up to
> date anti-virus/spyware software etc and so she'll really benefit.

Interesting. I did have to talk her through switching off that
notification spam thing that was going around a year ago.

>> My g/f has no interest in computers whatsoever, but Libran's love
>> beauty, so that's why I'm recommending a Mac for her.
>>
>> A small business person who wants a network of computers running
>> office applications, fine, Fedora or whatever with Open Office.
>>
>> Surely this is the way to satisfaction. Otherwise we'd install
>> Ubuntu
>> for everyone and surely half of them wouldn't understand why it's
>> not
>> quite right for them.
>
> ¹ I'm not convinced trying to select an appropriate distro to fit a
> user
> requirements is the right way to go.  As the biggest differences
> between
> distro's is the package manager and the repositories of apps.  Most
> packages are available for most distro's,  Apart from Agnula with it's
> obvious music back-ground there is probably no real advantage in any
> direction.  These things seem to come down to personal preference in
> the
> end.  I'd say a new user is going to be more interested in things
> being
> stable than bleeding edge.  I think YLUGs choice of Ubunto is mostly
> because it seems to have taken the place of Mandrake for a new users
> distro.

But then, why are there so many distributions?

I'll admit I'm talking completely from ignorance, since the only
distribution I've used is Red Hat, so I'll go with the vote. Any other
comments on this thought? Should we choose the distribution to suit
the client in order to better serve their needs, or choose a
distribution that we think will suit most people and that we can get
used to installing?

>> I'm thinking too, these people are going to need support thereafter,
>> which I suppose is the group and the mailing list.
>
> Definitely, it's unrealistic to offer more comprehensive support than
> that.
>
>> > I realise this sounds like preparation for an install-fest, but I
>> do
>> > feel that it's necessary unless you're happy with sending people
>> off
>> > with discs to do their own install.  Which I believe will too
>> often
>> > result in failure and another unhappy user.
>>
>> Deffo.
>>
>> > I hope this is seen as constructive.
>>
>> Absolutely it is.
>
> Phew!  I was worried it might be seen as fault picking and being
> obstructive.

You know what? When I read it I thought, "yeah, fantastic, something
constructive .. we want more of this".

J