[SLUG] Library display

[john at johnallsopp.co.uk]

> 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.

So you're saying the middle panel, the "why Linux" part, should have
one big poster? Sounds good. Does anyone have the facilities to print
bigger or would we have to use a facility somewhere. If that, we're
looking at either someone digging into their pocket or a quick whip
round, £1 each kinda thing .. and if that happens more than a few
times we end up with a finance officer and a proper club, which we
keep mentioning.

> 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.

Good one.

>> 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?

A bring a box day?

>> > 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.

I've not seen it, but I wonder .. we are assuming people are general
Windows users coming over to Linux and requiring a lot of handholding.
There are going to be some serious users too .. engineers, technical
people, digital artists, people who know computers. Would they be
satisfied with some sort of simplified Linux? If we want to choose a
single distro to install we are going to have fun deciding which one
:-)

Cheers
J