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

[Phil Kershaw]

Hi All,

Tim Hutchinson, the ICT co-ordinator at Scalby School was definitely
interested in the idea of Linux. He is also very much into the community use
of facilities at School. I am sure if you ring him he would still be
interested in SLUG using the lab.

Phil


-----Original Message-----
From: scarborough-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk
[mailto:scarborough-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Al Girling
Sent: 29 September 2005 12:25
To: scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk
Subject: Re: [SLUG] Installing for new users (was: Library display)

John Allsopp wrote:
> > 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.

I've always thought the Uni should be somehow involved, the impression
I've had in the past is that they're not interested.  Still, it might be
possible to persuade them.  Or maybe we could go on bended knee back to
Phil and ask for the use of the room at Scalby School.

--%<-- 

> >> 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.

I took CLAIT 1 several years ago.  Basically it's a course offering a
variety of modules (Word, Excel etc.) of which you need to complete
three modules to pass.  The standard is fairly basic for CLAIT 1.  To
use Word as an example, it involves opening, saving, inserting text,
search and replace, setting margins and a couple of other things.  As I
say, pretty basic and it's that level across the modules.  Topics are
covered in greater depth as you progress through levels 2 & 3, but I
believe CLAIT has been superseded by ECDL, which like lessons to drive
a car have naff all to do with knowing how to drive a car, ECDL has
naff all to do with knowing the best way to use a computer.  In both
cases you just get to pass a test then really start to learn.

--%<-- 

> >> 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?

For the same reason there are assorted biscuits! ;) Sorry couldn't
resist.

Seriously though.  While it's too large a topic to cover here.  It's
about ideas, needs and beliefs.  Those who are concerned with the latest
and greatest might choose SUSE, Mandrivia or Debian (unstable) etc.  For
the newbie it used to be Mandrake or now Ubunto or perhaps SUSE.  For
those keen to keep to the F/OSS ideal then Debian.  Others like the
kudos of compiling everything and optimising the system so Gentoo or
LFS.  For other package management so choose between .rpm or .deb.  The
list goes on, but do you see how it works?

> 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 think you're well aware of my views now. ;)

> > 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".

I'm glad I can be helpful.

Al

-- 

Al Girling

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Home page:                  <http://al.sdf-eu.org>
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