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Author Topic: Making a convert...  (Read 2403 times)

hm_murdock

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Making a convert...
« on: 8 August 2006, 05:33 »
I've gotten them to take the first step.

I'm burning an Ubuntu 6.06 Desktop CD for someone. It's a woman, late 40s, budding technophile with a huge interest in gadgets, tinkering, et cetera. She's been using nothing but Windows since she got into computers in 2001. I convinced her to get an old G3 iMac (my old one) in January, and now I think I might get her to run Linux, at least off the CD for now, on her desktop machine. It appeals to her as it's more like the Windows she's used to, but would let her get away from MS, who she professes to hate.

Let's see how it goes!

Discuss the processes you've used, and what level of success you've had in getting people to try and use Linux.
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worker201

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #1 on: 8 August 2006, 06:01 »
I'm too busy trying to get women in their late 40s naked to convince someone to try Linux.

Seriously, though, they have to want to (or at least be open to) change.  You can give your best performance yet, and if they aren't interested, they won't go.  Now, every once in awhile you run into some person who is interested in trying new things and learning more about computers that has somehow never heard of Apple or Linux.  Apparently, JJ has found one.

Anyway, there aren't that many people open to discussion.  So you just drop little hints about not having antivirus software, or free graphics programs, or monopoly practices, and see if they go for the bait.  If they bite at it, and are interested in hearing more, then bring out your big guns.  Otherwise, leave it alone, because you're just going to get frustrated.
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pofnlice

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #2 on: 8 August 2006, 10:01 »
I have to wonder if worker 201 was talking about OS's there or trying to get them to do kinky things in the hay loft...
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Quote from: "Orethrius"
After all, running Windows without a decent anti-virus is like walking through a Red Light District after eating five metric tonnes of Viagra.

worker201

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #3 on: 8 August 2006, 10:18 »
Some people are ready to try new things, other people are forever doomed to a life of vanilla options.
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GenuineAdvantage

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #4 on: 8 August 2006, 12:32 »
This was my process:

1. Mention/ask if they want linux dual-booted (explain what dual-boot is if needed)
2. Install linux (only Ubuntu so far)
3. Make sure the internet works

The end, pretty much. I try to avoid barking anything in, including that they should use it at all. If they want to just ignore it, that's their business. They can keep on using windows. Except for one case I was asked to just reformat the whole drive and all that was left is the linux system. Besides all that I usually know when to even bring it up. I won't ask at all unless I think they might be intrested. Windows gamer tards there is no real use in bringing it up at all. Except for one friend of mine but that's only because I am at his house so often.

Btw, that old story of 'linux being so easy now, to install and everything', that's only from a geek's point of view. People can't even install windows xp by themselves.
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piratePenguin

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #5 on: 8 August 2006, 12:37 »
Quote from: GenuineAdvantage

Btw, that old story of 'linux being so easy now, to install and everything', that's only from a geek's point of view. People can't even install windows xp by themselves.
Since when was Windows XP easy to install? Fedora and SUSE passed it out ages ago did they not?
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"What you share with the world is what it keeps of you."
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a poem by my computer, Macintosh Vigilante
Macintosh amends a damned around the requested typewriter. Macintosh urges a scarce design. Macintosh postulates an autobiography. Macintosh tolls the solo variant. Why does a winter audience delay macintosh? The maker tosses macintosh. Beneath female suffers a double scum. How will a rat cube the heavier cricket? Macintosh calls a method. Can macintosh nest opposite the headache? Macintosh ties the wrong fairy. When can macintosh stem the land gang? Female aborts underneath macintosh. Inside macintosh waffles female. Next to macintosh worries a well.

H_TeXMeX_H

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #6 on: 8 August 2006, 19:07 »
Fedora is really easy to install ... I installed it even when I didn't quite know what I was doing ... it took me a couple tries tho (the MBR refused to get overwritten for some reason)

As for converts ... you kinda have to hate M$ to switch. If you either like M$ or don't have a problem with them, then there's no reason to switch (at least in the mind of the potential convert). Yeah, I can explain to them the benefits of other OSs for hours and hours, but they could care less .... maybe they are afraid of change ? or maybe they are afraid they can't handle it ?
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pofnlice

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #7 on: 8 August 2006, 21:05 »
or maybe they are afraid of all the complex lines of code they have been made to believe you have to know to do linux.
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Quote from: "Orethrius"
After all, running Windows without a decent anti-virus is like walking through a Red Light District after eating five metric tonnes of Viagra.

worker201

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #8 on: 8 August 2006, 21:14 »
Let's remember, though, even poster-child Ubuntu requires you to partition your hard drive.  That's not something a computer illiterate person can handle.  Windows XP doesn't ask you to partition, it just grabs all the space it can and goes.  IF the drive is properly partitioned beforehand, then the Linux install is just as easy as a Windows install.
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H_TeXMeX_H

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #9 on: 9 August 2006, 01:35 »
Quote from: worker201
Let's remember, though, even poster-child Ubuntu requires you to partition your hard drive.  That's not something a computer illiterate person can handle.  Windows XP doesn't ask you to partition, it just grabs all the space it can and goes.  IF the drive is properly partitioned beforehand, then the Linux install is just as easy as a Windows install.

Well, I dunno about Ubuntu, but Fedora actually has a default partition scheme. You can just tell it to use free space or erase the hard drive and it will install without you needing to partition anything.
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piratePenguin

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #10 on: 9 August 2006, 03:38 »
Quote from: H_TeXMeX_H
Well, I dunno about Ubuntu, but Fedora actually has a default partition scheme. You can just tell it to use free space or erase the hard drive and it will install without you needing to partition anything.

same with ubuntu iirc
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"What you share with the world is what it keeps of you."
 - Noah And The Whale: Give a little love



a poem by my computer, Macintosh Vigilante
Macintosh amends a damned around the requested typewriter. Macintosh urges a scarce design. Macintosh postulates an autobiography. Macintosh tolls the solo variant. Why does a winter audience delay macintosh? The maker tosses macintosh. Beneath female suffers a double scum. How will a rat cube the heavier cricket? Macintosh calls a method. Can macintosh nest opposite the headache? Macintosh ties the wrong fairy. When can macintosh stem the land gang? Female aborts underneath macintosh. Inside macintosh waffles female. Next to macintosh worries a well.

worker201

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #11 on: 9 August 2006, 08:01 »
Yes, you can select that as an option, but it brings up a graphical representation of the partition table.  Many Windowsers will freak when they see this.  Using my dear old dad as a reference, he would probably call tech support at this point, no matter how clearly the instructions were marked.
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hm_murdock

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #12 on: 9 August 2006, 10:51 »
IT'S A GO!

After piddling with the Live CD for just a few minutes, she was convinced to agree to install Ubuntu on a second drive that's currently empty. She was TOTALLY impressed by the fact that it booted from a CD to a usably fast system with all the stuff needed, and all of her hardware was instantly recognized, including what she calls her "oddball" NIC.

Dual-boot is soon to come. The sticking point to total conversion on at least one machine: MS Money, World of Warcraft. Neither is actually a total miss, since she has them both on her notebook which is actually a better 'puter.
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pofnlice

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #13 on: 9 August 2006, 11:13 »
Good Job!

I though WOW was somewhat workable in Linux now...

Oh well. At least she's starting off, that's how I went into it. I found a handfull of forums like these, read a bit, tried a live cd, d/l suse 9.0, then bought suse 9.1 and been going around distros ever since. She's on the road and that's what counts...

Wait a minute...

Has anyone else noticed all of Teh Jimmy Jamez's "friends" are female...

Dude...are you a pimp?
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Quote from: "Orethrius"
After all, running Windows without a decent anti-virus is like walking through a Red Light District after eating five metric tonnes of Viagra.

worker201

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Re: Making a convert...
« Reply #14 on: 9 August 2006, 20:58 »
I think she was ripe: spare empty hd just sitting around? 2 personal computers? This woman was sitting at home begging for someone to tell her about Linux. As computer literate as she appears to be, I'm not sure how she could be so ignorant to not know about Ubuntu or live cds. But anyway, someone stuck out her hand asking to be led toward the light, and pimpJJ was there for her.  So he deserves some credit for that!

FYI: pimp = milfhunter in this case
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