The problem with non-converts is that they are used to being coddled by
Microsoft. Home users like to think that they dont need to know much to use
their computer. Business users will want to see a migration route to
something that costs them less or brings them more bang for their buck, but
also need to know its reliable. If you want to demonstrate stuff you
probably want to do things like this:
- Use wine or VMware to show Outlook Express (or Eudora or whatever e-mail
program will work) running on a linux X-terminal. You can show other stuff
running too - the home user gets to see how comfortable and cosy life could
be and business users get to see they're not tied to Microsoft.
- Get the same game and run it on Windows and Linux side by side.
Civilisation Call To Power or summat like that - you can show that there is
no difference in capability; just the cost is different.
- Show some of the stuff that Windows is crap at; like web servers, or
running apps on one machine but displayed on the terminal of another (using
X). Beowulf is an excellent idea.
- Show off some of the _really_ polished Linux stuff; KDE and Gnome,
StarOffice (show it loading a Word document - that'll fry some business
users who think this isn't possible), Gimp, etc. Is there anything stable
that connects to MSExchange for e-mail yet? That'd swing a fair few
business people who have already shelled out big bucks for an exchange
server.
Remember the issue is not to show that Linux wins hands down over Windows -
we know it does, but telling folk they've been using the wrong O/S all their
life 'aint gonna go down too well. The whole point is to show users that
there are alternatives; and that the alternatives are strong enough to
warrant serious consideration.
Cheers.
Neil.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gruber, Jason [mailto:Jason.Gruber@invensys.com]
> Sent: 10 October 2001 09:27
> To: 'nottingham@lists.lug.org.uk'
> Subject: RE: [nottingham] proposed intro to Linux evening
>
> I too think that we should figure out what we actually wish other, non -
> converts would like to see about Linux.
>
> I feel Corparate World use of Linux would be best;
>
> Servers Side
>
> * Web (Due to Gartner recent utterings)
> * Cluster (Beowolf would be something that really rock my boat!! But
> powerful cheap clustering is a big deal, here at work others are about to
> purchase new alpha box coming in at aroun 1/2million)
> * Security (Firewalls, Encryption)
> * Databases
>
> Client Side
>
> * Security (BS7799 i think that is the number is a big deal.
> Complience at the moment relies on NT Challange Response
> Kerboros is a joke in MS hands.)
> * Managing Locked down desktops.
>
> * Updates.
>
>
>
> Me I go for demonstations of
>
> Cluster I would really like to try and build one.
>
> But more pratically
>
> Web
> Security
> Databases.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nottingham@lists.lug.org.uk On Behalf Of Seanie
> <seanie@merciless.org.uk>
> Sent: 09 October 2001 11:34 PM
> To: nottingham@lists.lug.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [nottingham] proposed intro to Linux evening
>
> Godfrey Nix wrote:
>
> > Due to the overwhelming silence on my suggestion, with just one
> offer of
> > help, I guess no one really wants to bother with evangelizing our
> fave OS?
> I would worry that we only end up preaching to the converted ..
>
> > I just need volunteers to help with:
> > setting up machines (sponsor offers loan of several machines incl
> RaQs);
> > demonstrating desktop and server operations;
> What exactly do you have in mind, something simple like a small
> office
> file/print/email server, or are we talking about a demo of a
> full-blown
> groupware system? Trying to steer people away from Exchange/Outlook
> is a tall
> order when nobody I've spoken to can think of an open-source
> alternative :-(
>
> Maybe it would be best to pitch the "small budget, small needs"
> angle?
> I could certainly demo a KDE/Star Office setup on low spec hardware,
> talking to
> a headless BIND/NFS/Postfix box (as that is exactly what I'm sitting
> in front
> of now)
> Having some RaQ's around could be a good way to demo "rapid intranet
> development" maybe.
>
> I think this is do-able, and the free grub is a winner. Lets see
> some more
> hands in the air.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Seanie
> seanie@merciless.org.uk
> [www.merciless.org.uk ]
> **== Linux: If you're not careful, you might actually learn
> something ==*
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