[TriLUG] making Linux look like Windows XP

Mon Jun 11 08:52:03 EDT 2007

Oh, that's excellent! Let me know how it goes. If you make any modifications that would help the presentation please send them back to me so I can incorporate them in to the original. We're planning to give this presentation to a lot of orgs in the Greenville-Spartanburg area. Everything from churches to libraries to schools if we can get someone to talk to us. Also, I have the original in both ppt and odp formats as well if you're interested.

Next Saturday we're going to set up some pc's for a local youth summer camp; and the B&G club we spoke with last week is interested in setting up a small lab in their library area (basically just a bunch of very old books on a shelf) for kids ranging in age from 6-13. We are running Edubuntu with KDE for a little more Windows-like feel. They were highly impressed with the number of apps available (we sorta overloaded it actually), not having to deal with viruses and spyware (a lot of the older kids spend time on myspace and other sites which was loading them down with ad/spyware), and no licensing issues (she couldn't even get in to the e-open site to get her Microsoft server license and didn't know who to contact about it.)

We haven't actually done an install yet and we're still trying to pin down the characteristics of the final product, but it's looking like an Edubuntu base (for LTSP convenience mainly), KDE, and a tiered user grouping which would present an age-appropriate desktop based on the login (i.e., 6-8 year-olds would get a more childish background, the GCompris suite, Childsplay, etc. while the 10-13 group would get more science, math, and english software, etc. with an age appropriate background.)

If you get something going, please keep in touch so we can compare notes. 

Kevin

Have you F/LOSSed today?

----- Original Message ----
From: Tom Eisenmenger <teisenmenger at charter.net>
To: Triangle Linux Users Group discussion list <trilug at trilug.org>
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 8:28:25 AM
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] making Linux look like Windows XP

Very cool presentation, Kevin.  I've actually been talking with some
other folks at Chowan University about launching such a project in
northeastern North Carolina (I teach at Chowan).  The plan (as I see it)
is to form a student service organization that would (a) solicit used
computer systems from area businesses, (b) develop and install a
tailored Linux distro (probably Ubuntu-based), and (c) provide
grant-funded dial-up Internet access to recipients.  I do like your idea
of partnering with an ISP to provide broadband, though.

Oh, and I'll probably use a modified version of your presentation to
drive home some points.  Thanks for putting that together!!

Tom Eisenmenger

On Sun, 2007-06-10 at 19:35 -0700, Kevin J. wrote:

> here here! 
> 
> Btw, I created a quick "FOSS Presentation" which we presented with much success to our local Boys and Girls Club. You can view it on http://www.thinkfreedocs.com/ under the "Featured Presentations" section. Please feel free to modify it and/or use it to present FOSS to your local orgs.
> 
> Kevin
>  
> Have you F/LOSSed today?
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jason Tower <jtower at cerient.net>
> To: Triangle Linux Users Group discussion list <trilug at trilug.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 8:15:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [TriLUG] making Linux look like Windows XP
> 
> i'd suggest that apeing windows is exactly what linux *shouldn't* be doing as it 
> sets false expectations (it looks like windows but doesn't behave like windows, 
> therefore it sucks).  on the surface windows, kde, and gnome are fundamentally 
> very similar - same basic conventions, same desktop metaphors, etc.  anyone who 
> wants to can adapt to them very quickly.  changing the desktop background or 
> icon theme isn't what is keeping people from using linux.
> 
> there is one primary, overriding reason people use windows: the apps.  you can 
> make a linux desktop look *exactly* like windows but that won't make an ounce of 
> difference to 99% of people if it can't run quicken, photoshop, itunes, 
> $FAVORITE_GAME, or whatever.  while there are replacement apps for many things, 
> there are plenty of apps that are important to people (particularly in the 
> business world) that for one reason or another are windows-only.  and *THAT* is 
> why people use windows and not linux.  they don't care about stability, they 
> don't care about security, and they sure as hell don't care about freedom or 
> community or any of the things that are important to many of us.  they don't 
> care about these things in much the same way i don't care about the ivory billed 
> woodpecker or indian casino regulations.  let's see, i had a point here but i've 
> forgotten where i was going with this so i'll just trail off muttering to myself...
> 
> jason
> 
> Kevin J. wrote:
> > I just installed PCLinuxOS 2007 (www.pclinuxos.com) based on the recommendation of a new LUG member who recently made the switch from Windows after trying it. I am highly impressed. It defaults to a KDE environment that is very clean and easy to navigate (probably the most intuitive I've seen to date.) There is no reason why any Windows user couldn't comfortably switch to this OS.
> > 
> > Kevin
> >  
> > Have you F/LOSSed today?
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Magnus <magnus at trilug.org>
> > To: Triangle Linux Users Group discussion list <trilug at trilug.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 2:15:49 PM
> > Subject: [TriLUG] making Linux look like Windows XP
> > 
> > Someone asked awhile back and while I was cruising for KDE themes today
> > I ran into this:
> > 
> > http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/kde3+xp+style?content=1499
> > 
> > Not to my liking but anyone who is looking for the XP look & feel will
> > be right at home here.
> -- 
> TriLUG mailing list        : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> TriLUG Organizational FAQ  : http://trilug.org/faq/
> TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>        
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. 
> http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC
-- 
TriLUG mailing list        : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
TriLUG Organizational FAQ  : http://trilug.org/faq/
TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/

____________________________________________________________________________________
8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time 
with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news