[TriLUG] Linux for the home user

[Dave Moody]

I just started with Linux, just for personal interest, after years of corporate and personal use of windows.  I found Ubuntu to be easy to use for myself.  For someone to take this on, they simply need to accept that it is similar, but not identical.  If something is not the way they are used to, they should start with the assumption that there is an answer, they just need to find it.  Many will enjoy the search, as I do.

There are differences, but these are only a problem if the user is expecting an identical experience.

One of the other responses compared this to a driver used to cars then getting in a truck.  Excellent example.  For you, this will be as much an effort of managing expectations as the technical side.

--- On Fri, 1/23/09, Jason S. Evans <jason.s.evans at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Jason S. Evans <jason.s.evans at gmail.com>
Subject: [TriLUG] Linux for the home user
To: trilug at trilug.org
Date: Friday, January 23, 2009, 9:18 AM

Hey guys,

I'm currently working for a retail store as a PC Technician and while
I'm not shy about suggesting Linux for the tech savvy users who come in
looking to build servers, I find myself hesitant to bring it up at all
for the regular user who just wants to surf, listen to music, and maybe
run Quicken.

Is there a distro or maybe a Ubuntu-derivative that is really good for
the newbie user?  What I'm thinking is a distro that has lots of
tutorials on how to use the software that won't take 8 hours of
one-on-one instruction to fall into.  Is there one like that, would you
suggest that someone try an Ubuntu live CD or some other live CD?  Just
trying to pick your collective noggins.

Finally, and I'm cringe while writing this, but are there any tentative
plans for an installfest in the near future?  If so, I would love to
advertise one to my more adventuring customers who want to try Linux on
an older machine or in a Virtualbox session.  Thanks

Jason
KI4GMX

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