Supporting Ubuntu growth

[Chris Thompson]

Hmm... You wrote:
"Lately I've been asked to repair or update friends, neighbours etc
computers, it isn't difficult but I'm not a tech. "
A few thoughts..

There are techies and then there are techies....I would have to say that
anyone who subscribes to this community is, relative to the poulation at
large, by definition a techie. The average computer user wouldn't know a
Linux kernal from Colonel Klink.

"So I'm taking the stance that they MUST switch to Ubuntu Linux, since the
Windows problems have become a real pain."

If you think supporting your Windows friends is a pain, watch what would
happen if you installed Ubuntu....you will become 24 hour first line
support, help desk, tutor, and designated scapegoat every time anything,
however seemingly trivial,  goes wrong.

In providing support, whether it be for Windows or Ubuntu or whatever, I
would strongly recommend following the philosophy of   "give a man a fish
and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish and he will eat for the rest of
his life."

Never just fix something under the covers.... provide guidance and only
guidance. Never let your fingers touch their keyboard. Help them to become
self sufficient.

Same with guiding someone to linux or ubuntu - give them a Live CD, let them
play and decide whether they want to use it. Remember, people always go
through an ignorance - awareness - understanding - liking, andultimatelu\y a
preference cycle for anything. For the average User, an OS decision is an
emotional choice, not a rational one, the migration is scary.

If you put a gun to their head - Ubuntu or no support - they might cave in.
I guarantee they will resent you for it and blame you (quite unjustly) of
course for everything and anything that ever happens to the computer. Given
the perverse nature of inanimate objects (as we engineers like to say)
things will go wrong.

Unless of course, you want to be on call 24 hours a day providing help to
people who resent you being the cause of all of their problems since the day
they moved to linux.

Remember, no good turn goes unpunished.

On 7/31/06, Allen Graham <allenggraham at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi all: we've discussed at length  spreading the penetration of Ubuntu
> Linux at all levels in Canada. This article:
>
>
> http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/07/27/217270/Linux+patch+problems+Your+version+may+vary.htm
>
> strongly supports our efforts.  Specifically;" In this instance, Ubuntu
> and Fedora received the highest scores overall, reflecting their tendency to
> be among the first responders for many issues."
>
> Lately I've been asked to repair or update friends, neighbours etc
> computers, it isn't difficult but I'm not a tech. So I'm taking the stance
> that they MUST switch to Ubuntu Linux, since the Windows problems have
> become a real pain. Forced "Updates and Upgrades"
>
> Your comments ?
> Allen
> --
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-ca mailing list
> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>
>
>
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