Suggestions please...

[Fabian Rodriguez]

Scott Blayney wrote:
> I'm getting ready to teach a class on Linux on Monday night. [...] I'm 
> going to be handing out free CDs from the Shipit service, although 
> they haven't arrived yet!
I wouldn't count on the shipit CDs arriving on time. They are most 
likely being shipped from South Africa and may take months to get to 
you. I would actually show them how to download the ISO files, and burn 
a CD themselves. That would prove most useful if they want to share 
LInux / Ubuntu later on. I would have an ISO file handy (instead of 
trying to download it during class).

> My plan is to follow the "Working with your Desktop" guide that comes 
> with Ubuntu.  I also plan to show them how to use Easyubuntu so that 
> they can set themselves up for MP3, DVD, and other propietary 
> formats.  The goal is to educate them enough to set up a working 
> computer with most of the functionality they expect from a modern 
> operating system, and with the knowledge of where to go to find more 
> help.
I think using EasyUbuntu introduces several problems, including possible 
future update problems and also legal issues. Their legal disclaimers 
are really far from giving any useful information regarding the use of 
patented, copyrighted and in some cases illegal-to redistribute 
technologies, fonts, etc. Normally an individual / end-user of 
EasyUbuntu would have to accept all the agreements for each one of those 
technologies/ fonts/etc., which is also a problem for someone that would 
want to make an install on more than one computer (like computer labs, 
cafes, etc).

You will have to spend some time explaining those issues but most 
importantly any bugs coming up because of the installation of 
non-supported packages. I think it's best to let people know why 
proprietary formats are not supported out of the box in Ubuntu alorg 
with a bit of history[1], give them a resource to find out more about 
using proprietary vs. open formats[2]. Then also show them that there's 
an automatic, unsupported way to install that support[3] or antoher 
manual, documented way [4]. Finally, I'd mention that the upcoming 
Ubuntu 7.04 in April will make use of proprietary formats much easier, 
probably making EasyUbuntu obsolete.[5] Here's some URLs that may help 
with that:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28Linux_distribution%29
[2] http://www.openformats.org/
[3] http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/
[4] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RestrictedFormats
[5] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EasyCodecInstallation , 
http://ubuntudaily.blogspot.com/2007/02/automatic-codec-installation-in-ubuntu.html 
, http://icanthack.com/?p=50 , 
http://sheeped.com/2007/02/01/ubuntu-704-feisty-fawn-supports-proprietary-codec-support/

At that point and if you really want to address the issue, some people 
may ask why Ubuntu supports some proprietary drivers and, in the close 
future, software (with Linspire's CNR). That's a different question, we 
can also discuss that here :)

>
> What I would like to ask the group is what you think would be good 
> advice, pointers, gotchas, etc. to give them?  This is the first time 
> I am teaching this class, so I am totally open to suggestions.  I will 
> also be soliciting direction from the class as to what they expect to 
> learn so that I can tailor it to their needs.
>
> Scott Blayney
>
> ps. I also plan to show them "Just Say No To Microsoft, How To Ditch 
> Microsoft And Why It's Not As Hard As You Think 
> <http://www.amazon.ca/Just-Say-No-Microsoft-Ditch/dp/159327064X/sr=8-1/qid=1172352966/ref=sr_1_1/701-7389600-5785908?ie=UTF8&s=books>"
Well, since you ask, I would only add that I don't like any 
anti-Microsoft bashing. I think educating about tech, formats, and 
licence freedom importance takes care of and brings up the discussion 
about Microsoft's practices but many other too. Focusing on Microsoft 
just seems too easy and distracting from broader issues. It's also 
important to keep in mind that many people don't like to spend too much 
time on these ethical / philosophical / political / social issues. They 
just want the software to work. So, for them, just tell them "here's 
somethin *I think is important*, if you feel anything like reading this, 
go ahead", but don't force it.

I hope your class goes well, most of my advice may prove irrelevant 
depending on your student's background - so come back and let us know 
what you observed :)

Cheers,

Fabian