Comments on: Get Real or How NOT To Convert Your Grandma to Linux http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/ All About GNU/Linux and BSD - reviews, comparisons, articles Sun, 13 May 2012 17:43:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: seo http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-192862 seo Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:18:45 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-192862 Very good website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I'd really like to be a part of group where I can get feedback from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Cheers! Very good website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get feedback from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Cheers!

]]> By: German Skillpa http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-187121 German Skillpa Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:43:11 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-187121 Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is really annoying. A good blog with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters? I Cant find it. Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is really annoying. A good blog with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters? I Cant find it.

]]> By: Jessica Bailey http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-149301 Jessica Bailey Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:49:00 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-149301 spywares and viruses always give me some headache. they can really mess up your pc.*'` spywares and viruses always give me some headache. they can really mess up your pc.*’`

]]> By: bob http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-56390 bob Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:42:55 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-56390 I have my mother running PCLinux2007. She's been on windows since 1993. I've been her tech support the entire time. In this one case, she has had WAY less need for help since switching. I would spend a couple hours a month helping out with tech questions, or helping fight what ever problems were to arise. With PCLOS, there has been almost no down time (she didn't know what program to use with her scanner). She is quite happy, and actually is beginning to understand linux a little bit. I have my mother running PCLinux2007. She’s been on windows since 1993. I’ve been her tech support the entire time. In this one case, she has had WAY less need for help since switching. I would spend a couple hours a month helping out with tech questions, or helping fight what ever problems were to arise. With PCLOS, there has been almost no down time (she didn’t know what program to use with her scanner). She is quite happy, and actually is beginning to understand linux a little bit.

]]> By: pjvenda http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-44068 pjvenda Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:36:58 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-44068 Let me start by admitting that I haven't read all the comments, but I did read the whole article. My opinion is that nowadays Linux *is* easier to install, handles basic hardware better and provides a much more stable and secure desktop for "normal" work. I believe that average windows users will feel pretty confortable using a linux desktop *if* their mind is set to "try something that may be better in some ways". Not the people that say: "I'm used to windows and windows' apps and I see no reason to change, not even to something possibly better" (I've heard this about OS X too). Who of the so-called "technologically impaired" installs windows on their own pc? Most of them don't. Others (geeks?) do it for them. It is a complex, frustrating and time consuming process... Any recent linux distro installs quickly within few (informative) configuration screens, without consecutive reboots and plays nice with other installed OSs. For its price, what kind of software package does windows make available for users after installation? Think DVDs, PDFs, *Office, Ogg, Archive management (zip, rar, tgz), Messaging, Email, Imaging... Yes, it means hundreds of added MB of commercial software with huge licensing costs (or shamelessly pirated) or hundreds of MB of open source alternatives... My point here is simple: <strong>Value for money</strong>. I have to admit that gaming support is really really bad. Who's to blame? Many. Who is loosing because of it? I am a Linux user for almost 9 years and I use a Linux desktop exclusively for about 5. Windows users around me aren't changing to Linux because of the following main reasons: 1. lazyness 2. lack of interest and/or desire to improve efficiency 3. shameless piracy At the end of the day, Operating Systems are just sandboxes for applications. Applications are what allow us to improve our efficiency at whatever tasks that computers do better. If different platforms provide similar (or the same) applications for our work or personal tasks, switching between them becomes painless. Why this struggle and why is everyone addicted to Microsoft products and we're all discussing how hard is it to switch to Linux? Piracy, Microsoft's market domination and further locking techniques, which may well become the route of their eventual demise. Cheers everyone! Let me start by admitting that I haven’t read all the comments, but I did read the whole article.

My opinion is that nowadays Linux *is* easier to install, handles basic hardware better and provides a much more stable and secure desktop for “normal” work.

I believe that average windows users will feel pretty confortable using a linux desktop *if* their mind is set to “try something that may be better in some ways”. Not the people that say: “I’m used to windows and windows’ apps and I see no reason to change, not even to something possibly better” (I’ve heard this about OS X too).

Who of the so-called “technologically impaired” installs windows on their own pc? Most of them don’t. Others (geeks?) do it for them. It is a complex, frustrating and time consuming process… Any recent linux distro installs quickly within few (informative) configuration screens, without consecutive reboots and plays nice with other installed OSs.

For its price, what kind of software package does windows make available for users after installation? Think DVDs, PDFs, *Office, Ogg, Archive management (zip, rar, tgz), Messaging, Email, Imaging… Yes, it means hundreds of added MB of commercial software with huge licensing costs (or shamelessly pirated) or hundreds of MB of open source alternatives… My point here is simple: Value for money.

I have to admit that gaming support is really really bad. Who’s to blame? Many. Who is loosing because of it?

I am a Linux user for almost 9 years and I use a Linux desktop exclusively for about 5.
Windows users around me aren’t changing to Linux because of the following main reasons:
1. lazyness
2. lack of interest and/or desire to improve efficiency
3. shameless piracy

At the end of the day, Operating Systems are just sandboxes for applications. Applications are what allow us to improve our efficiency at whatever tasks that computers do better. If different platforms provide similar (or the same) applications for our work or personal tasks, switching between them becomes painless. Why this struggle and why is everyone addicted to Microsoft products and we’re all discussing how hard is it to switch to Linux? Piracy, Microsoft’s market domination and further locking techniques, which may well become the route of their eventual demise.

Cheers everyone!

]]> By: donec http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-43202 donec Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:41:31 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-43202 "there’s no chance that a user won’t run into trouble that requires some commands to be typed in the console." I have to disagree with this. As a relatively new Linux user I have found that by using SimplyMEPIS 6.5 I don't need the console. I occasionally use it for experimentation, but it is not needed to have a good running secure machine that is free and comes with almost, if not all, the software you'll need. “there’s no chance that a user won’t run into trouble that requires some commands to be typed in the console.”

I have to disagree with this. As a relatively new Linux user I have found that by using SimplyMEPIS 6.5 I don’t need the console. I occasionally use it for experimentation, but it is not needed to have a good running secure machine that is free and comes with almost, if not all, the software you’ll need.

]]> By: Antonios Dimopoulos http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-42753 Antonios Dimopoulos Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:12:26 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-42753 I've installed linux on my sisters computer, not because i wanted to prove something to myself but i wanted my sisters to have a stable and secure desktop. When they had WinXP, they had a LOT of spyware and viruses... They just loved linux (they are not geeks, they are just typical 20 yo girls who wants to chat, use msn or skype, download music/videoclips and surf the internet) and i don't have to clean their computer from viruses and spywares every two weeks... The only thing that a desktop computer user needs to know is HIS desktop... There is no need for him to enter the root filesystem. (That's why MS hid the files of the hard disk drives in winXP and that's why ubuntu shows you only the Home and the Media folder) I’ve installed linux on my sisters computer, not because i wanted to prove something to myself but i wanted my sisters to have a stable and secure desktop. When they had WinXP, they had a LOT of spyware and viruses… They just loved linux (they are not geeks, they are just typical 20 yo girls who wants to chat, use msn or skype, download music/videoclips and surf the internet) and i don’t have to clean their computer from viruses and spywares every two weeks… The only thing that a desktop computer user needs to know is HIS desktop… There is no need for him to enter the root filesystem. (That’s why MS hid the files of the hard disk drives in winXP and that’s why ubuntu shows you only the Home and the Media folder)

]]> By: rob http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-42461 rob Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:06:20 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/get-real-or-how-not-to-convert-your-grandma-to-linux/#comment-42461 I installed Edubuntu onto both of my home computers a couple of years ago, we all started using it including the children. It is like an experienced car driver having to drive another car, it's easy to switch. Indeed I gave our local school principal an Edubuntu CD over a year ago, with a little initial guidance he has now installed it onto nearly all of his computers including his laptop, he adds accounts, sets up email etc. I told him how he can set up an Edubuntu terminal server, and then holding his hand while he pressed enter at the install screen questions, he has done it all himself, he's unplugged the thin clients hard drives and is amazed at how quite the room now is. A year ago faced with a bill of $1800 to upgrade his library software he found Koha, payed someone $300 to install it, done. He says that soon he'll convert the last few computers. Children pick it up with ease, and they can install it at home for free. I do like it. I installed Edubuntu onto both of my home computers a couple of years ago, we all started using it including the children. It is like an experienced car driver having to drive another car, it’s easy to switch.

Indeed I gave our local school principal an Edubuntu CD over a year ago, with a little initial guidance he has now installed it onto nearly all of his computers including his laptop, he adds accounts, sets up email etc. I told him how he can set up an Edubuntu terminal server, and then holding his hand while he pressed enter at the install screen questions, he has done it all himself, he’s unplugged the thin clients hard drives and is amazed at how quite the room now is. A year ago faced with a bill of $1800 to upgrade his library software he found Koha, payed someone $300 to install it, done. He says that soon he’ll convert the last few computers. Children pick it up with ease, and they can install it at home for free. I do like it.

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