Re: Promoting Linux

["SuperQ: god of geek" <ben@intexp.com>]

Yes, who we want to promote linux to is a good question, desktop users are
hard to pitch to, with the variety of sofware available to use, my entire
machine is setup for linux, i rarely boot into the small (less than 10% of
my drivespace) win95 partiton, but i would have died if it wasn't for my
roomie's MS access database, to handle my invoices.

here is a real situation for me:
I have a customer that wants internet access, they have 10 client machines
on a network, they need a good/fast firewall.  they also need a good
reliable file server (tho they don't fully realize they need it yet)
they also need a simple email server that can handle inter-office notes,
as well as internet email.  Solution "I'm going to move all the print
services over to your NT server, and setup the old print server as a UNIX
server"  "how much will it cost?" "about $100 for software, and my setup
fees" "GREAT! do it".  That's how simple it was to sell them a linux box,
like you said, they don't care _HOW_ it runs, just as long as it runs. :)

TTYL,
        Ben Kochie (ben@intexp.com)

[{(-----------------------------------------------------------)}]
You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public. 
                                        -Scott Adams

To the engineer, the world is a toy box full of sub-optimized and
feature-poor toys.
                                        -How to tell an Engineer
[{(-----------------------------------------------------------)}]


On Thu, 7 May 1998, Tony Beltran wrote:

> > MS giant.  It seems to me that a big problem free/open software is most
> > non-Unix people think if it is free it must work like junk.  So by using
> > tclug as a platform to promote Linux systems and solutions by our hands on
> > experiences, we can disprove all those Windows bigots.
> 
> When DOS was first getting off the ground, the simplest
> user interfaces were very acceptable, as was the command
> line interface.  However, Microsoft, despite how much we
> like to say otherwise, has set a standard of quality in
> appearance and features their software presents to the
> user that (so far) has been unmatched in the Linux
> community.  We are talking about people who are used 
> to products like Microsoft Office.  Compare the look
> and feel of that product to Applixware.  Yes, Applixware
> works well.  But, it does not have that polished finish
> that gives the user confidence.  Nobody at the office is
> using Applixware.  StarOffice is often unpredictable and
> can freeze when reading a corrupted file or lock up when
> overrun with mouse events.  As for the other available
> Linux apps, while they do what their authors claim, they 
> certainly lack the polished feel according to the standard 
*Ksnip!*