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| == Table Topics: Is 2008 the year of the Linux desktop? == | | == Table Topics: Is 2008 the year of the Linux desktop? == |
− | Western PA Linux User Group will hold their second "Table Topics" meeting on Tuesday February 26 at 7:30pm to 9:00pm at [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=623+Clairton+Boulevard+15236&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.957823,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=40.333951,-79.944656&spn=0.007262,0.014591&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.330297,-79.945382 PaneraBread Southland]. The topic will be "Is 2008 the year of the Linux Desktop?" This meeting facilitator will be [[User:Bethlynn|Beth Lynn Eicher]]. | + | |
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| + | Western PA Linux User Group will hold their second "Table Topics" meeting on Tuesday February 26 at 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The topic will be "Is 2008 the year of the Linux Desktop?" This meeting facilitator will be Beth Lynn Eicher. |
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| "Table Topics" meetings are a relaxed environment where we discuss current Linux and Open Source issues. A facilitator picks a topic and prepares questions for those gathered to generate conversation. | | "Table Topics" meetings are a relaxed environment where we discuss current Linux and Open Source issues. A facilitator picks a topic and prepares questions for those gathered to generate conversation. |
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| How can the community of Linux users help? Does your mom use Linux? How about your boss? Why or why not? | | How can the community of Linux users help? Does your mom use Linux? How about your boss? Why or why not? |
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− | == Discuss this topic now! ==
| + | --[[User:Bethlynn|Bethlynn]] 20:06, 18 February 2008 (EST) |
− | Here you are encouraged to begin the discussion by posting articles supporting the topic.
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− | * [http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS8865531962.html Survey says ... Linux desktop is ever more popular] by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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− | ** Summary of Linux Foundation's 2007 Desktop Linux survey
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− | * [http://sourcesmouth.co.uk/blog/Forget-the-Linux-Desktop-it-s-the-Linux-Laptop-that-matters.html Forget the Linux Desktop, it's the Linux Laptop that matters!] by Rick Moynihan
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− | **[http://patoband.com/?p=13 Linux Desktop Key Features]
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− | ** The Asus EeePC is a disruptive force and an opportunity for Linux
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− | * Your article here
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− | ** Article summary
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− | == Meeting Discussion Points ==
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− | Is everyone here using a Linux desktop?
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− | Yes, but not always full time.
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− | Good familiar cross-platform open source tools such as Open Office, The Gimp, and Firefox are an attraction. When interfaces are different cross-platform it's a frustration. A familiar and consistent look and feel is desired.
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− | Not a revolutionary change but a gradual Linux discovery at one nitch at a time. People lacks awareness of Linux desktop business readiness (ie stability and security).
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− | Home users are often trying Linux with older hardware. Low resource Linux distros are often hard to configure. All the users want to do is common desktop functions - word processing, email, web browsing.
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− | When helping configuring a system for a new user, let the user decide if they should "drive" at the keyboard through the resolution of a difficult configuration issue. Sometimes taking the keyboard away can be intimidating to new users.
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− | Is multitasking important or is a single task box commonplace? Younger users tend to want to run many application at once while most adults are happy running one application at a time. The younger users are happy to use new communication tools.
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− | Will human i/o interfaces change drastically? Consider media formats have drastically changed ie floppy>cd>dvd>memory sticks.
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− | How to attract more Linux desktop users:
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− | Children like to learn how to do something that others don't know because they want to show off. Linux's obscurity can be a marketing attraction to the kids of the digital age.
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− | Find out what users want and need to do. Design a system for them.
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− | Bring business users in showing them that traditionally high-cost service machines ie PBX or databases have stable open source alternatives.
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− | Selling points: free as in cost licensing, ease of license management, stable system, cool alternative that's cheaper than MacOS, very configurable
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− | Other Obstacles: corporate/proprietary custom software, change
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