At your service

Hi everyone,

I would like to say that I am really exited about this project. I learned 
about in on Slashdot and subscribed to this list on May 2nd. I have not yet 
visited the forums, but will soon. Is the main discussion on this list or 
on the forums?

I live in the Netherlands (hence the subject title). I lack any programming 
skills and am not very creative with images or design. I have worked in IT 
for five years in systems programming so I do have some experience with 
'making stuff work'. I tried Linux a couple of times, but went back to 
Windows every time mostly due to the lock-in effect that Microsoft 
currently has. Games, friend wants to scan/edit/print/mail a document in 
Office format, get my digital piano to work, help mum troubleshoot a 
problem over the phone. Need I go on?

I try to educate people on the issues in this Microsoft dominated world. 
They listen, understand and agree and then go on with their lives. I can't 
really blame them and I don't. Many times I have installed an anti-virus 
product only to find out six months later that they didn't update their 
signature files. Patches and upgrades?? No way! If they do have a problem I 
am one phone call away and solve their problem. To make life easy for me 
and them, I usually install MS-IE and Office. Open file-formats and 
W3C-compliance are a small sacrifice when you also want to sleep and get 
out of the house. Right?

Wrong! If this project succeeds, I will install OpenOffice and Mozilla for 
my parents and friends. You can fight ignorance and educate, but giving 
people the right tools will have a much bigger impact. (Did I mention it's 
free as in beer and speech?)

I hope I can help make this a reality. I can evaluate software, test the 
distribution and write documentation. Not much of a hacker, I know, but 
maybe I can take the burden off people who do the Real Work. I will read 
all the information on this list and on the website and see where I can 
help. In the mean time, if something needs to get done, please let me know.

Bob

p.s. Note to self: be more concise in the future.


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