Re: [OS:N:] Open office community classes

On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 12:00, Mark Fowle wrote:
> I think the real issue here is not to present Linux as "like" Microsoft,
> but to show that it's a viable operating system with products that will
> allow you to do email, browse the web, blance your check-book, etc..

Ah thanks.  I forgot about the balance your checkbook option!  GnuCash! 
Unfortunatly I don't know of a good port to Windows....so that would have
to be part of a Linux class.

> I think part of the problem is having to compare the OS's - every OS has
> its share of issues - I have my 75 year old father running it and he
> does everything he needs to do - Just because most people speak
> Microsoft-ease (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Access...) doesn't always mean
> thats what they want (ie Kleenex, Bobcat.....)  Just a thought....

The problem is in your statement.  You switched your father to Linux. 
You handled the install, probably take care of updating, and resolving
any problems that show up.

These people don't have you as a resource.  They don't have me as
resource when they get home.  (although I will probably offer to try to
respond to questions via email) 

My goal is to train them on something that is easy to use and understand
and give them all the tools and knowledge that they need in 3 hours to
use that product forever.

This isn't a situation of I set up a computer and support it going
forward....I am training them.

-Chris



> 
> Thanks,
> Mark
> 
> On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 11:11, Jeremy Hogan wrote:
> > On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 10:16, Konstantin Riabitsev wrote:
> > > On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 10:06, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
> > > > And if you want to comfort them even more, there's always addons such as:
> > > > http://themes.kde.org/content/show.php?content=1499
> > > 
> > > I my experience, apparent familiarity with other OSes causes more
> > > problems than it solves. While it may look like XP, it doesn't act like
> > > XP, and users will be constantly complaining because feature Foo is not
> > > available to them, or doesn't perform like they expect it to perform.
> > 
> > It acts "enough" like it to function in a public access environment (ie
> > one where you'd expect not to have carte blanc access or *all* the tools
> > you could have or install at home). You click the menu, you launch a
> > browser. You double click an icon and launch a word processor.
> > 
> > Many of these folks are beginners, and will have less expectations of
> > how it should work. These folks should also not have the skills or
> > access to admin the machine, so the veneer is deep enough.
> > 
> > --jeremy
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Subscription and Archive: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/open-source-now-list/
> > -
> > For K12OS technical help join K12OSN:
> > <https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn>
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing
the freeness of speech." - Benjamin Franklin 



_______________________________________________
Subscription and Archive: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/open-source-now-list/
-
For K12OS technical help join K12OSN:
<https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn>