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

I should have explained the install part better - He actually did the
installation himself - said it "was pretty dammed easy. Is this what you
button pushers do all day"  He thought the Microsoft install for Windows
98 just took too long and had to reboot too much.  I sent him the CD's
(Mandrake) I always looked at that as being the easiest of the desktops
to use (I love Redhat don't get me wrong) - but Mandrake just seems more
user friendly.  He had a few questions - like I want to do.... and I
told him to use... and after a few days he was fine.  The real point is
that by comparing Windows to Linux (apples to oranges) you really don't
make headway. People without any preconcieved notions about OS's I find
adapt to Linux rather quickly. It's not a simple OS by any means - but a
standard installation with enough on screen .lnk's help greatly. The one
major thing my father has commented on is that it doesn't crash and when
he added his USB mouse he didn' have to reboot :-)

Thanks,
Mark

On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 13:24, Chris Spencer wrote:
> 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
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > -
> > > For K12OS technical help join K12OSN:
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> "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing
> the freeness of speech." - Benjamin Franklin 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Mark Fowle
[email protected]

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