[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: Linux Demo Day '99

[Alton Pouncey]

I know - bad taste to reply to your own email but I just had another
thought.  The other night a co-worker gave a beginner Linux seminar at work
and I wanted to attend because he was using OpenLinux 2.2 for the seminar -
I have never seen it and wanted to see how it was different from RH.

The thing that just blew my mind was Lizard - OL's installation front end.
It's pretty much point and click just like a Windows installation AND you
run it FROM Windows.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about Linux is
"it's too difficult to install".  You can't say that anymore.  I think doing
an install of OpenLinux 2.2 each hour at LDD would just blow the casual
user's mind.

An extra half cent,
Alton Pouncey

Alton Pouncey wrote:

> I agree with MadHat and Kendall.  We are losing focus of the intended
> audience here.
>
> Just as a refresher, from http://www.linuxdemo.org/about.shtml:
>
> The purpose of the Linux Demo Day project is to coordinate a concurrent
> worldwide demonstration of the Linux Operating System to the casual
> computer user who may only have heard of Linux but has never seen it and
> to those that are not even aware that there is an alternative to running
> a Microsoft operating system.
>
> I personally do not think that writing a game in 24 hours will show the
> casual computer user the benefits of Linux.  I consider myself a
> moderate Linux user and my personal thought on coding has always been
> "coding is coding".  Coding a game isn't going to show much about the
> operating system itself.  Sure it will attract a crowd - of that I have
> no doubt - but it will be the wrong crowd.  It will attract folks who
> already know about Linux and what it can do.
>
> I think the purpose of LDD is to show, not necessarily convert, Joe Q.
> Public that he can use Linux instead of Windows and get the same, if not
> better, functionality from it.  We need to focus on the correct audience
> here - the casual user.  I know that having some machines setup with
> Applixware, StarOffice or WP may seem boring but think to yourself -
> what does the average user do at home with their computer?  If you can
> answer that question, you will have the proper focus for LDD.
>
> I agree that handing out flyers is boring and that folks will probably
> just toss them.  Hopefully in the months to come, RedHat - with their
> new infusion of cash, will be able to put together some kickass
> marketing campaigns for Linux and take of MS in the
> marketing/advertising arena.
>
> Well, that's my $.02,
> Alton Pouncey
>
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