On 02/22/2014 04:32 PM, Marcus G. Daniels wrote:
On 2/21/14 8:50 PM, Owen Densmore wrote:
But what? They really want to know.
If they don't know what they want, why do they want it?
Marcus' question is critical. Any answer I give will depend on their
answer to that.
On 02/21/2014 07:50 PM, Owen Densmore wrote:
Given all this, ... what would you prescribe for your family members who
are not particularly expert in these matters?
My prescription would be for them to learn at least a little more about
these matters. And I'm a big fan of learning _while_ doing. So ...
What computer/laptop, tablet, phone, email service, applications (assuming
they need at least one of an office suite), hosting service for their new
business, TV components, video services (NetFlix, Amazon, iTunes), sync
service, ... I could go on.
For desktop/laptop, I'd recommend they buy one with Debian
pre-installed. I've had good luck with both of these guys:
https://www.thinkpenguin.com/
http://zareason.com/shop/home.php
Tablets? I don't have a clue. I can't see why anyone would buy such a
thing. [*]
Phone? Go to a local used cell phone shop and buy the best, most recent
SIM-based android phone they have. Purchase a Cricket or Simple mobile
SIM card. Root the thing. Install Cyanogenmod or AOKP (Unicorns!).
Email? Buy your own domain name and a virtual private server from a
local hosting company ... again, have them install Debian on it for you.
Pay them to set it up, if you have to. Use that for your e-mail.
Applications? GNU/Debian/Gnome comes with everything you need. Use it,
figure it out. Donate the money you would otherwise have spent to:
http://www.spi-inc.org/
Hosting service? Again, use your own VPS. If you expect lots of
traffic, then consider hiring someone who knows what they're doing and
follow their advice. I have a few friends with small businesses to
recommend if you don't have any.
TV components? Seriously? Kill your TV and hang some local art, maybe
a locally produced hologram? Watch Netflix or Hulu on your new Debian
laptop. If you simply must put it on your wall, buy a wifi-enabled
smart TV. If you really want something more "embedded", perhaps try
XMBC... maybe on a beagle or a pi? You can use duct tape to stick it to
the back of the TV. ;-)
I could go on. 8^)
If they don't want to learn these things, then I really have nothing to
say to them. There are plenty of other people who will teach them to
use Cable companies, shop at Amazon, buy Apple products, etc.
[*] I type something like 60 wpm. Lowering my productivity to a tablet
(without a keyboard) just seems stupid. Perhaps I lack empathy? Tablets
_with_ a keyboard are just laptops, as far as I can tell.
--
glen ep ropella -- 971-255-2847
--
⇒⇐ glen
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