Re: [ubuntu-in] Plans for an installfest at college in New Bombay
--- On Thu, 5/2/09, Easwar Hariharan wrote: [snip] Demonstration: On 27th,I plan to set up 4-5 machines with Ubuntu 8.04[LTS] Since 28, is a Saturday, I can possibly be out there to help you, but I won't commit, since, it may not be one of my lucky days :) Explain the features vis-a-vis Windows,career possibilities and use of GNU/Linux in universities and companies abroad. That's a very good idea in the 90% Windows-dominated world ;) My humble REQUEST: (Announce this ;) ) Please inform that REDHAT LINUX 9.0 is equivalent to Windows 98 in today's world. (in terms of timeline, performance, applications etc.) (not technically same -- for sure). Most Universities / Colleges / Professors / MCSE Professionals as AMC guys Lab instructors believe REDHAT LINUX 9.0 as the only Official sort-of Linux. (Darn! Ubuntu is OFFICIAL :P) Also it is very important to tell them that LINUX != WINDOWS ... seriously. MP3s and AVIs are hot media formats, and VLC is the best player on any distro to run them! (Mplayer, Xine guys, I don't use them, so they might be good too!) They should not expect everything to work the way it used to do in Windows. If you fail to tell them this, they'll want to go back to Windows. Also offer them the opportunity to take the trouble to go through the source code and change it, (sounds scary! :-o ) and make it work they want it to work. If people can't bring their machines,ask them to check out the installation procedure,and hand out CDs. This is one tough job to be done. Why? You need to tell them how they'll get SUPPORT when they run into TROUBLES while installing / configuring / maintaining. Support options such as Mailing Lists / IRC / Search engines (oh and not just Google!, perhaps www.blackle.com for power consuming CRTs) Apart from them, which would at first sound like alien ways to get support with rule or language (syntax - No SMS slang) barriers in international channels, tell them about local contacts. Again this is tough, because, a PERSONALIZED support is VERY difficult. Nevertheless, not impossible, if the person is willing to spend some time to try out. Where I need help in this plan is to arrange for the machines for the first day.Ideally,I plan to have a range of specifications from low power to highly powered rigs. This is really important. A major parameter in the success of the fest. Check the hardware which will be used while installing Ubuntu. You may want to ensure that most of them are Intel ones (M-boards, and other on-board hardware, plus none have some exotic hardware) and don't have any stupid LAN cards like Intex cards which might require additional configs / drivers. (This might be ruled out since distros do support a variety of hardware, but you really don't want to be Eh? Why isn't that working ? ) And,last but not least,I need to be pointed out holes in the plan,and help with patching them. Possible failure points - any one failing badly might cause problems (In the order of more points / value) a. Hardware (college hardware as well as those who try at home) - the hardware should work without any additional work done. b. SUPPORT (HOW DO I do this FOOBAR?) c. Application Mapping to existing Windows apps (Refer the Wiki) d. Explaining GNU, FOSS, Linux as not just something NEW - but the most Current ongoing technology that help computers do things in a much better way - You'll need better speakers from GLUG-BOM / Ubuntu-IN e. Attendance-Compulsory AUDIENCE .. A big NO NO - Voluntarily ATTEND! f. Lack of Do-IT-Yourself attitude (not much to do with the fest, but with the impact of it) (I have almost started to let go these days :( ) I haven't conducted a installfest ever in my college and I really APPRECIATE your effort towards conducting it at your college. My opinions are mostly based on my attempts to install Redhat Linux 9.0 back in 2004/05 for few of my friends (which I assume, you too have - a different distro though) -- http://www.gnu.org.in Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/ -- ubuntu-in mailing list ubuntu-in@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-in
Re: [ubuntu-in] Plans for an installfest at college in New Bombay
On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 11:49 AM, Nitesh Mistry mistrynit...@gmail.com wrote: Hey Easwar! It is a great idea to show demo so that people see for themselves the usability of the software. But, how have you planned to publicize the event, so the people know that this demo is being conducted. In case your target audience is the resident students, you can put some posters on the campus, or request the professors to announce about the event in the classrooms. Hope the event turns out to be a success so that we can replicate the same at other campuses also. Wish I could have been in Mumbai to lend you a helping hand. All the best! Since this install fest is in concert with a technical fest conducted in co-ordination with 5 other engineering colleges and my college in Mumbai,publicity is being conducted along with the publicity for other events of the technical fest.Both the above methods mentioned above are already on radar,thank you anyway. :) Apologies for the double post which may have taken place inadvertently.The points where I can see my plan failing is when 1]People spoken to are spoken to in such a manner that doesn't raise interest in them to allocate 10GB of their HDD to Ubuntu. 2]People install,but end up never booting Ubuntu.This would also be a failing of the Reasons to Migrate speech given by the organisers to the willing people doesn't convince them that the effort to learn the new system is worth the peace of mind they get in return. Regards, Easwar Registered Linux user #442065 -- ubuntu-in mailing list ubuntu-in@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-in
Re: [ubuntu-in] Plans for an installfest at college in New Bombay
Hey Easwar! It is a great idea to show demo so that people see for themselves the usability of the software. But, how have you planned to publicize the event, so the people know that this demo is being conducted. In case your target audience is the resident students, you can put some posters on the campus, or request the professors to announce about the event in the classrooms. Hope the event turns out to be a success so that we can replicate the same at other campuses also. Wish I could have been in Mumbai to lend you a helping hand. All the best! On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 10:20 PM, Easwar Hariharan meindian...@gmail.comwrote: Hello all, I'm a student of the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology[RAIT] located in the DY Patil University Campus at Nerul in Navi Mumbai.I intend to hold a demonstration and installfest of Ubuntu on 27th and 28th respectively. Demonstration: On 27th,I plan to set up 4-5 machines with Ubuntu 8.04[LTS] installed with eye candy and requisite non-free codecs and to attract people with compiz effects [as bait to get them looking at the machines] and natural curiosity.Allow them to play with the machines and explain to them the various replacements for applications they use on Windows.Planning to spout philosophy for the really curious. :) Explain the features vis-a-vis Windows,career possibilities and use of GNU/Linux in universities and companies abroad.I plan organize an install fest next day for those interested who will sign up in a registration book of sorts. Installfest: I have 28 odd Ubuntu 8.04 32 bit CDs.I plan to install for those who bring their boxes and hand them a CD.If people can't bring their machines,ask them to check out the installation procedure,and hand out CDs. If I run out of CDs(which would be known by the number of people who sign up for the installfest the previous day),I ask them to bring their flash stick and create a bootable image on them,provided their boxes have USB boot capabilities.Also planning to keep a CD Writer handy. Where I need help in this plan is to arrange for the machines for the first day.Ideally,I plan to have a range of specifications from low power to highly powered rigs. I also need experienced people to lend their expertise in framing how to speak to people who drop in to check out the machines on the first day and points to be covered while speaking.And,last but not least,I need to be pointed out holes in the plan,and help with patching them. Regards, Easwar Registered Linux user #442065 -- ubuntu-in mailing list ubuntu-in@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-in -- ubuntu-in mailing list ubuntu-in@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-in
