Re: [ubuntu-uk] Looking for a Speccy
On 26/03/2010 16:57, Matthew Daubney wrote: > Hi Dave, > > It is the 2nd Gen one, it was sold as the Spectrum+ but mine had 48k+ > written on the unit, so that's what I've always known it as. > > I don't have that model, I'm afraid. Have you tried posting a wanted ad on your local Freecycle? Someone will probably be relieved to get rid of a broken unit on there... Good luck with the project, -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Lucid Lynx TV Advert
- Original Message - From: "Johnathon Tinsley" > Before we try to get new users into Ubuntu, shouldn't we try to retain > the people flicking in and out of Ubuntu now? > > There was discussion about supporting new users, with remote techy > support. Can we catch those who post "This is too hard, I'm going back > to windows" and try to retain more of them with a high-quality community > support mechanism? > I agree. I think the people who try Ubuntu (or Linux in general), have problems with it, and then rant about it to their friends have a lot of power in terms of persuading people to avoid Ubuntu. Advertising to new people will only work if a)those people haven't already heard bad things, and b)we can keep those people as users once they decide to download + install it. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] register ubuntu
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 On 20/01/2010 19:25, Paul Sutton wrote: > you don't need to, all it asks is to register each unit,so it can track > how many computes you have and which version of ubuntu you are using. > > It would be good to have a option to say how many users use each > computer of course > > No personal info is collected either :) so if you re-install 9.04 on > the same box then it's already counted. It would probably be a good idea to emphasise that registration is optional, and that it's not like registering a commercial product (e.g. not required for support), if the registration page were promoted officially. I have a few clients who are suspicious of free software that asks you to register - to them, registration = "collecting personal data" = "spyware" :( - -- Lesley Harrison -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iQEcBAEBAgAGBQJLV1s7AAoJEBwJp3t7880qRokH/RqLEOMl3QyuYQFY6u4wZnkv 7xG2tMzhBqenMlkx7AqeSc3D3CILGHiy2T6gqzx6OKBfqV/eY7K+XMnC0O8JCB1V ALVFkkMPWqBtIMlAV34Pn0ax8gdL3U8MROQE2Y3L4JZgXOL7hHZDhsS/DGcZjrHv 6yxN44LoR33r1ck2zR41yhWVo5wyNmJrj4CVIp63pux5fHI1gox+6evCbmcFylJ9 jqSFDHAlDlvNZ5jXYzrQ2tZB8viA8eM06tHRxdOLgJRm5yGHjCMXoGFq2OWn8tmI N8ghRvqlZ2reL6aL9caaGvJQ5mXSFaoLyDS1b150rXVMNMY//+Qd8rgUsj62Sxg= =I3xX -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Possible Training Events
On 18/01/2010 16:06, Bruno Girin wrote: > > Beginners are not the easiest people to teach to. I would suggest > starting with some moderately advanced topics like "how to package an > app for Ubuntu". That would enable us to rehearse the process with > trainees who already know the environment, know what they want to get > out of the training and are more able to provide valuable feedback. It's > also the sort of training that has simple success criteria, such as by > the end of it every trainee should be able to package "hello world", so > you can easily verify that you've met said criteria. > Targetting people who already have some experience sounds like a good idea. It should be easier to find people who are interested, through LUGs, etc. They may even have a ready made venue if you offered to go to their meetings and do training sessions there. Of course that doesn't help in terms of promoting Ubuntu to new people, but it's better to iron out any kinks in the training process with people who already have experience about the product, rather than scaring off newbies if things go wrong :) -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Possible Training Events
On 17/01/2010 08:09, mac wrote: > I wondered if an > option to deal with this might be to offer a short series of evening class at > the local high school (many of which run 'recreational' evening > classes), or approach the University of the Third Age or the Workers > Educational Association to offer a short course. > > When I investigated the possibility of running some classes at the local activity centre, they said that they required all teachers to have a qualification. I think it was the PTLLS (Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector). They wanted this even for "Workshop" type courses that didn't offer any formal qualification at the end. There are plenty of other venues to choose from, but it's a shame that the local council are being so funny about courses - from what little market research I did, it seems that the Adult Learning and Skills leaflets that the council insists of putting through our doors every few months are the main way that people in my area hear about free courses. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] On becoming an Ubuntu Member
Alan Bell wrote: > Last Tuesday I was accepted by the EMEA regional membership board as an > Ubuntu Member, which is pretty cool. The reason I finally got round to > putting myself forward is because I wanted to understand the process a > bit better. This is some background and my current understanding of the > process, and some of my previous misunderstandings. > Congratulations on becoming an Ubuntu Member! Thanks for making this post, too. I'm considering applying for membership sometime soon (TM), and it was very helpful. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Chrome OS
Albert Vilella wrote: > I am very excited about this. For what I've read, Google and Canonical > are trying to make sure it will work flawlessly on specific netbook > models. It's a similar model to the Android way of working the details > for every specific smartphone model. I've seen some criticisms around > Android for non being OSS-friendly enough but, to be honest, compared > to the iPhone lock-in model, Android and Chrome OS is the best > competition we can hope for. > > Any comments? > > I'm not convinced by Chrome OS. I don't want to use a computer I don't have control over and I don't want my data "in the cloud". Then again, I'm the only person in my immediate circle of friends who has a primary email address that is hosted on their own mail server and downloads their mail via a real mail client, everyone else uses Google Mail, Yahoo or Hotmail via a webmail interface. Personally I can't stand browser based anything - I have a real usenet and email client, dedicated IM and IRC clients, ftp apps, a twitter client, etc. When I'm forced to use browser based versions of those it drives me crazy. Not to mention doing any serious work on it. How do you edit PDFs? Do any serious programming work? Test things in a virtual machine? Play games that need installing? Those are all things that my netbook can do fairly well. Why would I want to pay for another device that is just a really bad netbook? I might have considered a Chrome OS device as an alternative to accessing the web on my phone or PDA, but I'm sure that the press conference said they were aiming for a device slightly larger than netbooks (because people complained that the standard netbook size was too small to be useable). So it's limited to (in my opinion) near uselessness AND too big to carry around as an extra device? No thanks. My netbook may take longer to boot, but at least it's capable of running powerful applications, and I have full control over what's installed to it, when it's updated, and where all my data lives. Those are just my thoughts. I'm probably not in the target audience for the thing, but I suspect even casual users would get frustrated with the limitations of Chrome OS pretty quickly. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu One, Win 7 and IE8!
Gordon wrote: > Well here's a surprise (not) - Ubuntu One does not load properly in IE8 > on Win 7! Even using Compatibility mode! > I had to install Firefox to do see my files! > > > Which pages look wrong to you? I just did a (cursory) test on Vista and on Windows 7, and everything looks OK to me - no need to apply compatibility mode either. My husband tried it with the 64 bit version of IE 8 and says it's OK on there too. That said, I am so used to IE hating various web pages that I carry portable Firefox on a memory stick with me at all times these days. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] accessing Windows 7 shares
Gordon wrote: > This may be anecdotal or not! > I cannot access any Windows Home Premium shares from my 9.10 Netbook. > However, I am in correspondence with someone who CAN access shares > (including Admin shares) on Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL from 9.10 > Can anyone else who might have access to either Windows 7 Home Premium > or Professional confirm or refute this? > > > This may confuse the matter futher, but in this household, we have two Windows 7 Professional installs. One was done as an upgrade from Windows Vista, and that one refuses to share. The other was done as a clean install, and that one shares OK. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?
Alan Bell wrote: > When the full desktop is running it will use > extra resources but that is fine. If I am giving a customer their first > Ubuntu server for them to mostly leave well alone I would put the > desktop on it, with Compiz and all the eye candy turned on! I want them > to see that on the rare occasion that they actually log on they have a > better desktop operating system than the Windows XP machine on their desk. > > That's an interseting idea! Does it work? Do many people express an interest in converting? I have a computer like that in the kitchen (all the eye candy, Atlantis, etc) - I use it as a testing server, and the eye candy is just to joke around with friends - for example writing spooky messages on the screen in fire writing to greet them when they come to visit, and setting it up as a snow globe over Christmas. My friends think it's cool, but they haven't been motivated to install it themselves yet. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?
Tony Travis wrote: > I'd be interested to know if anyone has actually instrumented the vast > resources used when running a GUI on a modern server: In my experience, > the impact is minimal even on a very ordinary 2p server with 3GiB RAM. > Much less so on a 4p server with 8GiB. Where it has a big impact is on > small servers with very little RAM, being used in dedicated roles such > as a firewall or router. In this case, a Web GUI is often used instead. > > I reflexively respond to requests for information about running a GUI on a Linux server by raising concerns about memory because a lot of those requests (at least on Webmaster forums, probably not so much on here) come from people who have VPS accounts with tiny amounts of memory, rather than a physical server that is more than powerful for the task it's supposed to be doing. I run a VPS with only 384MB RAM - it's inexpensive, and with some careful configuration (and swapping out Apache for Lighttpd), it's serving very well for running one fairly high traffic site, and two much smaller ones. If you have the luxury of powerful hardware, and enough knowledge to do things both ways, then of course - use what works for you. I do think that newbies should learn things "the hard way" though. In the past few months, on test machines, I've had Webmin throw a fit mess up my server configuration for no apparent reason, and I've had XFCE and KDE refuse to work after an update. They were salvagable thanks to the wonder of the command line, and that's why I encourage people to become familiar with "the hard way" first. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?
Chris Ray wrote: > I can understand dropping Open Office, Gimp, Media players, etc., from a > server edition, but why a GUI desktop? > > So, as I see it, either I missed something in the Server setup, or I > have to choose between adding server stuff to a Desktop install, or > adding GUI stuff to a server install. > I cannot be the first here. Any advice greatly appreciated. > > Chris > > My guess is it's partly a performance decision, and partly a security decision (once you start adding extra software, it's just more possible things that could go wrong). I used to run a VPS that used Ubuntu server, and the memory limits were tight enough even without trying to squeeze a windowing system on there. Adding something lightweight like XFCE shouldn't be a problem though, this is an old guide: http://www.howforge.com/how-to-install-pure-xfce-on-ubuntu-server Then you can just run the gui when you need it. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Fwd: [LUG] [Fwd: Computer for the elderly launched]
Alan Bell wrote: > Looks like they have thought about things better and spent more time > preparing than certain Linux powered netbook projects did. > It would appear that they control their own sales process and the full > company is on board with the project, they shouldn't have their own > sales reps selling against it. If they can set expectations right (which > they appear to be doing) then it has a good chance of success. I would > rather they priced too high and spent more time making happy customers > than priced too low and gave poor service to a bigger volume. I don't > think the hardware is junk or will overheat. > > Alan. > That sounds good then :) I haven't seen the hardware, I just looked at the web site, noticed that they didn't provide much information about the specs (and noticed that one of the computers they're offering uses a small form factor case), and assumed the worst. I'm probably too cynical. I have to admit they've done a good job of making it clear that it's designed to be an easy web surfing / email system on the site and in the press release. If they do the same in their TV coverage / any adverts they run, then great! -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Fwd: [LUG] [Fwd: Computer for the elderly launched]
Alan Bell wrote: > good luck to them. Not sure I would base a product on Mint, but the > hardware looks perfectly good (looks a lot like what I am using right > now) and the price is not the price for a bare bones unit but for the > solution including training materials and support (remember it isn't > being sold to self-supporting geeks) it certainly isn't crazy money. If > it is priced right to support a profitable business based on Open Source > that is great. Valerie Singleton on board sorting out publicity is > fantastic. If people say "Linux, oh yes I have heard about that, it is > that computer thingie that doesn't get viruses and is easy to use" then > I am all in favour! > > Hopefully that's how it will turn out. However, if the hardware is poorly constructed, or the support is terrible, it could just as easily go the other way. I'm concerned that in a few months time we'll be seeing people on Watchdog complaining about how their computers overheated, or how they bought Windows software and couldn't get it to work, or an update stopped their wireless working and support don't help them Suddenly the perception changes from "Fair play for making a good, safe computer solution with training materials and support" to "This company made overpriced junk, tricked pensioners into buying it, then ran off with their money and left them with broken PCs". I'm not saying that will happen, just worried that it could. I have several friends who bought Linux powered netbooks and have been "put off Linux for life" because they went into the purchase with the wrong expectations. Most of their issues aren't even down to Linux (e.g. they're annoyed they can't play games on the thing - it's a low powered, low screen res machine, even if it was running Windows it wouldn't play most games), but that's not how they see it. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Fwd: [LUG] [Fwd: Computer for the elderly launched]
Alan Lord (News) wrote: > > What I'd like to know is how they manage to get such good publicity? I > don't recall the BBC asking for us to come and talk about Libertus: > http://www.theopenlearningcentre.com/libertus > > Al > > > > They managed to get a nice, iconic celebrity on board (for their target age group at least) in the form of Val Singleton. That's probably what attracted the BBC? -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Karmic networking broken
John Levin wrote: > On 27/10/2009 08:47, LeeGroups wrote: > >> > > I've now gone back to Jaunty. This is the first time that any Ubuntu > version hasn't got online "out of the box" for me. Very disappointing. > > John > > > I've only just subscribed to this list. How long ago did you download your Karmic install? I've been testing Karmic on a spare box and had tons of problems getting online with the previous betas, but yesterday I downloaded Karmic Final (testing), and it seems to have fixed all my problems. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Good old Dell!
Sean Miller wrote: > Erm, why would being "new to using computers" mean you'd be better to > choose Windows?? > > http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/windows_or_ubuntu?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs > > Sean > > While I agree that page is terribly written, and in places, plain wrong (one of the other pages in the Windows or Ubuntu section implies that 'email' is a Windows only program), I can understand that one sentiment. If you're totally new to using computers, you might go to WHSmiths or Maplin and pick up some random bargain bin software that is designed for Windows and doesn't really get on with WINE. Until the average consumer is willing to do some basic research (something my brief experience in retail made me lose faith in), I think Dell are right to warn people. They definitely could have been more careful with their wording though. -- Lesley Harrison -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
