[ubuntu-uk] research required...

2011-01-08 Thread Andrés Muñiz Piniella
Yep, had seen that page, most of the projects seem dead. or close to death.

On Thu, 2011-01-06 at 14:08 +, Andr?s Mu?iz Piniella wrote:
> In those lines, I would like to work on a Mech CAD program (use and if
> I can develop): I was going for freeCAD but if any of you have
> suggestions that would be great.

Never used CAD myself, but this link suggests a whole lot of available
stuff: http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CADlinks.html

Regards,Barry Drake.
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2011-01-06 Thread Barry Drake
On Thu, 2011-01-06 at 14:08 +, Andrés Muñiz Piniella wrote:
> In those lines, I would like to work on a Mech CAD program (use and if
> I can develop): I was going for freeCAD but if any of you have
> suggestions that would be great. 

Never used CAD myself, but this link suggests a whole lot of available
stuff: http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CADlinks.html

Regards,Barry Drake.
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2011-01-06 Thread Andrés Muñiz Piniella
IDE problem: This was over the Christmas period in Asturias (a very nice
place in the north of spain). I went to several local IT shops and some big
shops and they did not have them in stock. Buy over the internet would have
been OK but I had no way of knowing if they where going to arrive in time
before I left. I knew there should be some sort of adaptor from SATA to IDE!
my sources have betrayed me! The only shops that could get it for me said
that it would be on the following day and that it would be 50-80euro. The
cheapest.
It was all for the best as the LCD screen started to fail. (hopefully it is
not Xubuntu's fault). Depending on how I held the box the fan would fall off
as well. A bit of a mess.

In a side note got a friend aquainted with jolicloud (ubuntu based as far as
I know) on his samsung netbook, a work collegue ditched xp for ubuntu and
another one is trying it out.  All seem OK with it cause I said that if they
had any problems to get back to me, and last I checked they where happy. And
I'm a mech eng but like a bit of IT.


In those lines, I would like to work on a Mech CAD program (use and if I can
develop): I was going for freeCAD but if any of you have suggestions that
would be great.




*
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...
Message-ID:
   

>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

On 4 January 2011 15:08, Andr?s Mu?iz Piniella  wrote:

> Also had a problem with father in law: HDD broke windows wasn't loggin it.
> It was an IDE HDD so not something you can easyliy find it seems. He was
> content with waiting a while longer and booting from an Xubuntu live CD.
> It's only used for browsing.
>

You couldn't find an IDE drive?  I think most of us have several in boxes
around the place, and e-bay seems full of them.

Sean

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2011-01-05 Thread Sean Miller
On 4 January 2011 15:08, Andrés Muñiz Piniella  wrote:

> Also had a problem with father in law: HDD broke windows wasn't loggin it.
> It was an IDE HDD so not something you can easyliy find it seems. He was
> content with waiting a while longer and booting from an Xubuntu live CD.
> It's only used for browsing.
>

You couldn't find an IDE drive?  I think most of us have several in boxes
around the place, and e-bay seems full of them.

Sean
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2011-01-04 Thread Barry Drake
On Tue, 2011-01-04 at 15:08 +, Andrés Muñiz Piniella wrote:
> Ubuntu One store has enough music to buy things. I have found that the
> latest Album by Blunt is cheaper than iTunes and amazon. 
> I thought amarok and banshee had support to put music inside the ipod?

Like I said, the we-page I quoted is well out of date.  I think all the
latest iPods are well supported by Amarok, Banshee and Rhythmbox.  I'm
pleased to hear that the Ubuntu One store is really good.  I can see the
time when Apple regrets the decision not to build iTunes for us!

The other examples you quote are fairly typical of the experiences most
of us have with Windows users.  I'm surprised you had difficulty
sourcing an IDE drive - there are seven pages of them currently on
e-bay.  Also, you can buy very cheaply an ide to sata adaptor.  If your
father in law has a desktop, I'd get him a sata drive and one of those
little sata/ide adaptors.  I got mine on e-bay.

Thanks for sharing your news.

Regards,Barry Drake.
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2011-01-04 Thread Andrés Muñiz Piniella
To: UK Ubuntu Talk 
Subject: Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required
Message-ID:
   
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

That sounds a bit like the talk that Bruno Bord gave at the first
OggCamp called "Programming explained to non-techies"



*
Don't know Bruno, but I I bet he is really clever. ;)
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[ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2011-01-04 Thread Andrés Muñiz Piniella
Ubuntu One store has enough music to buy things. I have found that the
latest Album by Blunt is cheaper than iTunes and amazon.

I thought amarok and banshee had support to put music inside the ipod?

Recently I installed ubuntu on a girl's laptop that I haddn't even met face
to face. She had XP and was going slow because of antivirus it seems. She
only uses it for facebook and email so she seems to be happy with what she
had: only problem I had was that I fogot to tell her the keyring password.

Also had a problem with father in law: HDD broke windows wasn't loggin it.
It was an IDE HDD so not something you can easyliy find it seems. He was
content with waiting a while longer and booting from an Xubuntu live CD.
It's only used for browsing.

Sister in law had a netbook with xp it crashed. Her other brother in law was
unable to install a dodgy copy of windows but I was able to install no
problem ubuntu netbook10.10. Even hung over from newyears party she knew
that firefox icon was internet and that she could do her documents with
openoffice. I told her I could provide with remote support (I can right?)
and she was well happy that I could recover her 16Gb of pictures. I tried
explaining gwibber but was not convinced. Chat with facebook (empathy)
failed but that happens to me as well..


quote:
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:06:18 +
From: Barry Drake 
Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...
To: UK Ubuntu Talk 
Message-ID: <1293451578.2118.38.camel@
pcspecialist>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Those of you on the advertising list will know that Dant? Ashton and I
have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
preferably a need that you know little about.

First take a look at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html

This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.

Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
any way aware of the complexity.

When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
online somewhere.

So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over ?1000 worth of books in that
format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
aid that cause?

I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
properly documenting.

Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
are not for the Ubuntu newbie.

The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
information  that a newbie could follow.

So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on?

Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here   apologies in
advance if I am.

Regards,Barry Drake.


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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2011-01-04 Thread Jon Spriggs
That sounds a bit like the talk that Bruno Bord gave at the first
OggCamp called "Programming explained to non-techies"
--
Jon "The Nice Guy" Spriggs

On 4 January 2011 14:44, Andrés Muñiz Piniella  wrote:
> Rather than the football analogy I use the recipie analogy (I think I heard
> Stallman use it).
>
> If you are a good cook and you make your soup for free at home to your
> friends and/or give the recipie so others can improve on it will it mean
> that it will be worst than at a michellin star soup. There is a good chance
> that it will be better since you can adjust it as you like and it has
> quicker feedback. You can then charge on support to make sure your reciepie
> works properly on your kitchen so you don't need a new induction kitchen to
> get the same result.
>
> Was planning on writting something on the recipie of a spanish omlette,
> similar to the lines above.
>
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> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>
>

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2011-01-04 Thread Andrés Muñiz Piniella
Rather than the football analogy I use the recipie analogy (I think I heard
Stallman use it).

If you are a good cook and you make your soup for free at home to your
friends and/or give the recipie so others can improve on it will it mean
that it will be worst than at a michellin star soup. There is a good chance
that it will be better since you can adjust it as you like and it has
quicker feedback. You can then charge on support to make sure your reciepie
works properly on your kitchen so you don't need a new induction kitchen to
get the same result.

Was planning on writting something on the recipie of a spanish omlette,
similar to the lines above.
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2011-01-02 Thread Nigel Verity

Dear All









It's been very interesting to read
comments about my description of setting up Ubuntu for a non-techie
Windows user. It's very hard to disagree with any of the points
raised, both for and against.



My overall view, reflected in the
approach I took, is that the overwhelming majority of Linux users are
attracted primarily by the practical benefits, The underlying
philosophy of open source software is very important, but if the
software wasn't any good we wouldn't use it. For the average Windows
user there is no affinity with their software at any level. It's
simply what is on their computer when they buy it. Once they become
familiar with Windows it is simply the way computers work.



When there is a major software problem
that can only be resolved by reinstallation of the OS, they don't bin
the whole computer and buy a Mac, they go out and, if necessary, buy
another copy of Windows. This only serves to further enhance
Microsoft's revenues and market dominance.



The great strength of Linux over the
Mac is that it provides a real alternative to Windows without the
need to buy new hardware. This is an advantage that we should build
upon. I fully accept the point that presenting Ubuntu as an
"alternative" to Windows can be taken as presenting Windows
as the benchmark, but I'm not so sure that's a bad thing, when we
know it's a benchmark that Ubuntu can beat in so many areas.



To "sell" Ubuntu on any kind
of philosophical basis is a waste of time when addressing Windows users. 
Although I am a self-confessed geek, I really only
came to Ubuntu after finally having enough of 5 minute boot-ups and
regular system lockups with Windows. My embracing of the FLOSS
concept followed later. We need to acknowledge that many users don't
even recognise the distinction between a computer and the OS. They
just want their computer to work reliably and securely, and do the things they 
want
it to do. Ubuntu should do all it can to make the transition for
Windows users as simple as possible. If that means having an optional
UI that is very much like Windows, so be it. Once you've got Ubuntu
onto the computer, the user will inevitably tinker around and
discover the UI flexibility offered by Gnome, Xfce, KDE, etc. By
then, of course, if Ubuntu is really as good as we believe it is, the
user will be a convert anyway. 

Regards
Nige


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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-30 Thread bodsda
Yeah :)

Bodsda
--Original Message--
From: Grant Sewell
To: Ubuntu-Uk
Cc: bod...@googlemail.com
Subject: Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required
Sent: 30 Dec 2010 11:28

On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:12:35 +
bod...@googlemail.com wrote:

> I don't think any interface changes are necessary. Microsoft have
> made significant changes to the UI recently, it would be no harder to
> learn how to navigate Ubuntu's UI than it would be to learn how to
> use that bloody ribbon in MS Office
> 
> Bodsda
> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Would that be the bloody ribbon interface that people still complain
about 3 years after it was introduced?

Grant.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-30 Thread Grant Sewell
On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:12:35 +
bod...@googlemail.com wrote:

> I don't think any interface changes are necessary. Microsoft have
> made significant changes to the UI recently, it would be no harder to
> learn how to navigate Ubuntu's UI than it would be to learn how to
> use that bloody ribbon in MS Office
> 
> Bodsda
> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Would that be the bloody ribbon interface that people still complain
about 3 years after it was introduced?

Grant.

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-30 Thread bodsda
I don't think any interface changes are necessary. Microsoft have made 
significant changes to the UI recently, it would be no harder to learn how to 
navigate Ubuntu's UI than it would be to learn how to use that bloody ribbon in 
MS Office

Bodsda
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

-Original Message-
From: Yorvyk 
Sender: ubuntu-uk-boun...@lists.ubuntu.com
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:07:05 
To: 
Reply-To: UK Ubuntu Talk 
Subject: Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:20:11 +
Colin Law  wrote:

> On 28 December 2010 19:45, Nigel Verity  wrote:
> > ...
> > I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as
> > not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I moved the top
> > task bar to the bottom of the screen, then added the task list applet so
> > that open applications would each be represented by a familiar button. I
> > removed the Firefox and Help icons to complete the Windows look-and-feel as
> > far as possible.
> 
> My experience with setting up Windows users with Ubuntu has been that
> the top and bottom bars have not been an issue.  Users are, after all,
> experienced with application menus and toolbars at the top of windows,
> which is more or less what the top bar is.  I think trying to make it
> as much like Windows as possible is unnecessary.  Better to
> concentrate on making users aware that they are getting something
> better, they then expect it to be different, and as long as the
> operation is logical and simple there will be few problems.  If we try
> to convince users that they are getting a windows clone they may
> complain about the differences that they will find.  If we convince
> them they are getting something that is better (_and_ free) then they
> are more likely to accept the differences, or even revel in them.
> 
I'm with you on that one.  I would never attempt to make Ubuntu look or behave 
like windows.  I want the user to know it is different, but similar.  One of 
the other things I try to discourage is icons on the desktop, it smacks of 
disorganised behaviour to me.
>
> By all means set the workspaces to one to get rid of that complexity though.
> 
This I don't agree with as multiple workspaces are one of the best ways of 
organising oneself.

-- 
Steve Cook (Yorvyk)

http://lubuntu.net 

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-30 Thread Barry Drake
On Thu, 2010-12-30 at 09:12 +, Paul Sutton wrote:
> How about being consistent and saying "Ubuntu is a free and open source 
> alternative to windows and office".  Or is that an out of date tag line.

When that was suggested, it was (rightly IMO) pointed out that
'alternative' implies, 'well of course Windows is best, but there is a
(lesser) alternative.

Regards,Barry Drake

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-30 Thread Paul Sutton
On 29/12/10 21:07, Yorvyk wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:20:11 +
> Colin Law  wrote:
>
>> On 28 December 2010 19:45, Nigel Verity  wrote:
>>> ...
>>> I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as
>>> not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I moved the top
>>> task bar to the bottom of the screen, then added the task list applet so
>>> that open applications would each be represented by a familiar button. I
>>> removed the Firefox and Help icons to complete the Windows look-and-feel as
>>> far as possible.
>> My experience with setting up Windows users with Ubuntu has been that
>> the top and bottom bars have not been an issue.  Users are, after all,
>> experienced with application menus and toolbars at the top of windows,
>> which is more or less what the top bar is.  I think trying to make it
>> as much like Windows as possible is unnecessary.  Better to
>> concentrate on making users aware that they are getting something
>> better, they then expect it to be different, and as long as the
>> operation is logical and simple there will be few problems.  If we try
>> to convince users that they are getting a windows clone they may
>> complain about the differences that they will find.  If we convince
>> them they are getting something that is better (_and_ free) then they
>> are more likely to accept the differences, or even revel in them.
>>
> I'm with you on that one.  I would never attempt to make Ubuntu look or 
> behave like windows.  I want the user to know it is different, but similar.  
> One of the other things I try to discourage is icons on the desktop, it 
> smacks of disorganised behaviour to me.
>> By all means set the workspaces to one to get rid of that complexity though.
>>
> This I don't agree with as multiple workspaces are one of the best ways of 
> organising oneself.
>
How about being consistent and saying "Ubuntu is a free and open source 
alternative to windows and office".  Or is that an out of date tag line.

Paul

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17th September 2011 - Software freedom day



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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-29 Thread Jim Price
On 30/12/10 01:18, Bruno Girin wrote:
> Having said this, one way to avoid the "where have all my windows
> gone?" moments is to make the transition very obvious by enabling the
> cube in Compiz for instance: at least if the user is confused, calls
> you and says "there was this cube thing then all my windows were
> gone!", you know exactly what happened. Another trick for Windows
> users who are used to the ALT+TAB key combo is to configure it so that
> ALT+TAB shows all windows in all workspaces rather than only windows
> in the current workspace.

Another one I like to show new users is to install the window selector 
panel applet (as opposed to the window list) which shows apps open in 
all workspaces.

I usually install parcellite too, so they don't ring me about copy and 
paste not working after they close the app they copied from. 
Unfortunately the maintainer of parcellite is stepping down, and glipper 
(the GNU alternative) is somewhat unstable, often crashing on login.

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-29 Thread Bruno Girin
On 29 December 2010 16:07, Yorvyk  wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:20:11 +
> Colin Law  wrote:
>
[snip]
>>
>> By all means set the workspaces to one to get rid of that complexity though.
>>
> This I don't agree with as multiple workspaces are one of the best ways of 
> organising oneself.

True but it is a metaphor very few new users are used to. What I tend
to do, both with Ubuntu and OS-X, is to demonstrate the feature and
gauge the response. If it's along the lines of "oh that's cool!", I
leave it on, if it's along the lines of "oh, that's confusing...", I
disable it, at least until they've got used to their desktop and the
way it operates.

Having said this, one way to avoid the "where have all my windows
gone?" moments is to make the transition very obvious by enabling the
cube in Compiz for instance: at least if the user is confused, calls
you and says "there was this cube thing then all my windows were
gone!", you know exactly what happened. Another trick for Windows
users who are used to the ALT+TAB key combo is to configure it so that
ALT+TAB shows all windows in all workspaces rather than only windows
in the current workspace.

Everybody is different and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. What
is great with Ubuntu is that you can really configure the system in a
way that suits how the user wants to use it, not the other way round.

Cheers,

Bruno

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-29 Thread Yorvyk
On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:20:11 +
Colin Law  wrote:

> On 28 December 2010 19:45, Nigel Verity  wrote:
> > ...
> > I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as
> > not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I moved the top
> > task bar to the bottom of the screen, then added the task list applet so
> > that open applications would each be represented by a familiar button. I
> > removed the Firefox and Help icons to complete the Windows look-and-feel as
> > far as possible.
> 
> My experience with setting up Windows users with Ubuntu has been that
> the top and bottom bars have not been an issue.  Users are, after all,
> experienced with application menus and toolbars at the top of windows,
> which is more or less what the top bar is.  I think trying to make it
> as much like Windows as possible is unnecessary.  Better to
> concentrate on making users aware that they are getting something
> better, they then expect it to be different, and as long as the
> operation is logical and simple there will be few problems.  If we try
> to convince users that they are getting a windows clone they may
> complain about the differences that they will find.  If we convince
> them they are getting something that is better (_and_ free) then they
> are more likely to accept the differences, or even revel in them.
> 
I'm with you on that one.  I would never attempt to make Ubuntu look or behave 
like windows.  I want the user to know it is different, but similar.  One of 
the other things I try to discourage is icons on the desktop, it smacks of 
disorganised behaviour to me.
>
> By all means set the workspaces to one to get rid of that complexity though.
> 
This I don't agree with as multiple workspaces are one of the best ways of 
organising oneself.

-- 
Steve Cook (Yorvyk)

http://lubuntu.net 

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-29 Thread Paul Sutton
On 28/12/10 13:14, Patrick Bulteel wrote:
>> Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:06:18 +
>> From: Barry Drake 
>> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...
>> To: UK Ubuntu Talk 
>> Message-ID: <1293451578.2118.38.ca...@pcspecialist>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>>
>> Those of you on the advertising list will know that Dant? Ashton and I
>> have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
>> the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
>> The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
>> this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
>> This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
>> preferably a need that you know little about.
>>
>> First take a look at:
>> https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html
>>
>>
> I found the following page very useful.
> 
> http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/top-100-of-the-best-useful-opensource-applications/
> 
> I'm sure that there's lots of other comparison pages out there.
> 
> 
>> This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.
>>
>> Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
>> installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
>> the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
>> this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
>> Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
>> write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
>> be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
>> any way aware of the complexity.
>>
>> When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
>> access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
>> online somewhere.
>>
>> So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
>> Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over ?1000 worth of books in that
>> format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
>> Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
>> plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
>> Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
>> aid that cause?
>>
>> I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
>> me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
>> That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
>> properly documenting.
>>
>> Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
>> would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
>> be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
>> facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
>> methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
>> are not for the Ubuntu newbie.
>>
>> The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
>> iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
>> download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
>> was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
>> information  that a newbie could follow.
>>
>> So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
>> volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
>> thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
>> good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
>> Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on?
>>
>> Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here   apologies in
>> advance if I am.
>>
>> Regards,Barry Drake.
>>
>> --
>> What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
>> ...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!
>>
>>
>>
> I'm going to try to convert one of two computer that my parents have to
> Ubuntu over new years.
> 
> All they need is to be able to browse the web, use email and use Skype with
> their webcam. I'm not sure what else, but I know they have a scanner/printer
> (don't know the brand yet) and a digital camera. All of these I'm going to
> try to get working. Also, the best part is I will be able to support them
> remotely very easily if I have to.
> 
>  I think that what I'm going 

Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-28 Thread Colin Law
On 28 December 2010 19:45, Nigel Verity  wrote:
> ...
> I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as
> not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I moved the top
> task bar to the bottom of the screen, then added the task list applet so
> that open applications would each be represented by a familiar button. I
> removed the Firefox and Help icons to complete the Windows look-and-feel as
> far as possible.

My experience with setting up Windows users with Ubuntu has been that
the top and bottom bars have not been an issue.  Users are, after all,
experienced with application menus and toolbars at the top of windows,
which is more or less what the top bar is.  I think trying to make it
as much like Windows as possible is unnecessary.  Better to
concentrate on making users aware that they are getting something
better, they then expect it to be different, and as long as the
operation is logical and simple there will be few problems.  If we try
to convince users that they are getting a windows clone they may
complain about the differences that they will find.  If we convince
them they are getting something that is better (_and_ free) then they
are more likely to accept the differences, or even revel in them.

By all means set the workspaces to one to get rid of that complexity though.

Colin

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-28 Thread Neil Greenwood
On 28 December 2010 19:45, Nigel Verity  wrote:
> Dear All
>
>[snip]
> I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as
> not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces.

You should change the number of workspaces to 1, in case the keyboard
shortcuts are accidentally used to change workspaces: "Argh, all my
windows suddenly disappeared!"


Cofion/Regards,
Neil.

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-28 Thread Barry Drake
On Tue, 2010-12-28 at 19:45 +, Nigel Verity wrote:
> I decided to create a system that would be as familiar to her as
> possible.
> I created desktop icons for the following basic applications:

Sorry about the silly post when I pressed the wrong button.  I really
like your approach.  Maybe we ought have a customised version similar to
that specifically for our purposes?  I wonder, would Canonical support
that approach in view of what we are doing?  I'm thinking that the
existing proposed desktop, especially with Unity, might not be best for
a Windows user.

A Windows familiar desktop would certainly help me in the way I work
promote Ubuntu.

My tagline here might need to be altered to YES exactly the same old
thing   folk don't like change 
-- 
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...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!


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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-28 Thread Barry Drake
On Tue, 2010-12-28 at 19:45 +, Nigel Verity wrote: a Mac but never
Linux. I decided to create a system that would be as familiar to her as
possible.
> 
> I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely
> so as not to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I
> moved the top task bar to the bottom of the screen, then added the
> task list applet so that open applications would each be represented
> by a familiar button. I removed the Firefox and Help icons to complete
> the Windows look-and-feel as far as possible.
> 
> I created desktop icons for the following basic applications:
> 
> OpenOffice Writer
> OpenOffice Calc
> OpenOffice Impress
> Rhythmbox
> Totem
> Brasero
> Firefox
> Calculator
> GNU Paint (after installation)
> GIMP (after installation)
> 
> Because these application names would not be familiar to the average
> Windows user I renamed the icons by their function e.g Word Processor,
> Spreadsheet, Music Player, CD/DVD Burner, etc.
> 
> The only time I needed to use the command line was to run a Bash
> script to download and install the libdvdcss objects, to enable the
> playing of commercial encrypted DVDs; this after having installed the
> Ubuntu Restricted Extras from the software centre. Fortunately my
> friend is not a games player, so there is not really any functional
> loss through this unexpected migration to Ubuntu.
> 
> The reaction so far has been very favourable. She will never be a geek
> or a nerd but I do think we may have gained a convert.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Nige
> 
> 

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research Required

2010-12-28 Thread Nigel Verity




Dear All

This question has been raised at an opportune moment. Literally yesterday I 
answered a cry for help from a friend whose 1 month-old HP desktop had been 
completely trashed by viruses which had taken over all administrator rights and 
installed massive amounts of malware. Having come from Currys there was, of 
course, no Windows 7 installation disk, only a recovery partition which 
appeared to have been compromised.

Not being in a position to spend £110 on a new installation disk my friend 
asked if there was anything I could do. She'd vaguely heard of a Mac but never 
Linux. I decided to create a system that would be as familiar to her as 
possible.

I installed Ubuntu 10.4 LTS. I removed the bottom task bar completely so as not 
to complicate matters with the concept of workspaces. I moved the top task bar 
to the bottom of the screen, then added the task list applet so that open 
applications would each be represented by a familiar button. I removed the 
Firefox and Help icons to complete the Windows look-and-feel as far as possible.

I created desktop icons for the following basic applications:

OpenOffice Writer
OpenOffice Calc
OpenOffice Impress
Rhythmbox
Totem
Brasero
Firefox
Calculator
GNU Paint (after installation)
GIMP (after installation)

Because these application names would not be familiar to the average Windows 
user I renamed the icons by their function e.g Word Processor, Spreadsheet, 
Music Player, CD/DVD Burner, etc.

The only time I needed to use the command line was to run a Bash script to 
download and install the libdvdcss objects, to enable the playing of commercial 
encrypted DVDs; this after having installed the Ubuntu Restricted Extras from 
the software centre. Fortunately my friend is not a games player, so there is 
not really any functional loss through this unexpected migration to Ubuntu.

The reaction so far has been very favourable. She will never be a geek or a 
nerd but I do think we may have gained a convert.

Regards

Nige


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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-28 Thread Bruno Girin
On 27 December 2010 15:32, Barry Drake  wrote:
> On Mon, 2010-12-27 at 16:09 +, bod...@googlemail.com wrote:
>> You don't need admin access to create a wiki page, just browse to the 
>> pagename you want, then start editing.
>
> Thanks for that.  There is now a Wiki page at:
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WindowsCompatibility

Great  work, I shall add new sections to that page.

Cheers,

Bruno

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-28 Thread Barry Drake
On Tue, 2010-12-28 at 13:14 +, Patrick Bulteel wrote:

> I'm going to try to convert one of two computer that my parents have
> to Ubuntu over new years. 

That's wonderful.  I'm sure they will be fairly typical of Windows users
from what you say, so we'll be delighted to have your record of their
experience.

>  I think that what I'm going to do is to let them do the work while I
> watch over their shoulders and make notes. I'll gladly share these. As
> a side note, my parents are in their 60s and my father is the computer
> literate one - to some extent.

I've been doing just that for a while.  And at 60 they are young!  My
sister is 60 and has no problem.  She had a LOT of problems with Windows
over time.  As for me, I'm 68 and a bit too old to do coding at any
speed.  I used to write some pretty fair C code, but never really made
the grade in C++ ...  but then I've always been a bit of a geek.

But I think my age is helping me to get into the non-geek mindset for
this exercise!

I really look forward to sharing your parents' experiences.

Regards,Barry Drake

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...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!


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[ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-28 Thread Patrick Bulteel
> Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:06:18 +
> From: Barry Drake 
> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...
> To: UK Ubuntu Talk 
> Message-ID: <1293451578.2118.38.ca...@pcspecialist>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Those of you on the advertising list will know that Dant? Ashton and I
> have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
> the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
> The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
> this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
> This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
> preferably a need that you know little about.
>
> First take a look at:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html
>
>
I found the following page very useful.

http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/top-100-of-the-best-useful-opensource-applications/

I'm sure that there's lots of other comparison pages out there.


> This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.
>
> Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
> installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
> the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
> this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
> Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
> write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
> be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
> any way aware of the complexity.
>
> When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
> access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
> online somewhere.
>
> So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
> Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over ?1000 worth of books in that
> format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
> Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
> plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
> Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
> aid that cause?
>
> I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
> me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
> That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
> properly documenting.
>
> Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
> would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
> be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
> facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
> methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
> are not for the Ubuntu newbie.
>
> The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
> iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
> download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
> was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
> information  that a newbie could follow.
>
> So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
> volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
> thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
> good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
> Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on?
>
> Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here   apologies in
> advance if I am.
>
> Regards,Barry Drake.
>
> --
> What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
> ...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!
>
>
>
I'm going to try to convert one of two computer that my parents have to
Ubuntu over new years.

All they need is to be able to browse the web, use email and use Skype with
their webcam. I'm not sure what else, but I know they have a scanner/printer
(don't know the brand yet) and a digital camera. All of these I'm going to
try to get working. Also, the best part is I will be able to support them
remotely very easily if I have to.

 I think that what I'm going to do is to let them do the work while I watch
over their shoulders and make notes. I'll gladly share these. As a side
note, my parents are in their 60s and my father is the computer literate one
- to some extent.

--
Patrick
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-27 Thread Barry Drake
On Mon, 2010-12-27 at 20:45 +, Mark wrote:

> Not sure if this helps:
> http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

Thanks for that.  It is going to be very useful   especially in
ideas to solve the problems our research shows up!

Regards,Barry.

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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-27 Thread Mark
On 27 December 2010 20:32, Barry Drake  wrote:

> On Mon, 2010-12-27 at 16:09 +, bod...@googlemail.com wrote:
> > You don't need admin access to create a wiki page, just browse to the
> pagename you want, then start editing.
>
> Thanks for that.  There is now a Wiki page at:
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WindowsCompatibility
> > This does sound like a very worthy cause. Can I make a suggestion though.
> Any failed attempts should be documented fully, this will then allow others
> to attempt the process with some prior knowledge, and might even attract
> some people who can create a solution.
>
> I've placed that in the preamble to the page.  Thanks.  Please take a
> look and by all means feel free to improve the layout.  Pretty pages are
> not my thing.
> --
> What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
> ...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>

Hi

Not sure if this helps:
http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

This was my bible when I first started with linux.

HTH

Mark
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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-27 Thread Barry Drake
On Mon, 2010-12-27 at 16:09 +, bod...@googlemail.com wrote:
> You don't need admin access to create a wiki page, just browse to the 
> pagename you want, then start editing.

Thanks for that.  There is now a Wiki page at:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WindowsCompatibility
> This does sound like a very worthy cause. Can I make a suggestion though. Any 
> failed attempts should be documented fully, this will then allow others to 
> attempt the process with some prior knowledge, and might even attract some 
> people who can create a solution.

I've placed that in the preamble to the page.  Thanks.  Please take a
look and by all means feel free to improve the layout.  Pretty pages are
not my thing.
-- 
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...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!


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Re: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-27 Thread bodsda
Hi Barry,

You don't need admin access to create a wiki page, just browse to the pagename 
you want, then start editing.

This does sound like a very worthy cause. Can I make a suggestion though. Any 
failed attempts should be documented fully, this will then allow others to 
attempt the process with some prior knowledge, and might even attract some 
people who can create a solution.

Bodsda
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

-Original Message-
From: Barry Drake 
Sender: ubuntu-uk-boun...@lists.ubuntu.com
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:06:18 
To: UK Ubuntu Talk
Reply-To: bdr...@crosswire.org, UK Ubuntu Talk 
Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

Those of you on the advertising list will know that Danté Ashton and I
have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
preferably a need that you know little about.

First take a look at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html

This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.

Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
any way aware of the complexity.

When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
online somewhere.

So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over £1000 worth of books in that
format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
aid that cause?

I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
properly documenting.

Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
are not for the Ubuntu newbie.

The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
information  that a newbie could follow.

So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on? 

Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here   apologies in
advance if I am.

Regards,Barry Drake.

-- 
What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!


-- 
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[ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

2010-12-27 Thread Barry Drake
Those of you on the advertising list will know that Danté Ashton and I
have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
preferably a need that you know little about.

First take a look at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html

This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.

Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
any way aware of the complexity.

When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
online somewhere.

So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over £1000 worth of books in that
format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
aid that cause?

I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
properly documenting.

Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
are not for the Ubuntu newbie.

The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
information  that a newbie could follow.

So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on? 

Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here   apologies in
advance if I am.

Regards,Barry Drake.

-- 
What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!


-- 
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