On 25/02/2009 15:19, Jon Reynolds wrote: > Hi all, > > I would like to add something to this, although not entirely relevant to > Rowan's case, but it reminds me of a lot of people thinking when it comes to > adopting Linux. > > I have tried, half-heartedly, to get family members to switch to Ubuntu, or > even just try it out for a while, thinking once they've used it for a while > they will convert. My father, for example, seems genuinely keen to give it a > go; he isn't a 'why would I want anything but windows' person, he is quite > open minded to the open source community, but as a basic user has a bit of > fear of the unknown. > > His reason for not trying is support. Now for most of us that's not an > issue... we have a problem, we go on the web and find a solution. He is not > like that, not capable of that and not inclined to want to do that. How he > works at the moment and how he wants to continue to work, is that if > something goes wrong with the computer, if he can't solve it over the phone > with me, he just drops it into his local computer shop and says 'fix it'. > > I am not sure on the capabilities of the local computer shop, but assuming > they are Windows people, then he is right in as far as what does a new linux > user do when things go wrong? I think this puts off a lot of people even > trying.. because of the 'what if something goes wrong'. > > Perhaps most local computer shops are full of linux buffs anyway and they > would be happier to fix his pc if it was linux rather than windows...? > > Jon Reynolds > I think it certainly helps if you're near to a local LUG, but I guess for some new users they might not know where to look to find a LUG (or even what a LUG is). I can't speak for general computer magazines (I only get Retro Gamer and Linux Format) but I certainly do like the idea that Linux Format does (or at least did, IIRC how it's changed) have a directory of LUGs across the country, or at least details of how to find a local LUG for support.
I found when I seriously started using Linux (rather than dual booting and poking around with RedHat) that my local LUG was a great source for help with members willing to help out either via e-mail or in person (be it popping over to my place or meeting at a LUG meet). With regards to my own local LUG (Devon & Cornwall LUG), I can't help think we could do with a bit more promotion to the masses. Luckily I think we're slowly getting the word out a bit better especially now we have more venues. Rob -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
