Alias expressed an opinion:
> KristleBawl wrote:
>> Alias expressed an opinion:
>>> KristleBawl wrote:
>>>> Ubuntu 10.04 to Include Beginner's Manual
>>>> http://lifehacker.com/5441494/ubuntu-1004-to-include-beginners-manual
>>>>
>>>> Finally, someone decided to create something like a help file for
>>>> newbies! If this continues to be expended, it might actually give me a
>>>> reason to try Ubuntu for myself one day. Until I can recommend it to my
>>>> friends and relatives for everyday use, because I have to fix their
>>>> user-created problems, there's no reason to check it out.
>>>>
>>>> Before anyone flames this message, remember, this is an *alt* group,
>>>> *not* a support group. ;-P
>>>
>>> After you install Ubuntu, you will see a question mark to the left on
>>> the top panel. It's the help file. When you open Firefox for the first
>>> time, you will see links to support, forums and very extensive
>>> documentation so you don't need to wait to free yourself from Windows.
>>
>> Not good enough. ;-P
>>
>> First and foremost, I really honestly *love* Vista, and I want to know
>> more about what is different in Windows7.
>>
>> Next, the friends and family for whom I provide tech support do not know
>> that Usenet exists, and they do not use an email client, either. Hotmail
>> and Gmail are browser toolbar buttons.
>
> Do they have a phone?
>
>> Also, my *only* interest in Ubuntu is limited to the few still using XP,
>> because they can't afford to buy Vista or windows7. (Retired, etc.)
>
> I would recommend you try it first before trying to get others to try it.
Yes, that's my plan, on my old system that I only use for testing
software. Again, only *if* I choose to go that route.
>> Finally, I'm disabled and most of my tech support is by phone or through
>> email/IM, instead of hands-on. *If* I ever recommend Ubuntu to any of
>> them, it will have to be easy for them to learn without me sitting there
>> next to them.
>
> A phone should be enough after they've received the CD in the mail and
> you've done it a few times.
>
>> I'd rather try to keep their XP machines running well until they can
>> save up for a new $499 pc at Walmart. Hopefully, a Windows7 OEM.
>
> It sounds like the people you support would do better with a system that
> doesn't need the kind of updating and maintaining that XP/Vista/7 does
> but whatever turns you on. The only update they'll ever need for Ubuntu
> once you get it set up for them is to click on an orange icon near their
> clock, key in their password and watch. It can even be set to
> automatically update so they don't have to do anything but use their
> computer and not worry about malware, maintaining or updating.
Better yet, I have all of their software and Windows set up to just
automatically download and install updates at night, so all they do is
reboot each morning. That takes care of system updates, anti-virus, etc.
For the Vista users, I even told them which sidebar gadget to use for a
big green restart button; no start menu action needed.
If they're interested in a new program, I download/install it first on
my test machine, *before* they do, and that has prevented many extras,
like toolbars and malware, because I could tell them step-by-step what
to click while installing, or tell them not to use it at all.
So far, Windows7 looks much better than Ubuntu, even without a sidebar.
--
A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.
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