[Techtalk] WHY everyone should use Linux

Wed Jul 21 08:36:22 EST 2004

7/21/04

Switching them off Microsoft is a big scary step and they don't want to 
even think about it.  Rather than convincing them WHY they should use 
Linux (they may already agree with you), show them HOW they can do it.

If you do it in baby steps they might eventually come along.  For 
example, first get them to use Firefox instead of IE.  Back it with 
information that the biggest and best firewall companies are 
recommending that switch to everyone.  Contact your firewall vendor, get 
  a document that states that.

Next, get them off Outlook for the same reason.  Switch to Eudora or ???

All along this path there will be frustrations:  things they need to do 
that they can't do or don't know how to do with the different programs. 
  Fix those for them, as soon as you possibly can.

Once you've taken those steps, the next thing to do is address their 
objections to switching to Linux one by one:

Here are what their objections are going to be - keep in mind that just 
telling them won't convince them, you will need to set up a prototype 
desktop and show them:
1.  I won't be able to access my old data.
2.  The user interface will be too different and it will confuse me.
3.  I'll lose some functionality or I'll need to learn to do things a 
different way and I don't like learning new things on computers 
(actually, this is true, they WILL need to learn to do SOME things a new 
way - try to make it as painless for them as possible).
4.  If things don't act the way I expect them to, I'll become flustered 
and I won't know what to do.  It will slow me down at a critical moment.
(This also may be true in the beginning - find a way to make them 
comfortable with the change - maybe give them a dual boot option for a 
while).
5.  New software that I might need to do my job in the future won't be 
available for Linux.  There is nothing we can do about this objection. 
In some cases it is true (until some Linux developers fill in the gap 
but that can take time - months).  The best thing to do in this case is 
to keep a few Windows machines around for exactly that reason.

There are probably more objections and more steps.  Those are all I can 
think of at the moment.  After all, more security has little value to 
the uneducated computer user if it means he/she can't do his/her job.

I work at a shipping company.  The last thing any other worker in that 
company wants to do is need to learn new computer stuff.  As far as they 
are concerned the computers are for getting their work done as fast as 
possible and playing games and downloading spyware on their breaks.

Meryll

Charlie Swain wrote:

> UUGGHH.....its just a vunerablity they said.... it cant effect
> us...its not major.....
> 
> I tell them our desktops along with our servers need to be linux/unix
> based. Why they keep asking especially since I am actually a MCSE. 
> BECAUSE .... you dont get the majority of the viurs's/worms.  They
> never listen.  MydoomN hit my work yesterday.  Yeah...nothing
> seriously damaged, just email.  but we are a company that handles
> people's money and assetts world wide.  Emails make up a big part of
> the day to day work.
> OK..I quit ranting....I just want to know how to convince them
> DUHH....look at the numbers!  I guess I need to dye my hair RED or
> BLUE or Orange instead of the blonde and they might listen...or at
> least notice!   Frustrated!
> 
> Charlie (Elf)
> 
> On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:00:17 +1000 (EST),
> techtalk-request at linuxchix.org <techtalk-request at linuxchix.org> wrote:
> 
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>>Today's Topics:
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>>  1. TLDP needs help with reviews (Emma Jane Hogbin)
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 15:01:34 -0400
>>From: Emma Jane Hogbin <emmajane at xtrinsic.com>
>>To: TechTalk -- LinuxChix <techtalk at linuxchix.org>
>>Subject: [Techtalk] TLDP needs help with reviews
>>Message-ID: <20040720190134.GA27750 at smeagol>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>MIME-Version: 1.0
>>Precedence: list
>>Message: 1
>>
>>Hello everyone!
>>
>>The Linux Documentation Project has fallen behind with its reviews. I am
>>looking for new people to help out with both technical and language
>>reviews. If you are interested in conducting one of the reviews, please
>>contact me OFFLIST.
>>
>>Our review guidelines are available from:
>>http://tldp.org/HOWTO/LDP-Reviewer-HOWTO/
>>
>>Documents are available from:
>>http://tldp.org/authors/inprogress.html
>>
>>Spam Filtering for Mail Exchangers HOWTO
>>Requires: language and technical reviews
>>
>>iBook G4 HOWTO
>>Requires: language and technical reviews
>>
>>Bible Translation Software Using Windows Emulators HOWTO
>>Technical and Language reviews required
>>
>>Circuit Simulation Using SPICE on gEDA HOWTO
>>Requires: language and technical reviews
>>
>>Linux Daemon HOWTO
>>Requires: language and technical reviews
>>
>>Beowulf HOWTO
>>Requires: technical review
>>
>>Thank you for your interest, I hope to hear from you!
>>emma
>>
>>--
>>Emma Jane Hogbin
>>Technical Review Coordinator
>>The Linux Documentation Project
>>www.tldp.org
>>------------------------------
>>
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-- 
Meryll Larkin
(425) 823-1689
http://www.alwanza.com
Linux Apache Admin - Perl Programmer - Web Developer
WA, USA