How to Encourage Use of OSS?

Marc Light asks: "I repair computers as a side line cause I want to keep up on what's going on in the world of computer technicians. When someone comes to me with a problem, if I have to reinstall I first try to convince them to install Ubuntu. For now I only have 25% of success, mostly because they usually use an app. or some hardware that would complicate their experience too much. When I install Windows, I also install Firefox, OpenOffice, VLC, Winamp (not open source but if they eventually switch to Linux, XMMS won't scare them), and CDex to drive them off Windows Media Player and DRM. I then take 15 to 30 minutes free of charge to explain to them the basics of their new software. For my part, I mostly got positive response. I'd say 80% of it is positive feedback. My questions to Slashdot readers: Do you think that computer technicians can make a difference in the adoption of OSS? And if they're for OSS, should they try to put some pressure on their users/clients?"

Comments

Re:Converting

[idonthack]

You seem to have no experience with this at all. Please actually try or at least do research on the things you're talking about.

I installed Ubuntu on my sister's computer when she saw XGL running on mine and asked about it. She has a GeForce 2, which works with the legacy drivers in the repository. It does not break with kernel updates as you say it does. With Ubuntu's update manager she can perform updates by herself. She doesn't have a DVD drive on her computer, but on mine DVDs play fine, and even ignore region encoding (unlike Windows players). She thinks Shockwave games are stupid, like most people. Streaming video works fine. Her iPod Shuffle works well with Rhythmbox. Everything she wants to do is easily done, and she doesn't have to deal with the problems of Windows98 (which is what she used to have).

Re:Converting

[RAMMS EIN]

You make valid points, but I can't resist playing the devil's advocate.

``I know the more socialist segments (note, segments, not everyone) of the FOSS crowd doesn't like having to compete on merits instead of idealogy''

Ideology is a merit. Not just in a warm fuzzy feeling kind of sense, but in the specific case of FOSS, there are tangible benefits, such as your product not being automagically end of life when the proprietor of the code stops supporting it (e.g. because they went belly up, or because they've introduced a New and Improved product).

``but until FOSS can beat the MS platform on merits, FOSS won't gain general acceptance.''

FOSS beats the MS platform on merits. Usability, security, stability, and price, just to name a few.

``Here's a small lesson the FOSS community needs to learn: Insulting prospective customers doesn't do anything to win them over. This means not referring to MS products as "crap". This means not holding a holier-than-thou attitude when a noob comes to a forum and asks for help. This means keeping your documentation up to date and not assuming everyone will "figure it out" because they have access to all the source code.''

There will always be people who do these things, but I think a general impression of various Linux fora these days is that people tend to be very helpful. Take a look at the Ubuntu fora, for example.

``Average Joe wants a computer that works.'' ... and probably prefers one that keeps working. This is something that FOSS has been lauded for for years, while the same hasn't been true of Microsoft's offerings.

``Telling Joe that what he's been happy with for the last X years is "crap" and that $LinuxDistributionOfTheWeek is "better" puts Joe on the defensive right away.''

You're right, but the people saying these things may actually be speaking the truth. There's a saying in Dutch that translates "gentle doctors make stinking wounds." Would you rather upset people by telling them the truth, or leave them ignorant of their inferior situations?

``Joe needs to be able to ask "how do I get XYZ to work" in a forum without being told to "go RTFM and come back when you know something"''

That's not a response I've commonly seen given lately...nor in the past, outside the OpenBSD community. Many OpenBSD people feel that you shouldn't be using their system if you don't understand it. So, right, they're not making any converts...but that's not what they're after, either.

``when the manual hasn't been updated for 4 releases and no longer applies, or worse, there's multiple versions of the manual and he has to figure out which one he needs.''

If people tell you to RTFM under such circumstances, they are simply being abusive. However, I don't think the FOSS community in general is like that.