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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>While I applaud the scale of the vision you put forth, I do see a number of issues that would arise as a result of these deployments, of which three of the most pertinent [in my mind at least] are noted below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Training – who is going to ensure that the end users are familiar enough with Linux to ensure they continue to use it, and don’t revert to Windows/Mac?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Support – please provide details on the individuals willing to provide ongoing support for 1248 Linux deployments per year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Compatibility – many programs released today, for which users may or may not have paid money, are developed specifically for a particular platform. Sure, it may be possible to show them that free alternatives are superior to the closed source versions they’ve used, but they will be resistant to such knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>While I think that your plan could work in general, it’s not bloody likely going to do so because, really, most users are accustomed to Windows or Mac OS. As a result, even if you do deploy Linux as much as expected, there’s nothing to prevent an individual user [or large groups of users] from migrating back to an alternate [i.e. more comfortable for them] operating system.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Given the propensity of individuals to resist drastic change, I sincerely doubt such action would have lasting effect, on the scale you’ve envisioned. I see no problem with trying it, of course, I simply think that it won’t reach the proportions you may expect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Alex Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dimensia Design Studio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>alexgabriel-Nmj6Sl6vboSovDFt+AQlJdBPR1lH4CV8@public.gmane.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> owner-tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org [mailto:owner-tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>charles chris<br><b>Sent:</b> April-07-12 8:52 PM<br><b>To:</b> tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [TLUG]: New article in the Economist criticizing Linux usability<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Well I am going to do my part to help deploy Linux. However, I need the help of others.<br><br>I envision weekly deployments onto 2 dozen machines. That's 1, 248 deployments annually. If all local groups could match this pace then 1 million Linux deployments is possible annually nationally or throughout North America.<br><br>I believe weekly 10am - 10pm, 12 hour shifts should produce 24 Linux deployments onto computers brought in by the general public.<br>These Linux deployments would be offered as free computer repairs.<br><br>That's 1 million new Linux users each year!<br><br>So far I have deployed Linux onto 4 computers (1 mac and 3 PCs) belonging to 4 different paying customers. Feedback so far has been positive!<br><br>Remember my image of Linux is barely 30 days old!<br><br>Another high growth usage market would be Africa, the Caribbean, China, India, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 1:30 PM, D. Hugh Redelmeier <<a href="mailto:hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org">hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>| From: charles chris <<a href="mailto:cccharlz-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org">cccharlz-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org</a>><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>| The usage of Linux can be greatly increased by providing an easy<br>| deployment method to computer stores, recyclers and non profits like<br>| Free Geek Toronto and Computers for schools in Mississauga.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>This is the second message where you seem to be saying:<br><br>1) "what Linux needs is X"<br><br>2) as if that were the answer to the problems listed in the Economist<br> column<br><br>3) where X is already the case<br><br>Perhaps you need to phrase your answers in the form of a question<br>"Does Linux have X?".<br><br>As I understand it, Free Geek does deploy Linux on their used<br>computers.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>| Many computer stores do NOT load Windows on used computers because<br>| they cannot afford the license fees.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>I don't know. Used computers aren't that common in stores -- new<br>computers are so inexpensive now and old computers are usually weaker<br>/ obsolete.<br><br>There are a few places that sell off-lease computers. They don't load<br>OSes because it is labour intensive (off lease computers that I've<br>bought usually have stickers with Windows licenses).<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>| Recyclers and non profit<br>| organizations like Computers for Schools in Mississauga and Reboot<br>| Canada should deploy Linux onto the computers they donate or sell.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>I think that they do. It scares Microsoft enough that they have a<br>program for cheap or free licenses for some operations like this just<br>to crowd out Linux.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>| Also, good support is needed to help people with Linux boxes install<br>| peripherals.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Labour intensive!<br><br>These days, skilled labour to deal with that kind of random minutae<br>would seriously increase the cost of a used computer.<br><br>The arithmetic of recycling most things is like this. When producing<br>a computer in the first place, the runs are 10k to a million (pure<br>guess), resulting in economies of scale. With recycling computers, you are<br>lucky if you get any run at all. Think of Walmart vs Value Village --<br>the run lengths have drastic effects.<br><br>The hardest computers to deal with are the most worthless: the oldest.<br>Although I use computers that are a dozen years old, it makes no<br>practical sense to redeploy a machine older than perhaps four years<br>old. As a hobby, the rules are different (my oldest hobby computer is<br>approaching 40 years old; older if you count my sliderules).<br><br>There are stores that sell used Macs. I think that this is viable because<br><br>1) the Mac world has much less diversity than the PC world<br><br>2) Macs retain their value much more than PCs<br><br>3) the stores selling used computers gain an edge selling new ones<br> since they can offer to take the old ones in trade.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>| I believe my method of deploying operating systems onto standalone<br>| computers is most efficient. See <a href="http://drpcdr.ca/LMLXDE.pdf" target="_blank">http://drpcdr.ca/LMLXDE.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>A pretty strong claim. Since you haven't even enumerated let alone<br>discussed other methods, I find that hard to credit.<br><br>Do you know the other methods? Heard of Kickstart? PXE booting? Live<br>Fedora or Ubuntu CDs? And there are plenty more.<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>--<br>The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: <a href="http://gtalug.org/" target="_blank">http://gtalug.org/</a><br>TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns<br>How to UNSUBSCRIBE: <a href="http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists" target="_blank">http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><br clear=all><br>-- <br><a href="http://drpcdr.ca" target="_blank">http://drpcdr.ca</a><br><a href="http://jobcircle.ca" target="_blank">http://jobcircle.ca</a><br>416 398 3772 OR 647 453 3327<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>