View Full Version : Would you install a linux distro for someone?
MONODA
May 1st, 2008, 04:38 PM
If a friend of yours was having many computer troubles and you thought that xyz distro would be perfect for them, would you ask them if they wanted it and then install it? I know that I will never install a distro for anyone again unless they come to me and ask and I explain to them that it will be different. Even then it depends on who the person is. What about you?
Barrucadu
May 1st, 2008, 04:40 PM
If I thought that the only way to make the computer usable again would be to reinstall Windows, I would talk to them about a Linux distro first.
notwen
May 1st, 2008, 04:42 PM
Negative, if someone wants any Linux distro, I offer my assistance if I have any info to help them out. If you install Linux for someone who's clueless, you're their crutch. Good thing I don't have anyone who falls into this category. =]
SunnyRabbiera
May 1st, 2008, 04:42 PM
I was able to convert a few people to linux on machines that have no doze :D
Ek0nomik
May 1st, 2008, 04:42 PM
Yes. Already have, multiple times, and will continue to do so. ;)
eragon100
May 1st, 2008, 05:04 PM
I always try to convince people to use ubuntu on new or xubuntu on older computer. I have already switched three people (and a total of 8 computers) from windows-only to linux-only (with wine installed), and not one of those persons had any problem at all with windows before I convinced them to install ubuntu :popcorn:
LaRoza
May 1st, 2008, 05:30 PM
I have gotten requests to install Linux from people.
forrestcupp
May 1st, 2008, 05:38 PM
It's pretty important not to deceive someone into wanting Linux, or you'll be wasting your time and reinstalling Windows for them. It's necessary to describe Linux to the person in a completely unbiased manner.
They need to know that Windows programs and games won't just work because it's a completely different system. They need to know that things work differently in Linux, and that sometimes it's a pain to get hardware to work because we have to reverse engineer a lot of our drivers.
Then after they know that side of things, you can tell them how awesome it is, and let them make their own educated choice. If I had a friend or family member that made an educated decision to install Ubuntu, and they asked me to help them, I'd be happy to do it. But only if they really felt like the pros outweigh the cons for their needs.
smoker
May 1st, 2008, 06:20 PM
the secret is to showing them first. most people just want to surf the net, email, im, and write the odd letter, for someone like this, once linux is installed and configured, and they know what icon is what, linux is usually a delight for them.
the only people that usually want windows reinstalled are the tinkerers that aren't prepared to learn for themself. they are the ones that are going to be calling you up ten times a day because this or that 'just happened!'
if someone just wants the basics, install for them, if they want to tinker, give them a live-cd, and a link to the forum (and tell them you're leaving the country!)
msutton86
May 1st, 2008, 06:28 PM
Definitely not, but I do try to turn people on to it. Depending on the person of course. If it was my grandpa who is use to xp then no. If it was a friend who is interested still no. I'd throw them a liveCD and let them try it.
fatality_uk
May 1st, 2008, 06:29 PM
If they ask, I install. If they want a change I offer. If they are curious I burn them a LiveCD and take it from there.
anuban
May 1st, 2008, 06:29 PM
I have converted two people into 100% Linux...(total 5 computers) and all my family computers are already Ubuntu.
And if anyone asks me again, I will convince them to use Linux (preferably Ubuntu/Kubuntu).
If I could, I will just install Ubuntu on any computer I see....Because if you don't see Window$, you won't feel its need.
Moreover if only Ubuntu is available, you will find out a way to learn it quickly.
BTW I hate Window$, I use it only at work as I don't have a choice there.
perspectoff
May 1st, 2008, 06:41 PM
Kubuntu.
But I'd keep a partition for
Windows and have an availability for dual-booting, just in case they don't like it.
If they have a newer, fast computer, I would set up Kubuntu with VMware, and then put a Virtual Windows on there.
I think there is enough robustness in auto-updates to allow for this, now.
There are still too many games and programs that require Windows, sadly.
Only this year are hardware manufacturers starting to put out Linux drivers en masse.
It will be another year or two before specialized software is written for Linux.
When Intuit writes programs for Linux, Microsoft will fade into dust. That will be the bell tolling.
herbster
May 1st, 2008, 07:31 PM
Of course I'd install it. After that, see ya!
swoll1980
May 1st, 2008, 07:32 PM
already have
forrestcupp
May 1st, 2008, 07:51 PM
Of course I'd install it. After that, see ya!
I like that policy.
aysiu
May 1st, 2008, 08:14 PM
I'm willing to install Linux for someone who asks, but I am not willing to try to convince someone into using Linux.
Metallion
May 1st, 2008, 09:43 PM
I agree with most people here. I won't convince people to use it since frankly, Linux is often a pain in the ***. I didn't really get into it until I fell unemployed for a while which gave me time to thinker around with it and get my hardware working. Now I'm loving it.
If people ask me though, I'll gladly help them out but I do tell them that a lot of things that just work in windows will need a lot more effort in Linux.
ice60
May 1st, 2008, 11:10 PM
i try not to help anyone with their computers if i can help it. most people don't appreciate it, i was very in to windows security for a few years and 9 times out of 10 if i made a change to secure something they'd want it reversed.
i haven't installed linux for anyone, but i'm sure if i did i'd regret it!!! but, if someone came to me and asked me to help i'd definitely help them, i'd find it hard not to lol
it really is a problem that most people aren't good with computers.
Meatshield
May 1st, 2008, 11:18 PM
My whole business is trying to get people into Linux over Windows (mainly by showing the price difference lol).
The main thing people are scared of is "how do I get to my x, y, and z files?" and "Where's office and I.E.?" You just have to train them to think in terms of Linux and alternatives to what they are used to. Mac converters have the same issues.
If you set it up properly though, they shouldn't really have any problems. I install all the DVD and MP3 playing goodness and such, and configure all the nasty bits so it works well. Once you do all that and maybe get their iPod working I've had most of the people I've converted be very happy with Linux.
The ones who aren't usually use specific programs in Windows and are so used to that they can't be satisfied with an alternate version (i.e. 3ds Max vs. Blender)
gn2
May 2nd, 2008, 12:17 AM
I would happily install and set up a Linux installation for someone if they had already tried for themselves and were struggling.
However I absolutely would not install Windows on anyone's PC or do any work on a Windows PC for them.
I used to, but got fed up of being continually asked to sort peoples Windows woes out.
Well that's not strictly true, I still have to sort the wife's Windows PC out from time to time, but that's a special case :D
cardinals_fan
May 2nd, 2008, 12:58 AM
Absolutely not. If they wanted advice on choosing an OS or help with specific issues I would help, but otherwise it's not my problem.
scragar
May 2nd, 2008, 01:07 AM
I installed linux on my nephews computer(actualy an old computer I got given), He only uses it to watch movies(since he has a habit of breaking DVDs), so I configured it to have a minimal login screen(since he'd never remember a password) no panels(means max desktop space), then a whole desktop full of thumbnails for all his movies, which all open VLC in full screen. when he wants to stop watching he presses escape(
killall vlc)to get back to the desktop, and watch something else(it's all set to single click play too, just to make it even easier).
He loves it (I havn't figured out an easy way for him to shut it down, so till now he's been hitting hibernate and turning off his monitor).
natrixgli
May 2nd, 2008, 01:10 AM
[QUOTE=MONODA;4853312] and then install it? /QUOTE]
Already have twice today. But then again I get paid to install Ubuntu as it's becoming our primary OS at work.
-n8
ice60
May 2nd, 2008, 01:29 AM
He loves it (I havn't figured out an easy way for him to shut it down, so till now he's been hitting hibernate and turning off his monitor).
you can put a shutdown script on the desktop
#!/bin/bash
shutdown -h now
it might need to be sudo shutdown -h now, i'm not sure?
then make it executable, if it's called SHUTDOWN, like this
chmod +x SHUTDOWN
is that what you meant?
EDIT post #5 shows how to make a desktop icon here -
http://forum.freespire.org/showthread.php?t=1449
i have a feeling you probably know all this though!
scragar
May 2nd, 2008, 01:38 AM
you can put a shutdown script on the desktop
#!/bin/bash
shutdown -h now
it might need to be sudo shutdown -h now, i'm not sure?
then make it executable, if it's called SHUTDOWN, like this
chmod +x SHUTDOWN
is that what you meant?
the shutdown command needs root permissions, and I made absolutely possible that he has write permissions for nothing(sure, he can move things around his desktop, but that's about it), giving sudo perm's, especially perms that would require him to not enter the password would be a little against what I set it up to be(idea being that he can't break it no matter what he does, and it's very, very simple). everyone has access to run shutdown, it just doesn't execute except for root. <-- he's running dapper, and this rule atleast applies for dapper.
OMG, I googled my search for a fix again, this time including the word root, and first result is a perfect solution from ubuntu forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=134968
tyroeternal
May 2nd, 2008, 01:43 AM
Its always nice to help someone switch, but as forrestcupp said, you have to be sure they are not being decieved. If you are upfront about everything positive and negative and they still want to try things out... go for it. :D
ice60
May 2nd, 2008, 01:53 AM
OMG, I googled my search for a fix again, this time including the word root, and first result is a perfect solution from ubuntu forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=134968
lol, you probably know this too, but visudo uses vim i think, i always backup the sudo file it edits and check the perms on it before i use it because i'm useless with vim lol
Pogeymanz
May 2nd, 2008, 02:06 AM
I would never suggest/install an OS for someone unless they asked me. I would not offer. I hate when you try to do something for someone and then if it doesn't work out 100% they blame you for all their misery... </bitterness>
The one exception I have: My friend had a Win98 computer that hadn't been maintained for YEARS, but he still used for Internet Explorer rarely. So I hijacked it and did a minimal install of Debian and bought him 128MB of RAM (tripling it). So, now he happily uses Firefox on it and nothing else, so he doesn't even notice any Linux/Windows differences. (He's not as computer-stupid as I made him sound. He just thought that computer was ready for the dumpster)
toupeiro
May 2nd, 2008, 07:11 AM
Ubuntu has gotten so good that it sells itself. It doesn't need me to convince anyone how great and practical it is. If they asked for my help on the installation, I would help them, but my laptop install has done more effective convincing than I ever could.
Just today, A some co-workers saw me use a Sprint EVDO Broadband PCMCIA modem to get internet access, then tunnel through that with a 2-factor enabled cisco vpn connection to the company network and RDP control windows servers; something one of them has been unsuccessful at doing with a Mac, and something you can't do in vista without a bunch of annoying security context windows to fight and a few reboots for the VPN software and EVDO device setup. To do this in ubuntu required no reboots at all. I was told by one of them that they would be downloading it as soon as they got back to their desk.
Saint Angeles
May 2nd, 2008, 07:13 AM
Yes. Already have, multiple times, and will continue to do so. ;)
same here. ive yet to have a single unsatisfied customer. i think the main reason everybody isn't already using ubuntu is because they don't even know a viable windows alternative exists.
RazorEdge
May 2nd, 2008, 07:20 AM
Did it once. Lasted for a short while, but I ended up putting XP back on for various reasons. So much for the dream.
jjascarm
May 2nd, 2008, 08:27 AM
I would, but would show them via Live CD first and let them choose. Give them all the options, ie Wine/Virtual machine or dual boot for windows apps.
Paqman
May 2nd, 2008, 09:26 AM
I've recently installed Xubuntu on my girlfriend's laptop for her. She was getting annoyed with some things in Windows so I showed her the Linux alternatives and she agreed to give it a try.
I've got another friend who's expressed interest, too. He works in IT and just needs someone to hold his hand a bit.
amyfan
May 2nd, 2008, 08:54 PM
i would install it "ONLY IF THEY ASKED ME TO" and that is it just install as for setting it all up well that is where you get your hands wet.
they will have to set it up them selfs i will install xchat or something so they can have live support and show them the terminal. other then that they are on there own.
i would never feel good about my self if i set up someone elses linux box.
macogw
May 3rd, 2008, 05:57 AM
We've had at least 20 people at each of the last 2 intallfests. And my mom's computer runs Ubuntu as of Nov 2006. My brother wants an Ubuntu laptop for school too. Also converted an old boyfriend.
Dale61
May 3rd, 2008, 09:59 AM
I used to have friends ring me on a regular basis, asking to fix their ******* machine.
I got into the habit of telling them that this time would be the last time, and if you ring again, I'll install Ubuntu (Dapper), and that will fix all your problems.
Have followed through on that promise just once, and they have been impressed since installation day. I'm now expecting a call to help with any problem they may encounter if/when they upgrade to Heron.
Of the others, I think they prefer to pay someone to fix their ******* box rather than have Ubuntu installed.
ugm6hr
May 3rd, 2008, 10:08 AM
Only for my mum.
Now she has 2 OS to mess up before I get a call!
Seriously though - I get a lot less support calls from her now that she has Ubuntu.
She does still use Windows to play Shockwave games on king.com though... but at least she can live without Windows if she makes a mess of it.
quinnten83
May 3rd, 2008, 10:10 AM
I would happily install and set up a Linux installation for someone if they had already tried for themselves and were struggling.
However I absolutely would not install Windows on anyone's PC or do any work on a Windows PC for them.
I used to, but got fed up of being continually asked to sort peoples Windows woes out.
Well that's not strictly true, I still have to sort the wife's Windows PC out from time to time, but that's a special case :D
I started charging money when asked. Turns them off very quickly.
HunterThomson
May 3rd, 2008, 10:36 AM
My friend, who I work with, got a **** storm of viruses on his Win$crap desktop and brought it over for me to fix. I spent a week of running anti-virus programs with no real success and at work telling him about Linux and Open Source, then he wanted Ubuntu on his box. I plugged in a spare hard drive and installed Xubuntu on it. Everything ran grate. So, I installed it on his hard drive. Then when he came over to pick it up I spent 4hr's showing him how to do everything he wanted to do and wrote a HOW TO text that I saved to his desktop. I told him to call me if he had any problems or questions. That was two weeks ago and he loves it and has never had a problem or needed help. He told me it is a lot EZ'r to use then window$. I thought this would be the case do to the fact that all he dose is download Music/Videos/Email/Myspace/web serf/digital camera. He also said his computer has never run so fast (he has 256MB RAM, 80G Hard Drive, 2.5 P4, Xubuntu uses 75MB RAM and 110MB with firefox running). He was thinking about buying a new computer but now he sees no need to.:guitar:
I am planing on buying a old computer for my mother and installing Ubuntu on it too before I give it to her.
gn2
May 3rd, 2008, 10:50 AM
He was thinking about buying a new computer but now he sees no need to.:guitar:
I am planing on buying a old computer for my mother and installing Ubuntu on it too before I give it to her.
This is a major plus for Linux, it enables the useful life of PC hardware to be greatly extended.
I'm fairly certain that MS deliberately makes their OS's not able to run on older hardware so that new hardware must be bought and more licences sold.
It's all a big vicious circle resulting in millions of PC's in landfill needlessly.
FaceorKneecaps
May 3rd, 2008, 12:46 PM
**** you all! You can install linux for the not-knowers but then they get a nudge or a smiley they want to download. And it's all back to windows. Thats for girls anyway, and they demand it works cause they want their message to be done today. And linux can never compete with that on a human scale. I use linux and love it cause it's what i want and need, but the small things matter. Telling you girl that she cant nudge her friend cause she is on linux is where microsoft wins. MS cares about filthy slander. So to me os is a gender thing, and everything boys hate, girls want. Even a crazy man like Steve Ballmer.
To me it's about time that linux copied MS and not the other way around. Loose the arrogance and get with the vanity.
CREEPING DEATH
May 3rd, 2008, 01:33 PM
This is a major plus for Linux, it enables the useful life of PC hardware to be greatly extended.
I'm fairly certain that MS deliberately makes their OS's not able to run on older hardware so that new hardware must be bought and more licences sold.
It's all a big vicious circle resulting in millions of PC's in landfill needlessly.
When 6.06 came out I installed it on two older computers, one since sold and one still going. It's a Pentium II-700 or so, it had 256 MB RAM that has since been upgraded to 512 MB. It runs just fine for my teenage cousin, is currently running 7.10, and saved my uncle the cost of a new computer.
I love messing with Linux on older machines just to see the performance I can get. One of the reasons I routinely recommend Debian XFCE is because I have it running on a Pentium MMX 233 with only 64 MB RAM, as in a Pentium I ancient AT machine that came with Windows 95! And it's faster than it was with Win95!
I want to try to learn more and offer my own lightweight distributions based on Ubuntu, Xubuntu, and possibly Debian soon.
CD
MattBD
May 3rd, 2008, 01:38 PM
I'd be quite happy to install a decent Linux distro on my dad's computer. I recently had to help him reinstall Windows XP and it was such a pain in the proverbial - anyone who thinks Ubuntu is hard to install has clearly NEVER done a fresh install of Windows XP (one of the few things Vista has going for it is the fact it is easier to install than XP)
kamaboko
May 3rd, 2008, 01:40 PM
Anytime you install an OS for someone, you become tech support for the life of that computer. No, I'd pass.
Sukarn
May 3rd, 2008, 01:40 PM
I already set up a dual boot (Windows/Kubuntu) for a friend of mine about 2 years ago and he's still using them both.
A lot of my friends started using Ubuntu cause of the Live CDs I lent them.
Another friend of mine has a completely different success level. He managed to get about 15 of classmates to use Ubuntu (I don't know the exact number).
MattBD
May 3rd, 2008, 01:44 PM
Anytime you install an OS for someone, you become tech support for the life of that computer. No, I'd pass.
True, but if you know much about computers then you become tech support for them anyway in my experience. I'd install Linux for them because I find it a lot easier to sort out problems with than Windows.
Sukarn
May 3rd, 2008, 05:34 PM
True, but if you know much about computers then you become tech support for them anyway in my experience. I'd install Linux for them because I find it a lot easier to sort out problems with than Windows.
heh, I just give one generic reply to people now whenever they ask me anything about Windows. I just say "Sorry, I don't use Windows anymore and I don't care about it anymore. I've no idea how to fix it."
aysiu
May 3rd, 2008, 05:42 PM
True, but if you know much about computers then you become tech support for them anyway in my experience. I'd install Linux for them because I find it a lot easier to sort out problems with than Windows. True, but if something goes wrong with Windows, people don't blame you for it; they just accept that computers have problems. If, however, you push Linux on them and something goes wrong, they'll blame you and think Linux is somehow deficient.
Windows problems: part of life
Linux problems: why am I using this? Please let me go back to Windows!
MattBD
May 3rd, 2008, 05:48 PM
True, but if something goes wrong with Windows, people don't blame you for it; they just accept that computers have problems. If, however, you push Linux on them and something goes wrong, they'll blame you and think Linux is somehow deficient.
Windows problems: part of life
Linux problems: why am I using this? Please let me go back to Windows!
Yes, it's a difficult call to make. Personally, I'd probably try their computer with several different Live CD's to see which worked best before committing to install one. In the past I've always recommended Ubuntu, Linux Mint and PCLinuxOS to newbies and there's a fair chance at least one of these will work perfectly.
SuperSon!c
May 3rd, 2008, 05:59 PM
nope, but i will assist them if necessary and ONLY upon their request or if Windows needed to be reinstalled anyway.
the8thstar
May 3rd, 2008, 06:38 PM
I would be tempted to install but if they are hardware incompatibilities, I'm pretty sure they would put the blame on me.
Also, it's very very very hard to explain the benefits of Linux to people who barely know anything about Windows beyond Word, Internet Explorer, Norton, Ad-Aware and a few games. It's like teaching astrophysics to a 2 year-old: way too advanced.
scragar
May 3rd, 2008, 06:46 PM
I would be tempted to install but if they are hardware incompatibilities, I'm pretty sure they would put the blame on me.
Also, it's very very very hard to explain the benefits of Linux to people who barely know anything about Windows beyond Word, Internet Explorer, Norton, Ad-Aware and a few games. It's like teaching astrophysics to a 2 year-old: way too advanced.
normal people don't build their own computers, they buy them from big stores, which is to your advantage, build one for them for less, make sure it supports ubuntu or whatever, and make it really fast in comparison to windows.
My sister recently got net, I installed ubuntu on her comp to make it really secure(and far faster) when she got the internet, yet she wanted windows, so my half brother installed windows XP over the top, losing all of her files etc, and within a week the computer couldn't be used at all because of a collection of viruses. My sister still wants windows on the computer though, no idea why.
the8thstar
May 3rd, 2008, 07:03 PM
normal people don't build their own computers, they buy them from big stores, which is to your advantage, build one for them for less, make sure it supports ubuntu or whatever, and make it really fast in comparison to windows.
My sister recently got net, I installed ubuntu on her comp to make it really secure(and far faster) when she got the internet, yet she wanted windows, so my half brother installed windows XP over the top, losing all of her files etc, and within a week the computer couldn't be used at all because of a collection of viruses. My sister still wants windows on the computer though, no idea why.
That's exactly my point. Yet I'm not advanced enough in computers to build one from scratch; all I can do is install and fine-tune Ubuntu and other OSes... but that's still a BIG job because no one around me can help. Their idea of it just works is: "I buy it at the store, I plug it in, I turn it on and I see the Windows logo". What can you do with that, really...
Imagine if you install Ubuntu... they'll ask you why you've made a mockup startup screen instead of the Windows flag they're so used to!
PseudoOne
May 3rd, 2008, 07:08 PM
I don't think I'd install it for them, but I'd probably help them. I'd expect that they try to learn how to use it :). Anyone have tips on convincing one of my friends to choose K/Edu/X/Ubuntu instead of Gentoo? I'm sure they'd find it easier to use. Thanks.
lswest
May 3rd, 2008, 07:10 PM
I've installed it for 2 people, and helped 2 more (just basic advice/instructions for them, they did the actual work). The first one i suggested the distro to because he was having trouble running Eclipse in Vista, so i suggested he use Linux for the programming he does in Computer Science, and i showed him my Ubuntu and he was impressed, then i ended up installing it for him, since we were rushed for time, otherwise i'd have shown him how. And the other one was trying to install Linux but got frustrated at the liveCD not working, and asked me to install it using the alternate disk, which i did.
*edit* forgot to say, they're all quite happy with it.
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