Iso download options

[ppiklapp]

Q1:  who're are these so-called people who're fed up with Windows ?
In my experience in thousand of encounters, no such animal.  Not to say they don't exist.  I meet plenty of people who're sick of paying to fix a broken WinPC, but even the Mac folks I encounter seem to choose Macs not bec of Windows fatigue, but bec they think or have been convinced they can get the job done better, faster, or easier with a Mac.  Those who suffer with Windows fatigue generally seem to find some flavor of Linux on their own.  That is, in my experience.

Q2:  are there any professional techs who know other pros who're completely Linux-ignorant ?
Loads !  I used to (till very recently) work for a major retailer and virtually none of the techs, including the district tech honcho had a clue about Linux.  (BTW, he was a top-shelf hardware talent.)  And I'm reporting about what I observe in my corner of NYC, not Nowheresville.  Occasionally, I've been able pick off one or two who're willing to think outside the box, but most resist learning something else.  From my perspective, if it's hard to persuade techs, how can one hope to readily convince the non-techs ?

Something I like a lot about PCLOS is the magazine that encourages evangelizing with tips, tricks, suggestions, and info about programs maybe you never heard of.  Have every issue since Oct '10 and will d/l the Nov issue after finishing this msg.

The OP seeks/suggests an ISO that will help transition newbies to Linux.  Don't think one can ever exist.  This thread, as well as other threads on this forum relate many successful Linux transitions, but they all seem to rely on a local evangelist (ie. husband, best friend, daughter, teacher, etc.)  I don't care what you name the icons or if you make them look exactly like the Microsoft icons, non-techs will never buy Linux (any distro), unless they get real support as from an evangelist.

My landlord has never owned a computer, other than his smartphone.  He might be an excellent candidate for a Chromebook, but only if I help him with the purchase, to help him understand what it can and can't do.  Otherwise, since wife and kids all have WinLaptops, he'd gladly spend the extra bucks on something that they grok, bec they can help him.

I don't even think that even a good forum like this one is enough.  Frankly, some people need Windows and any distro will be a poor fit.  But when one has flesh-and-blood support as from an evangelist or maybe even a user group [do they still exist ?], a newbie can do something with Linux, other than just get frustrated....

 
 
Okay, here in T-Town, as the tourists call it, the majority of techs I run into are extreme Linux fans.  The reason they don't push the OS is that they make money off 'hole in the wall' users and software.  After all, if the majority of computer operators went to Linux, they would go broke.  The majority of their business is from viruses and other maladies unique to Winblows.

[mr-roboto]

<snip>
Not necessarily so. I've met Windows users who want me to "fix" their computers, so that they or their children or their spouse or their roommate can go out and download more viruses, spyware and malware ... and then want me to do the whole process over again in 3 or 6 months. I now tell them that I don't do Windows. If they insist, I tell them it will cost them $100 an hour for me to "fix" their computer, and that it almost always takes a minimum of 4 hours, often times longer. They all balk at that figure. I also tell them that I can install an operating system that is virus free, spyware free, malware free and crapware free, and I'll give them all the support they want or need ... for free. So far, no one who has taken me up on the offer (there have been several ... my Window die-hard brother the latest) have even had an inkling of a thought of returning to Windows. They all pretty much exclaim the same thing: how wonderful and comforting it is to be able to use their computer, without the worries of all the "wares" that inflict Windows.

Paul:  Here on Earth II, things are different.  On my Earth, adults particularly the ones in excess of age forty, only know just enough to be marginally functional.  They need their Microsoft Office, because they're afraid they'll have to learn something else and maybe the alternative isn't compatible with what their job uses.  They do not perceive a difference between Windows and Office (it's all Microsoft, right ?)

About thirteen years ago, my oldest customer's tried-n-true Novell file server went belly-up (hdrive abruptly died) and his late son and I were unable to get a replacement Novell system up-and-running right away.  I remembered CompUSA had a Linux-based file server appliance on sale, he bought it, I installed Linux for the very first time that night, and he's had a Linux-based file server ever since.  Samba/Linux file servers aren't too hard to sell, bec people don't see them/interact with them directly.  And you can't beat their efficiency.  That customer (Roy) was happy with Netware on a small, dedicated PC and the Linux appliance (Netmax) fit perfectly on that PC.  Since then, I've done a couple exotic server projects on FreeBSD, in addition to the Linux file servers.

On my world, techs are just as close-minded as their users.  All it takes is a little initiative and one can start making progress in a brave new world.  But very few (in my experience) want to give up their Redmond security blankets.

<snip>
I'm especially glad that you find the magazine useful, especially since I've been the magazine's chief editor since July, 2009. But why only download the issues going back to Oct 2010? Why not download ALL the back issues, for free?

parnote

Jeez !  You mean they're free now ?   This Linux stuff gets cooler and cooler !