Linux Day idea

[John H]

Hi all and hope you're having a good weekend.  A few weeks ago I posted about using Linux on a old netbook.  Members were really helpful - thank you - and I managed a little of what was suggested:  I now have Lubuntu as an alternative boot.  But the majority of what I would like to do and discover was beyond me.  From talking to a few people I know I'm not the only one.  So...

I have an idea for a Linux Day where some or all of the following could happen:

• come and have a look at a computer running linux
• get help to convert to a flavour of linux or add as an alternative boot
• make a boot disk or stick for try-before-you-buy
• general showing off of linuxy things

I would be happy to arrange this morning/afternoon/day but the linux fans and skillful-ones among us would need to be willing to come along and share their knowledge.  So a few questions:

• Is this a good idea?
• Should it be free or charged for?
• Are any of you who were knowledgeable enough to help me willing to come along?
• Anything to add to the list of ideas above?

Let me know what you think.  Thanks, John

[Michael Erskine]

* it's a good idea
* it should be free
* the local GNU/Linux Users' Group should have plenty of knowledgeable
advocates to help out[*]
* nothing to add really

[*] http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?q=nottingham+linux+users+group

...although, the thing about Linux nowadays is that it just kinda
works -- the people who are genuinely interested in it just give it a
go and it either goes great and they like it and keep using it, or
maybe it doesn't go too well and they look online or whatever. I'm not
really sure what I'm saying here -- it's a bit of a computing
non-issue as getting started with Linux is relatively easy.

[Andy Nevill]

A linux day sounds cool :-)

Personally I'd be interested in learning more about programming in Linux and building distros / toolchains and embedded Linux but would be interested in anything that increased my knowledge.

Andy

[Chunky]

I'd also be interested in this, as a learner.

It would be good to have an overview of the distros as there are so many its pretty confusing,
Also good packages to install.

I've just put Ubuntu back onto my main computer (as a dual boot) as I'd like to properly make the change.
I still have issues with Excel macros (which I dont think there is anything I can do apart from re-write them) and CorelDraw file conversion.

I'd also like an overview of linux distros for the RPi, but that might be another event...

Matt

[jfowkes]

I would certainly attend!

[jfowkes]

I run Debian on two home PCs, but I'm not quite knowledgeable enough to teach people about it.

I can follow instructions on a website to do something, but I get lost pretty quickly with trying to tie all my bits of knowledge together to form a coherent picture of how Linux actually works under the hood.

<linuxrant>

For example, init.d still baffles me, as does dbus, pulseaudio/alsa weirdness, xorg, udev...

</linuxrant>

[Michael Erskine]

Choosing a GNU/Linux distribution is quite a topic (and a moving
playing field!) but I'd start with a highly trusted source of
information...

http://www.linux.org/article/view/selecting-a-linux-distribution

The initial problem facing an individual will be down to their own
combination of what they want to put it on (hardware: exotic?
interesting? locked-down?) and what they want to achieve with it
(software: suitable replacement packages available? generic?
up-to-date? popular and well used = well supported).

If in doubt - just try Ubuntu: massively used and supported, easy
try-out CDs and installers, still meets the criteria of Free Software
and based on Debian so a solid package management system with plenty
of downstream/upstream support.

That's all I would put into a generic GNU/Linux workshop because
everything else would need to be tailored to the needs of the
individual attendees and their pet computers and in most of those
cases I'd just be a human google interface!

[John H]

Thanks for the replies, folks.  I was thinking yesterday that this wasn't such a good idea as few people has replied but the posts today are encouraging.  I'll leave this topic going for a while longer and see if we pick up a bit more support.  I'm thinking a useful starting point might be a Wednesday night where I advertise something completely informal.  Those of us who want to can show up with machines, CDs, datasticks etc and at least work out where we're stuck!  I'll suggest a date in a few days.  John.

[Michael Erskine]

Yeah, I think that might be good -- it's mostly about the individuals
getting set up with their own installs or troubleshooting a particular
feature or package. I will help out where I can.


I can give some background on my reluctance to take this up: back
before the hackspace I put a lot of work into the Nottingham GNU/Linux
Users Group but it just became a "you advocate this therefore you must
fix my computer" group which can be fun for a while but really tiring.
So I no longer try to advocate GNU/Linux: if people can't use it
easily and the solution isn't immediately googlable then maybe it's
not the right choice!

[Lionel]

.I am very interested in the idea of an introductory session and could bring in some recent Linux Format coverdisks with assorted distros on. I need to back up my laptop before replacing Vista. I have no practical experience of Linux yet.

[John H]

I'm free next Wednesday evening - 29th May - so am going to suggest a meet-up for those of us who are interested in helping each other with Linux.  Thanks for the background, Michael.  Please just say no if I ask too much.  Lionel, it would be great if you could bring the disks along.  If anyone has a Linux/Lubuntu/puppylinux boot stick it would be good to see that too.  I will try to get to the space at 6.30pm.  If there any suggestions of things to bring or organise, please let me know and I'll do my best to sort it.

Hope to see some of you at the inaugural Linux Lummox Evening.

On Saturday, May 18, 2013 2:48:30 PM UTC+1, John H wrote:

[John Crouchley]

I am interested in and can come along on Wednesday 29th. I am a linux newbie and can use all the help I can get.

[Michael Erskine]

On 24 May 2013 10:54, John H <john....@phonecoop.coop> wrote:
> I'm free next Wednesday evening - 29th May - so am going to suggest a
> meet-up for those of us who are interested in helping each other with Linux.
> Thanks for the background, Michael. Please just say no if I ask too much.

Hehehe - it's just me getting that sinking feeling! I will most
probably enjoy helping out immensely like I did last week. I just
can't face developing a workshop!

[Kate Bolin]

I have USB sticks! With linux on them!

Wait...I can't remember what I have.

Okay, the black one with the yellow knitted strap has Mint on it.  I think it must be 14 or maybe 13, because it's from November 2012. Mint is a lovely ubuntu distro that is great for desktops.  MCP (in the comfy area) runs it.

The skull with the label that says "Lubuntu" unsurprisingly has Lubuntu on it.  Lubuntu is great for netbooks (RIP netbooks!), because it's a small and relatively speedy version of ubuntu.  I use it on my netbook, and I love it.

And that's it so far.  I just discovered that my Hello Kitty strap stick is blank, and I might put one of the tinier linux distros on it, and then my wooden stick is also blank, so I'll put a bigger distro on that one.

And I'll be in on the 29th trying to get the place looking awesome for the Open Day on Saturday, so just grab me and I'll throw USB sticks at you (not literally).

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Kate Bolin
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[Jake Howe]

My secondary computer runs Icaros.

Its a Linux distro built as a descendent to Amiga OS.

[Kate Bolin]

Okay, I've been on a slight bender, and now I have:

* Mint (on the stick with the yellow strap)

* Lubuntu (on the stick with the skull and the Lubuntu label)

* Puppy Linux (on the stick with the skull and the Random label)

* Damn Small Linux (on the stick with the Hello Kitty strap)

* Easy Peasy (on the wooden stick)

I still want to get Sugar on one of my sticks, so I might have that too.

Really, I'm just looking for that absolutely perfect distro for my netbook.  Once I find that, I'll stop.

I can quit any time. 

Really.

--
Kate Bolin
www.katebolin.com

[John H]

Good work gang.  See you Wednesday.  John

On Saturday, May 18, 2013 2:48:30 PM UTC+1, John H wrote: