Reversing the process...

[daacosta]

I have seen that to encourage new users of linux it is far easier to hook them up to free open source applications. See, I showed a friend what I am capable of doing with The Gimp and he asked more about it... He installed and started playing with this tool to the point that he was able to retouch some graphs unsuitable for publication on a scientific journal... Sure enough, I showed him Firefox and now he doesn't use any other browser... Inkscape followed and then Gnumeric (the best spreadsheet program I've seen), OOo, etc. He now wants to install Linux but is still hesitant... I wont push though...

So, my thesis is don't go all the way with Windows users but start with simple applications until they see that they can jump...

[bigtomrodney]

That's right on the money in my opinion. I remember hearinf a lot of the community not wanting to have Linux apps ported to Windows because it removed the need to switch to linux. Turns out it's the exact opposite. Firefox makes it big. More people switch...There are other apps that have done the same. I think when Amarok is ported to Windows it;ll allow for another migration of Windows users. Linux seems more like home when there are familiar faces there to greet you

[carlosponti]

i have been hooking a friend up with Open Office, gimp, Firefox etc and i think eventually he will make that move.

[daacosta]

That's right on the money in my opinion. I remember hearinf a lot of the community not wanting to have Linux apps ported to Windows because it removed the need to switch to linux. [...]

Oh! But isn't portability a desirable quality of any piece of software? I'd think inversely: If Windows users see that the applications they need on a daily basis can be replaced by free alternatives that run in Windows and Linux, then they will see no need to remain using Windows which costs more and is less reliable [no flamebait intended]

That's the way I am approaching the subject of enticing friends to use Linux and it is good to see that Carlos is pretty much doing something similar. I mean, it is like a sect... You show a little enlightment and then show more, and more, and more, until the poor fellow downloads a distro and all of the sudden he/she is buying linux books and magazines, another laptop, a stuffed penguin, a red fedora, etc. etc. Linux is free? HA! My a$$

[But I diverge... ]

[bigtomrodney]

Yeah that's about how I think of it...

[carlosponti]

he/she is buying linux books and magazines, another laptop, a stuffed penguin, a red fedora, etc. etc. Linux is free? HA! My a$$

LMAO if you look at it that way linux costs a fortune

[jonantice]

Here's a twist. I had been using Linux for about a month until my brother, a windows user, showed me openoffice. Obviously I hadn't had a need for productivity software yet, had I needed it I would have come across oo myself but I still find it amusing that a windows user introduced me to an open source software.

[fingal]

LMAO if you look at it that way linux costs a fortune

That's a key point. Over the last few years I've bought quite a few Linux magazines/books. No-one made me do that, but I bet the cost adds up a bit.

As for persuading anyone to use Linux, I've made more people aware of it, but not talked anyone into switching. One day ...

[carlosponti]

i do tend to spend a lot on books and magazines. my interest has cost me in apparel as well.

[genesus]

LMAO if you look at it that way linux costs a fortune

I knew it!!! All of the microsoft adds about cheaper total cost of ownership were correct