Re-imagining

[Ralph Janke]

I totally agree, Mark.

It would be very unfortunate to replace one Windows with another one. The idea
of the FLOSS movement is not to replace Microsoft with a more tame Open Source
version, which still eliminates choices for the user.

If I would take some of the decisions and the current path of Canonical in isolation,
I could fear something like this happen. However, fortunately, the *buntu community
is not equal to Canonical. It is more like two different sets with hopefully a 
big as possible intersection.

Hence, contributions for me are anything that increases the choices of users and
brings the out of whack IP system a little bit more into balance, are in fact 
valuable contributions to the *buntu community. 

More choices does not have to mean, more complicated. While I personally have
never tried Mint, what I am hearing, it seems they are focus on the original goal
by the *buntu community (at least as it was often stated) to create a Linux 
distribution that is easy to use.

I also do not see any harm in the Canonical projects that seem to cause quite
some divisity in this regard. In fact, they give choices to the users. The
problem is when it gets more and more difficult to pursue those choices (i.e.
overriding policies default back to the "preferred option" and so on.

In this context, I would really like to see the DVD being mastered in a way
that allows the user to choose between different desktops. While it can 
be debated for infinity which desktop is the best, neither of them fits
with everybody's requirements, and hence the choice is additive, not divisive.

A good role I could LoCo see to take on is to create an environment to bounce
around ideas. I believe collaboration is the big social part of Open Source, not
only Ubuntinis. It would be great if you could make strides in this regard. 

Ralph
On Mon, Apr 08, 2013 at 08:27:23AM -0400, Che wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I have been following this thread with great interest as 'Linux adoption
> by the masses' has long been one of my personal goals.
> 
> In my computer repair activities I am amazed by the number of clients
> still using XP. Simply put they have stayed with XP because of the
> comfort level, which should be sending a loud and clear message to Linux
> devs from Mr. Shuttleworth on down.
> 
> Linux usability is approaching the point where Windows users will
> consider converting, but the mindset of devs HAS to change towards
> simpler software user maintenance, even if it means NOT having the
> bleeding edge technologies (I realize that devs are often driven by
> ego...).
> 
> Locally I teach a seminar called 'All The Software Your Computer Will
> Ever Need - For Less Than 5 Bucks!' - an intro to open source and Linux,
> and while many attend to find out about the cheap software, I am
> heartened by the number of seniors interested in converting to Ubuntu
> for its ease of use!
> 
> There is hope, as long as we remember to listen to our users and not our
> egos.
> 
> Mark
>  
> On Mon, 2013-04-08 at 07:58 -0400, David M. Pelly wrote:
> > That is a very interesting and rational  post, Gord.
> > 
> > Your mention of QQ  perked my interest.
> > 
> > It makes me wonder what more could there be to internet video/ audio
> > communicating, than skype? 
> > 
> > I am under the idea  that all you need to do is see and talk.
> > 
> > 
> > David
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > Subject: Re-imagining
> > > From: gordc2005 at velcom.ca
> > > To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2013 00:42:42 -0400
> > > 
> > > "Of my three closest friends and family members, how many enjoy
> > > Ubuntu on a daily basis?"
> > > 
> > > Zero.
> > > 
> > > I would be delighted if I could convert my wife, because her
> > computer is
> > > often clogged up with malware. However, her most important
> > application
> > > is QQ, a Chinese videoconferencing program she uses to
> > videoconference
> > > with friends and family in China -- and some right here in Toronto.
> > > Technically, it's horrid, but the videoconferencing is fabulous, it
> > > makes Skype look like a tricycle with training wheels. I'm hopeful
> > that
> > > Canonical's joint venture in China will bring QQ to Ubuntu, because
> > it
> > > would simplify my life. If they also could make Sopcast "just work,"
> > > that would seal the deal.
> > > 
> > > A real good friend has spent many years writing about computers, but
> > he
> > > has never installed an operating system. As soon as I say, "go into
> > your
> > > BIOS settings," he tunes out. There's no chance he will ever take
> > that
> > > step.
> > > 
> > > Both my sons have technical jobs in a Windows environment, so any
> > time
> > > they spent learning about Linux would be time wasted.
> > > 
> > > When I want to get things done, I run Mint with Cinnamon. However, I
> > > recognize the importance of Ubuntu, and my magazine column is
> > focused on
> > > the *buntus.
> > > 
> > > If there were Ubuntu Hours in Toronto, I would be very supportive --
> > but
> > > I'm the wrong guy to try to organize them.
> > > 
> > > We each support "the project" and "the community" in our own way,
> > and
> > > what is right for me is not right for you.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -- 
> > > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> ubuntu-ca mailing list
> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca