[ubuntu-uk] Research required ...

[Patrick Bulteel]

> Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:06:18 +0000
> From: Barry Drake <bdrake at crosswire.org>
> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Research required ...
> To: UK Ubuntu Talk <ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Message-ID: <1293451578.2118.38.camel at pcspecialist>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Those of you on the advertising list will know that Dant? Ashton and I
> have been trying to research easy entry into Ubuntu with the mindset of
> the average Windows user.  Please consider helping with this research.
> The aim is to pick a particular 'need' and to follow through whether
> this need can be met under Ubuntu, how easily and how successfully.
> This use should ideally be one that your Windows friend would have, and
> preferably a need that you know little about.
>
> First take a look at:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/switching/C/applications-equivalents.html
>
>
I found the following page very useful.

http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/top-100-of-the-best-useful-opensource-applications/

I'm sure that there's lots of other comparison pages out there.


> This page may need revision, and certainly needs extending.
>
> Rules for research: any necessary packages to be easily and quickly
> installed without using the commandline.  The preference would be to use
> the Ubuntu Software Centre.  If you have a way of meeting the need, but
> this requires commandline or other methods, please submit this anyway -
> Ubuntu could incorporate a simple workaround.  Any scripts or code you
> write to make things work could be posted.  Stuff like that could easily
> be part of a package and run on installation without the user being in
> any way aware of the complexity.
>
> When you have done the research, please report on how easy it was to
> access the information and provide links if a good method is suggested
> online somewhere.
>
> So far, I have researched iPod and iTunes.  I have also explored
> Logos/Libronix as a colleague has over ?1000 worth of books in that
> format.  I have to report that Ubuntu is not for him.  I have e-mailed
> Logos and received a reply stating that at present they do not have
> plans to support our platform.  The same was true of Mac until many many
> Mac users complained to Logos!  A niche area, but maybe you'd like to
> aid that cause?
>
> I also did a webcam exercise with my sister.  The task was dead easy for
> me - but incredibly daunting for my sister and it need not have been!
> That one hardly wants any tweaking but it does need tweaking and
> properly documenting.
>
> Researching iTunes, I found an official Ubuntu document that said iTunes
> would install under PlayOnLinux.  I tested this.  Only iTunes 10.6 can
> be made to work, and it installs crippled.  The CD rip and burn
> facilities don't work.  It is official policy that we do not include
> methods based on Wine or any of its derivatives as these, however good,
> are not for the Ubuntu newbie.
>
> The result of the above is that iTunes can be perfectly replaced and
> iPods work just fine under Ubuntu with several apps BUT the Apple
> download store cannot be accessed.  Most of you knew that already - I
> was working in the dark and discovered how hard it was to get
> information  that a newbie could follow.
>
> So - lay aside your geekiness for a time, imagine you're a newbie and
> volunteer to research a particular need.  Please state the one you are
> thinking of pursuing so we don't duplicate the effort.  If there's a
> good response, maybe someone who has admin access to the Canonical or
> Ubuntu website can set up a Wiki for us to report back on?
>
> Hope I'm not treading on any Canonical toes here ....  apologies in
> advance if I am.
>
> Regards,                Barry Drake.
>
> --
> What do you see when you use your Computer? Same old thing?
> ...There IS a Better Way!  Ubuntu!
>
>
>
I'm going to try to convert one of two computer that my parents have to
Ubuntu over new years.

All they need is to be able to browse the web, use email and use Skype with
their webcam. I'm not sure what else, but I know they have a scanner/printer
(don't know the brand yet) and a digital camera. All of these I'm going to
try to get working. Also, the best part is I will be able to support them
remotely very easily if I have to.

 I think that what I'm going to do is to let them do the work while I watch
over their shoulders and make notes. I'll gladly share these. As a side
note, my parents are in their 60s and my father is the computer literate one
- to some extent.

--
Patrick
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