[ubuntu-uk] Race Online 2012 PCs shocker!

[Paul Sutton]

On 18/05/11 19:37, Rob Beard wrote:
> On 18/05/11 14:48, Matthew Daubney wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 18 May 2011 13:05, Paul Sutton <zleap at zleap.net
>> <mailto:zleap at zleap.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>     So what can we do about this, I am currently helping at a youth music
>>     project that has now got 4 / 5 ubuntu computers up and running,  I am
>>     struggling to maintain what we have on zero budget
>>
>>
>> What help do you need and where?

It's more up to the people running the place to get organised and get
stuff we need to do  the job they want us to do.

>>
> 
> I think some of it is providing after support.  In Exeter we've started
> a laptop adoption scheme (one of the guys in the LUG runs his own
> consultancy business and has made some good contacts, once such contact
> has a load of ex-corporate and ex-school laptops).  He came up with the
> idea of offering these laptops for around £25 each to residents in
> Exeter who might not already have a computer at home.

Yeah, I would struggle with some of this after support, and am worried
about someone saying I don't get this with windows and switch back to
windows on that basis when the issue is something really easy to
resolve, so yeah we need the backup.
> 
> As part of this scheme they come along to a LUG meeting, they get taken
> through installing Linux from a USB stick (in this case a slighty
> customised version of Linux Mint with a couple of extra packages) and
> get shown how to use it, they get taken through the basics of the
> applications, setting up an e-mail address etc.
> 
That would be really good, but as you said finding somewhere to do this
is easier said than done.

> We're also offering to install Linux (either Ubuntu or Mint generally
> depending what we have on hand) on peoples PCs.  The problem we had with
> this on the last install we did was that they had a USB ADSL modem from
> Talktalk.  Nowadays most people seem to have routers with ethernet ports
> or wireless etc but then as we found in this case, there are the odd few
> people who might still be using USB modems, dialup or whatnot.  This
> particular installation required a home visit (luckily I was free so
> offered to pop over) and I got them up and running so they now dual boot
> between Linux Mint 10 and a god awful slow installation of Vista.
> 
> I did give them my contact details and told them that if they needed any
> help to contact me.  These folks live in Exeter and I live in Torquay
> (but work in Exeter) so visiting wouldn't be too bad, but other than
> this the idea was they could come to a LUG meeting and get support once
> a month, what I think would be handy would be to be able to give support
> if need be, either remotely or in person.  I don't mind helping out with
> this myself, although I find it easier if they're local to me.
> 
> Hopefully as the Exeter meeting starts to get more popular more of the
> local LUG members in Exeter who go to the meeting will be able to offer
> support (the Exeter LUG meeting has only been running for about 3
> months).  No doubt others have found similar sorts of things across the
> country.
> 
>>     if we as a community want to promote Ubuntu and or Linux to the
>> masses
>>     we need investment and money overall.
>>

Well MS have a budget they can get their name everywhere,  I never see
posters with Linux on as an alternative,

>>
>> I'm not convinced about that statement.. but it has a slight ring of
>> truth to it.
> 
> I think part of the problem we're finding in Torbay is there isn't many
> places available to maybe do install days etc.  But we do have a
> suitable location for things like the Ubuntu hour idea.  We've been able
> to demo Ubuntu and other things on laptops at a local resturant/bar at
> LUG meetings and we have had a mention before in the local paper.
> 
>>
>>     User groups want to do something, but may lack the funds to do
>> so,  if
>>     we find a worth while cause we end up hitting a financial barrier,
>>
>>     we need to promote the alternatives and actually BE THERE when people
>>     want help,  so we can support up to a point then if I am stick i
>> need to
>>     be able to get someone who can help there ASAP to sort out the issue,
>>
>>
>> What it sounds like you need here is a way to ask for some help. The
>> groups I know need help are the ones that ask for it (like the recent
>> email around from the Nottingham hackspace)


yeah, who to ask, or people close enough to simply visit, so we can talk
directly to them, I am really poor at this sort of thing, i can cope
with some aspects of asking for help but get in a real muddle sometimes,
i think i need advice on what to ask for.

ok so what sort of help is available in Devon ?

paul
> 
> I think part of the problem we have in Devon & Cornwall specifically is
> that only a few of us are enthusaistic about getting out there and
> promoting FLOSS, although things are getting better, we have meetings in
> Torbay, Exeter, North Devon and there was talk about a Plymouth meeting.
>  I'm not sure what the Cornwall guys are doing, I belive there was two
> demo days held in Penzance a couple of years ago.  Seems to be the same
> few people who get involved though :-)
> 


Yeah i agree with this

Paul


> Rob
> 


-- 

Paul Sutton Cert SLPS (Open)
http://www.zleap.net


Open Mic nights - Wednesday 8pm to 11pm (14+) Free entry
Breakin' Ground - Street dance for young people (8+) Wednesday 6pm
(starts May 11th)

The Lighthouse,26 Esplanade Road, Paignton
01803 411 812 or e-mail  info at devonmusiccollective.com for more info.

17th September 2011 - Software freedom day