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From: Alex R. <tun...@pa...> - 2002-05-01 02:37:31
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I think the Open Source CD is a wonderful idea, and I'd be happy to help out. I don't have good coding skills, but I'd be happy to write documentation, create a web page, (my HTML is pretty good) or beta test. I work at Jordan High School in Watts (LA's worst neighborhood) and the kids down there could really use a CD or two of good Open Source stuff. With my schoolkids in mind, I think that one of the most important things we can do is include as much "HOWTO" type material as possible, so that people who want to learn coding, or how to use a difficult program such as The GIMP, don't have to go out and buy expensive books. Please let me know what I can do to help. Alex |
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From: J A. F. <jaa...@ya...> - 2002-05-01 04:58:27
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--- Alex Roston <tun...@pa...> wrote: > I think the Open Source CD is a wonderful idea, and I'd be happy to help > out. I don't have good coding skills, but I'd be happy to write > documentation, create a web page, (my HTML is pretty good) or beta test. > > I work at Jordan High School in Watts (LA's worst neighborhood) and the > kids down there could really use a CD or two of good Open Source stuff. > > With my schoolkids in mind, I think that one of the most important > things we can do is include as much "HOWTO" type material as possible, > so that people who want to learn coding, or how to use a difficult > program such as The GIMP, don't have to go out and buy expensive books. > > Please let me know what I can do to help. > > Alex > I know we're trying to keep the CD targeted at the "average" computer user, therefore compilers and whatnot may not be appropriate, however I like this idea of "HOWTO" documentation that can help people become more familiar with using their computer and open source software. jaaron __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com |
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From: Alex R. <tun...@pa...> - 2002-05-01 05:14:52
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> I know we're trying to keep the CD targeted at the "average" computer user, > therefore compilers and whatnot may not be appropriate, however I like this > idea of "HOWTO" documentation that can help people become more familiar with > using their computer and open source software. > > jaaron Agreed, certainly we don't want something that's heavy with compilers, interpreters, and other geekishness. However, a couple items like XBasic and Visual Tcl might be good starters. After all, how many of us learned to program with GW and Qbasic from the old DOS installs? Microsoft doesn't include ANY programming languages with the new distros... On the other hand, I've just read the whole Slashdot discussion of this idea, and I'm fairly well sold on the thought that the CD needs to be a "best of breed" kind of thing with one really useful program of each type and an easy install - perhaps the 15-20 best Open Source programs out there. I think that to really take off it should be something that bridges the gap between a box with Windows only, and a mature box with lots of apps... Imagine that you've just installed Windows and you have only that basic setup. You put the OSS CD in and ten minutes later you have an office suite, a browser, mail client, file sharing software, a really good graphics program, a couple of programming languages, an MP3 player, etc. The icons are all on your desktop and you're ready to go. No long downloads, no trips to Staples - you're done. There might also be a "custom" install, or some kind of menu that would allow the user to select/deselect additional apps which are stable and useful, but go beyond the basics. Just my .02. Alex |
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From: Steve M. <st...@op...> - 2002-05-01 11:50:31
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> I know we're trying to keep the CD targeted at the "average" computer user, > therefore compilers and whatnot may not be appropriate, however I like this > idea of "HOWTO" documentation that can help people become more familiar > with using their computer and open source software. Trying to teach someone 'how to: using their computer" will be a massive waste of your resources. Assuming the project has limited resources to produce a physical CD. We should focus on people who actually use their computers & leave basic training to teachers/lugs/community access centers etc. [snip] Alex Roston: "Agreed, certainly we don't want something that's heavy with compilers, interpreters, and other geekishness. However, a couple items like XBasic and Visual Tcl might be good starters. After all, how many of us learned to program with GW and Qbasic from the old DOS installs? Microsoft doesn't include ANY programming languages with the new distros..." I totally agree. Best of Breed will avoid the embarrassment of shipping a CD with something broken on it and having the recipient hate open and free software. Better than Stable is also a good idea. I would go so far as to perhaps test the program on a Winbox first. Perhaps even a lowend box?? Another Criteria for inclusion we might consider is the product's responses to bug reports, how helpful they are with assistance, or we could go one step further & create an IRC channel for helping those who get the CD & need help thus avoiding the product's maintainers/authors/etc with noise. It just struck me that one 'Howto' doc that would be good is a brief explaination of what happens in the 'community' regarding 'release early, release often'. Once we get someone hooked on open/free software we don't want them experimenting with 'less than stable' releases. We should/can explain that our software is release prior to a level where an average user should even look at it for the best of everyone. I read a nice piece on that once & will track it down today. I remember it being rather elegant. -- Steve Mallett | http://OSDir.org - Just Stable, Open Source Apps st...@op... | web...@op... http://open5ource.net <personal> "To use Linux without criticizing it is to betray it." -Clay Shirky |
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From: Steve M. <st...@op...> - 2002-05-01 12:04:52
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> It just struck me that one 'Howto' doc that would be good is a brief > explaination of what happens in the 'community' regarding 'release early, > release often'. Once we get someone hooked on open/free software we don't > want them experimenting with 'less than stable' releases. We should/can > explain that our software is release prior to a level where an average user > should even look at it for the best of everyone. I read a nice piece on > that once & will track it down today. I remember it being rather elegant. Here it is: http://jakarta.apache.org/site/understandingopensource.html It's not as elegant as I recall from an enduser's point of view. -- Steve Mallett | http://OSDir.org - Just Stable, Open Source Apps st...@op... | web...@op... http://open5ource.net <personal> "To use Linux without criticizing it is to betray it." -Clay Shirky |
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