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Matt Lee wrote: > Paul Sutton wrote: > > >> I have to agree with Tom here, I am trying to encourage new users to >> switch to Linux and free software, join the lug and chatrooms etc, >> however feel that arguments regarding distro based on how much free >> software is actually in there, is not helpful, At the end of the day a >> user wants a working system, if the solution is to use non free drivers >> then so be it, we just explain the difference, and campaign to get >> more free drivers. >> > > What if the user wants Photoshop? Microsoft Office? Flash? > Proprietary codecs? Nvidious or ATI drivers? RealPlayer? Adobe > Acrobat? Opera? > > If we're going to start promoting proprietary software, or even > recommending it to people, then I think we're failing as an > organisation. > > matt > I am over my head here, I don't agree that we have failed just because someone uses proprietary code, the more people we can get using Linux, the more people we can hopefully get to campaign for better open support by vendors. We need to educate there is an alternative, and that the alternative is usable by users, while at the same time teach the ethos of free software, getting someone to switch from Windows to Linux should be seen as an achivement, lets help people, it will take time but take it one step at a time, MS office - Will Openoffice do the job tasks you want Photoshop - Will gimp or another free graphics package do the job. I think free and propritary can exist side by side, on the same system, lets not put uses off by saying "can't do that its against the free software ethos, ) if you do they may simply give up, and if they do We really have failed. Look at ID software, they have relased their code as gpl, and to great effect, more people will follow suit, the bigger the Linux user base gets, the better, esp if everyone is on board and willing to campaign to get free / open drivers etc. We just need to get people on board first. lets do things one step at a time. Regarding pdf, that is a very useful format, even the Ldp uses it for documents, surely we can be a little flexible on this. Paul -- http://www.openoffice.org http://www.linux.org -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version 3.1 GIT d S: a C+++ UL++++ P+ L++ W++ N+ W--- O! V! PS+ Y! t+++ 5 X+++ R tv- b- DI! D++ G e H! r! z? -----END GEEK CODE BLOCK---- -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html