Posted on 12/19/2018 4:28:57 AM PST by ShadowAce
Back in 2016, I took down the shingle for my technology coaching business. Permanently. Or so I thought.
Over the last 10 months, a handful of friends and acquaintances have pulled me back into that realm. How? With their desire to dump That Other Operating System™ and move to Linux.
This has been an interesting experience, in no small part because most of the people aren't at all technical. They know how to use a computer to do what they need to do. Beyond that, they're not interested in delving deeper. That said, they were (and are) attracted to Linux for a number of reasons—probably because I constantly prattle on about it.
While bringing them to the Linux side of the computing world, I learned a few things about helping non-techies move to Linux. If someone asks you to help them make the jump to Linux, these eight tips can help you.
Linux is great. It's not perfect, though. It can be perplexing and sometimes frustrating for new users. It's best to prepare the person you're helping with a short pep talk.
What should you talk about? Briefly explain what Linux is and how it differs from other operating systems. Explain what you can and can't do with it. Let them know some of the pain points they might encounter when using Linux daily.
If you take a bit of time to ease them into Linux and open source, the switch won't be as jarring.
It's easy to fall into what I call the power user fallacy: the idea that everyone uses technology the same way you do. That's rarely, if ever, the case.
This isn't about you. It's not about your needs or how you use a computer. It's about the person you're helping's needs and intentions. Their needs, especially if they're not particularly technical, will be different from yours.
It doesn't matter if Ubuntu or Elementary or Manjaro aren't your distros of choice. It doesn't matter if you turn your nose up at window managers like GNOME, KDE, or Pantheon in favor of i3 or Ratpoison. The person you're helping might think otherwise.
Put your needs and prejudices aside and help them find the right Linux distribution for them. Find out what they use their computer for and tailor your recommendations for a distribution or three based on that.
And not everyone wants to be. Everyone I've helped move to Linux in the last 10 months has no interest in compiling kernels or code nor in editing and tweaking configuration files. Most of them will never crack open a terminal window. I don't expect them to be interested in doing any of that in the future, either.
Guess what? There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe they won't get the most out of Linux (whatever that means) by not embracing their inner geeks. Not everyone will want to take on challenges of, say, installing and configuring Slackware or Arch. They need something that will work out of the box.
In an ideal world, we'd all have tricked-out, high-powered laptops or desktops with everything maxed out. Sadly, that world doesn't exist.
That probably includes the person you're helping move to Linux. They may have slightly (maybe more than slightly) older hardware that they're comfortable with and that works for them. Hardware that they might not be able to afford to upgrade or replace.
Also, remember that not everyone needs a system for heavy-duty development or gaming or audio and video production. They just need a computer for browsing the web, editing photos, running personal productivity software, and the like.
One person I recently helped adopt Linux had an Acer Aspire 1 laptop with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. That helped inform my recommendations, which revolved around a few lightweight Linux distributions.
The DistroWatch database contains close to 900 Linux distributions. You should be able to find three to five Linux distributions to recommend. Make a short list of the distributions you think would be a good fit for them. Also, point them to reviews so they can get other perspectives on those distributions.
When it comes time to take those Linux distributions for a spin, don't just hand someone a bunch of flash drives and walk away. You might be surprised to learn that most people have never run a live Linux distribution or installed an operating system. Any operating system. Beyond plugging the flash drives in, they probably won't know what to do.
Instead, show them how to create bootable flash drives and set up their computer's BIOS to start from those drives. Then, let them spend some time running the distros off the flash drives. That will give them a rudimentary feel for the distros and their window managers' quirks.
Running a live session with a flash drive tells someone only so much. They need to work with a Linux distribution for a couple or three weeks to really form an opinion of it and to understand its quirks and strengths.
There's a myth that Linux is difficult to install. That might have been true back in the mid-1990s, but today most Linux distributions are easy to install. You follow a few graphical prompts and let the software do the rest.
For someone who's never installed any operating system, installing Linux can be a bit daunting. They might not know what to choose when, say, they're asked which filesystem to use or whether or not to encrypt their hard disk.
Guide them through at least one installation. While you should let them do most of the work, be there to answer questions.
As I mentioned a paragraph or two ago, using a Linux distribution for two weeks gives someone ample time to regularly interact with it and see if it can be their daily driver. It often works out. Sometimes, though, it doesn't.
Remember the person with the Acer Aspire 1 laptop? She thought Xubuntu was the right distribution for her. After a few weeks of working with it, that wasn't the case. There wasn't a technical reason—Xubuntu ran smoothly on her laptop. It was just a matter of feel. Instead, she switched back to the first distro she test drove: MX Linux. She's been happily using MX ever since.
You can't always be there to be the guiding hand. Or to be the mechanic or plumber who can fix any problems the person encounters. You have a life, too.
Once they've settled on a Linux distribution, explain that you'll offer a helping hand for two or three weeks. After that, they're on their own. Don't completely abandon them. Be around to help with big problems, but let them know they'll have to learn to do things for themselves.
Introduce them to websites that can help them solve their problems. Point them to useful articles and books. Doing that will help make them more confident and competent users of Linux—and of computers and technology in general.
Helping someone move to Linux from another, more familiar operating system can be a challenge—a challenge for them and for you. If you take it slowly and follow the advice in this article, you can make the process smoother.
That’s because Windows is mailing every move you make to vendors. j/k
Non-techies are the ones who need to go to Linux because they are the ones getting infected.
If you are using Office products to their limits, you are not a non-techie. And then, Office 365 in the cloud on Linux.
Applications load amazingly fast.
You can opt out of both.
I don't like having to run anti-virus, anti-malware, etc just to use my computer
You do not. I have not run such. Most of my approx. 18 years of very extensive use of Windows (right now with over 400 tabs open), though i do let Windows Defender "run" but not do scans. Amd only had 2 infections in that time, years ago, thanks be to God. Pray and be careful where you "drive," and the "passengers" you let in. I do run the MVPS host file (edited) though.
I don't like having to pay subscription fees (Office) for software I (supposedly) bought
You should not to buy them, since Apache and Libre OpenOffice should do the job for most.
I don't like contributing money to Leftist causes that MS supports
True, and which is why i choose AMD over pro-LBGT Intel, but now i see this ) for a CPU, and it is hardly possible to avoid all such, and which you likely supported if you bought any cell/smart phone.
I don't like my operating system to "call home" because the company who sold me the operating system refuses to trust me
That can be prevented in Win/10.
I don't like a company that refuses to trust me, but I cannot trust them, even with something as simple as a monthly update (see October 2018 update).
I actually had more problems with Linux (corrupted depository or other errors, plus lack of support for some wireless, etc. ), and Linux forums well attest to this, relative to the number of users.
I have tried every major and some minor Linux distros over the years, and it had much potential, but for me Linux is too restrictive in terms of range of available software of comparable working functionality (no real alternative to AutoHotKey for one) despite the lists Linux users post. But if it works for you, fine. Thank God for alternatives.
What type (connection) of kbrd is it?
Quick questions - quick answers appreciated.
1) How often do you need to end up on a command line to accomplish a necessary task?
2) For people with a need for standard web access, email, texting, word processing, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. what is the best shell?
3) With this command I think I could look at large file usage: “du -s * | sort -nr > $HOME/user_space_report.txt”
I assume this is case-sensitive?
4) Can you use Linux without command line necessities for #2 tasks?
I used to be a .Bat file expert, Quick Basic and assembly guy from the 80’s but along came GUI/Windows.
The Linux command line seems overly complex and unforgiving.
I wish they’d based the command line on the .Bat format but that’s just because it seems more straight-forward.
No rush - my only Linux experience was to make a boot-able thumbdrive to change some corrupted filenames with non-widows compatible characters to be accessible.
Lastly - sorry for the quick question suggestion at the beginning. ;-)
I still play command and conquer -generals, a lot. ALso, I use VDI on it to work from home, and I also use powerpoint to create sunday school lessons and then dump them on my wife’s laptop for church.
That last line implies that I need the latest version of office on both machines and am paying the $100 a year fee for it. I’d have to go Linux for both of them to make it worthwhile.
You’re going to narrow 900 distros down to 4 or 5 and let this non-techie “take them for a spin”?
LOLOLOL...that’s the stupidest thing I’ve read in ages.
99% of people want their computer to operate like their toaster, refrigerator, or car. You just use it to get something done.
This MIGHT have been a fine article in 1998. In 2018? There is nobody in the 350 million people in the U.S. who will do this stuff.
*need*? It really depends on the task, but I've heard people can go years without ever touching the command line. I just feel more comfortable with it than looking around a desktop that can be cluttered with open windows.
By "shell" I'm assuming you mean desktop environment, rather than a terminal shell.
Personally, I prefer xfce, but a lot of people prefer KDE or Gnome. There are dozens more out there, all of which act slightly differently. It just depends on how you like to work.
3) With this command I think I could look at large file usage: “du -s * | sort -nr > $HOME/user_space_report.txt”
I assume this is case-sensitive?
Yes. Everything in Linux is case-sensitive. user_space_report.txt is a different file than User_space_report.txt or user_space_report.txT
4) Can you use Linux without command line necessities for #2 tasks?
Most definitely. I have a application dock on my desktop that I use for those.
It depends on the Linux "flavor" and desktop version as you would need a a lightweight distribution, running maybe the Xfce or LXDE desktop. 10 Best Lightweight Linux Distros For Old Computers | 2018 Edition https://fossbytes.com › Home › Geek
I have an old really good scanner that vista and higher does not want me to use.
I had one of those nice Canon LIDE 25 Flatbed Thin USB ones that lacked support a few years ago, and I threw it out. But now I see it works with W/7. Check for drivers.
I *believe* that LibreOffice can create PP-compatible slideshows. I haven't tried, though.
And as with buying a computer, what needs to be asked is what they want to use it for. As with browsers, some just want a basic family or sports car and others want a heavy duty utility truck (Firefox ESR unsurpassed).
I have a HP Scanjet 5470c. Vista did not like it and HP had no updates. I can't remember how old it is. I had an old p4 that had a problem so I wiped the whole thing, I deleted the MS DOS also and have not figured out how to reload it. OOPS
“Windows 10 drove me to Linux”
That’s depressing and I’ve heard other comments like that.
I’ll look up Zorin Linux.
Do you do things that the masses don’t do? As I say, the internet and Office are about the only things I use.
BTTT.
Most computer users are like centrists...they may not even KNOW a "third way" exists between Windows and Mac. They think Linux is that kid carrying a blanket on Peanuts.
Approaching these computer users in the manner I propose could lead to a surge in Linux users provided full transparency on the learning curve. I have tech-savvy friends who are totally happy with iPhones while non-tech friends prefer Androids with blockers etc. Your mileage may vary.
I do things the masses don't do. I just use my puter for the internet but Zorin comes with a Libre suite of office tools. You can try them for free. They do all I need. I picked Zorin because it is most like Win7. Linux Mint is probably the most popular along with Ubuntu.
What a guy/gal - not looking - getting son on road with a loaner LX470 - thanks! New tag, less leaves, gassed up, good tires, pressure and oil. ;-)
Install Linux on a virtual machine and use it for browsing and email. We do that for offices with high infection rates. They can’t do email or web on Windows.
Those are the two most likely conduits for trouble.
I do Linux at work. Installed it at home twice. Never use it. It seems the last thing I want to do when I get home is mess around with /bin/??? and vi.
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