Re: Convincing someone to switch to Linux

>From Roberto Sanchez on Friday, 2003-03-14 at 20:06:23 -0500:
> 
> The budget is $1000-1200 (max).  My solution (I was asked for my opinion, 
> as I am seen as pretty computer savvy) was for us to go to Walmart and 
> purchase 4 to 6 Linux boxes for $200-$300 each.  My rationale was:
> 
> (snip)
> 
> The "solution" that they decided on (not yet implemented) is to keep the 
> aging machines and purchase one new Dell machine with WinXP/OfficeXP.  

The part of the argument that is incomprehensible to me is
why they need $1000 to buy a single computer!  Nowadays most
people (even those who use Windows) are spending $500 or less.

Since presumably no one in the group is simulating nuclear bomb blasts
or calculating the structure of hemoglobin from basic principles, 
it is indefensible to spend $1000 on a SINGLE computer.

Maybe you can concentrate on this point, and then make sure that
at least one of the TWO computers they buy has a hard disk large 
enough to allow a dual boot installation Linux/Win XP.  As others
here have suggested, you then learn how to use the Linux machine
as a terminal server for the older machines, and from time to time,
boot into Linux.  Occasionally they will use the Linux machine, and 
then they can see for themselves that it is perfectly adequate for
e-mail, web-surfing, etc.  A Knoppix demonstration could be useful.

The main problem here looks like a political one.  The higher-ups
have already decided what they want to do, and may be impervious
to logic.  So concentrate on a point that even Windows-users could
agree on, namely that you do not need $1000 to buy a computer.

Conrad