Re: Convincing someone to switch to Linux

[conrad.newton@broadpark.no (Conrad Newton)]

>From conrad.newton@broadpark.no on Saturday, 2003-03-15 at 21:22:40 +0100:
> >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.

Or buy two machines, one expensive Windows machine, but also one $200-$300 
Linux machine.  That should be enough for your terminal server.  If you
can convince the others that you can do more with your cheap machine
then they could with their expensive one, they may be more inclined
to listen to you next time.

Conrad