[NTLUG:Discuss] Open Source

[Robert Citek]

On Jan 31, 2008 11:04 PM, Chris Cox <cjcox at acm.org> wrote:
> I don't have a hard statistic.  But of the "knee jerk" revolution
> conversion crowd, those that got mad and made a mass conversion,
> a significant portion returned to Windows.  And... the problem with
> that is they won't be trying Linux again... at least not for a
> VERY long time.
>
> So... no sense putting a really bad taste in their mouth.  Better
> to put Linux into places where it's well suited... and as mentioned,
> there will be those who convert voluntarily.

But linux isn't the only Open Source in town.  I too have had push
back from introducing linux in various places.  However, I have been
very successful in introducing Open Source applications on Windows,
including Open Office, FireFox, Thunderbird, and Gimp.  And since all
of those are available on PortableApps[1], it makes it really easy to
distribute by giving them a CD or USB key with the software on it.

Two recent cases:

1) a friend was preparing a manuscript for publication and running up
against a deadline.  He need to have some images modified and was
fretting on where to get a copy of Photoshop.  I gave him a copy of
PortableApps, fired up Gimp, modified the images, and away the
manuscript went.  I let him keep the USB stick.

2) another friend of mine directs a clinical lab.  She recently got a
PowerPoint presentation from a colleague that would not open in MS
Office.  Using Portable OpenOffice from her USB key, she was able to
view the presentation in Impress without a problem.

[1] http://portableapps.com/

Regards,
- Robert