The need for the Linux Proliferation Agreement

Recently an article was written about what is lacking in modern Linux distributions which prevent a regular and day to day use of Linux, both at home as in organizations. As a possible solution, the article talks about a Linux Proliferation Agreement, > establishing public e-centers, well maintained, with constant personal support and where people can get training and courses in the use of Linux and open source software. I think the article is well written, and some of its ideas as a public service to help normal users is very applicable to the Ubuntu NY team.

See: http://opensourcelearning.info/blog/?p=338

Digg: http://digg.com/linux_unix/The_need_for_the_Linux_Proliferation_Agreement

I agree with many of the ideas. I think that we should definitely either create our own kind of e-center, or at least partner with other Linux and technology organizations and vendors in NY to make this happen. I will read a bit more from those links and hopefully post an in depth response a bit later. Right now the main issue is how we would go about creating such a center. I think that a good start is to hold basic computer classes in NY. We could originally hold them for free and then charge money if we got a good turnout. We could use that money to build such centers.

Maybe to start out we can do something simple online like help over IRC, provide lists of compiled documentation; everything designed for a person with no prior experience with Linux. IRC Java web application? IRC Firefox extension (ChatZilla)?

It's a good article, a little long winded, but well written. It's been a long time in the making, but Linux is definitely ready for the masses. In order to make progress on bug #1 we need to have Linux on sale in every store side by side with Windows. Word on the street is that we'll hear an anouncement about that ANY DAY NOW.

I'm just worried if we'll be able to handle these forums doubling in size every week for the next few months. Already some of the IRC channels can get out of hand sometimes, what happens when We get 100 new people every day asking "where's my start menu?" or "How come I can't get this game to work?"

If there is any Linux that is ready, it's Ubuntu, and we as a community may need to be ready to put in a lot of work to make this work. :-)

Hendrixski said:

I'm just worried if we'll be able to handle these forums doubling in size every week for the next few months. Already some of the IRC channels can get out of hand sometimes, what happens when We get 100 new people every day asking "where's my start menu?" or "How come I can't get this game to work?"

I suggest a private #ubuntu-elite channel on freenode.net .. Let the noobies sizzle in #ubuntu :D ... But seriously, we do need a higher level chat channel, only for higher level problems.