Re: [BLUG] BLUG meetings topics?

I'm an enthusiast that doesn't claim to know much. I moved my personal
computing environment to desktop Linux (SimplyMEPIS) some three years
ago, and haven't looked back. I've also been an active participant on
newsgroups and forums that cater to the newbie, and have helped a number
of people get up and running.

That said, what you guys talk about here is waaay over my head 90% of
the time. What I could bring to the table is an ability to talk at a raw
newbie level (I'm not that far removed from it), and anticipate and
accommodate all the questions and concerns that an unsophisticated but
curious Windows user would have. What I've found is that once it's
installed and the basic configuration is made, a convert from Windows
will very much appreciate the stability, security, and performance that
desktop Linux can provide.

---
Mark Warner

Kelly McEvilly wrote:
> I'm in! When and Where!
>
> I have a mail server running on Redhat that I'd really like to be able to manage more effectively.
>
> I have a 'test box' that runs CentOS that I play with.
>
> Total Noob though...
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Krenz" <mark@slugbug.org>
> To: "Bloomington LINUX Users Group" <blug@cs.indiana.edu>
> Sent: Monday, February 1, 2010 10:12:22 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [BLUG] BLUG meetings topics?
>
>
> Those are all well and good, but I think the first couple should get
> right back to the basics. The first one can be an install session where
> we can help anyone install Linux for anyone that wants too. The group
> may have gotten too far away from people just getting starting with
> Linux and we probably should get back to being focused more towards new
> users.
>
> While the more experienced users out there want something more
> interesting to them, they can also just go find something by themselves.
> They don't need as much help with Linux. They already know where to go
> (sorry but its true). You'll still get the socialization you want.
>
> I think an intro/install meeting would cover a lot of the stuff below
> anyways as people ask questions about what apps to use, whether to use
> Gnome or KDE, etc.
>
> I don't think BLUG has had a real install fest since the 90s, which
> seems crazy. We should try one again. So I think each meeting should
> be less presentation driven and more focused on helping people
> individually. Then we also could have more regular meetings, less worry
> about who will present and more time for socializing. Plus people
> outside the group would start to see exactly what to expect.
>
> On Tue, Feb 02, 2010 at 01:44:02AM GMT, Steven Black [blacks@indiana.edu] said the following:
>> On a similar note to talk about changing the meeting time, I think we
>> should discuss what we want to talk about at the meetings.
>>
>> Do we want informational meetings? If so, what topics?
>> + How do you do FOO using BAR?
>> + How can you use FOO to replace the commercial/Windows-only BAR?
>> + The trials and tribulations of migrating from FOO to BAR.
>> + etc.
>>
>> Do we want reviews and/or demos of software? If so, how do we determine
>> the software to review/demo?
>> + Two+ people jointly review the FOO, BAR, and BAZ products to do FOOBAR.
>> + Someone gives a presentation on the awesomeness of FOOBAR.
>> + Recounting the awesomeness that was FOO-con, and why you should go
>> + etc.
>>
>> Do we want to start having annual presentations on the state of FOOBAR
>> software for Linux? If so, how do we determine which FOOBAR to use?
>> + Graphics/3D software?
>> + Office software?
>> + FOOBAR-types of games
>> + light-weight window managers?
>> + etc.
>>
>> Do we want to have meetings where we plan group/community activities?
>> + Install-fests?
>> + CD hand-outs?
>> + Bloomington Linuxfest? (A larger Indiana Linuxfest with CINLUG?)
>> + Perhaps planning an annual Linux gaming night?
>> + etc.
>>
>> Would folks be interested in changing the structure of the meeting so
>> that people can get more out of it even if they're less interested in
>> the core presentation?
>> + Perhaps a more formal introduction with regular segments.
>> - upcoming releases, software to watch, new distributions, etc.
>> + (other ideas?)
>>
>> I'd like to see more people involved in each meeting, whether that's
>> more joint presentations, small 5-10 minute regular segments of some
>> sort, or if it is something more. Part of this is because many hands
>> make light work, but part of it is that if there are four people which
>> each contribute in some small way to the meeting, the speaker is
>> guaranteed to have at least four people to listen to the presentation.
>>
>> I'd also like to advocate for annual presentations on particular
>> software areas. Software changes quickly, and things can change fast
>> while we're focussed on our day-jobs or other projects. Before we know
>> it, there can be a great product that almost everyone is using, which
>> we've never heard about.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steven Black
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BLUG mailing list
>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>
>

_______________________________________________
BLUG mailing list
BLUG@linuxfan.com
http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug