Installation Stories
Fine, this is the Linux stuff. Feel free to ignore.
My own credentials: Linux user since 1991. Experienced IT troubleshooting type.
Installation #1 - College student's laptop.
Distribution: Ubuntu Studio (Ubuntu 9.10 'Karmic Koala' with multimedia apps and codecs) DVD.
Hardware: 2 year old HP notebook with integrated NVIDIA graphics.
End User: Slightly sophisticated non-IT type. Capable of following instructions and, with a little guidance, locate and implement solutions off the forums.
User was having issues with the installed Vista system after upgrades: slow, bad graphics etc. Has some user experience with GNOME desktop and applications. Used OpenOffice & GIMP under Windows before upgrade.
Install Experience: Painless. All the hardware was detected and ran. This is by far the most typical experience.
User experience: Some small problems running Windows games, but user was able to solve after being pointed at WineHQ forums.
User is very happy with system and performance.
Installation #2 - Graphic artist's laptop.
Distribution: Ubuntu Studio DVD
Hardware: aging Toshiba laptop. Integrated Intel graphics.
End User: 'Power User' level of experience. Can solve most common problems undirected.
Installation: Problematic. After system upgrade video failed. Problem was with the IGA divers. Uninstalled and system defaulted to VESA and worked. Given that this user doesn't need 3D or direct rendering, this solution was acceptable. Suspend/hibernate not functioning and no time to follow up.
User Experience: More issues tweaking some apps to run under WINE. (notice a theme?) User unable to track down. I'll work later to solve them. Issues running DOS apps. Otherwise pleased. Will probably have to come up with something under QEMU for the DOS stuff.
More stuff:
OpenOffice. A freind was a teacher at tribal schools at an indian reservation. No budget, old PCs and several of them effectively useless because they only had Windows and no apps. I showed him OpenOffice on my computer and provided the Windows installer on a CD. He went from one usable PC in his classroom to five in an afternoon at no cost. Could not have been more pleased.
My own credentials: Linux user since 1991. Experienced IT troubleshooting type.
Installation #1 - College student's laptop.
Distribution: Ubuntu Studio (Ubuntu 9.10 'Karmic Koala' with multimedia apps and codecs) DVD.
Hardware: 2 year old HP notebook with integrated NVIDIA graphics.
End User: Slightly sophisticated non-IT type. Capable of following instructions and, with a little guidance, locate and implement solutions off the forums.
User was having issues with the installed Vista system after upgrades: slow, bad graphics etc. Has some user experience with GNOME desktop and applications. Used OpenOffice & GIMP under Windows before upgrade.
Install Experience: Painless. All the hardware was detected and ran. This is by far the most typical experience.
User experience: Some small problems running Windows games, but user was able to solve after being pointed at WineHQ forums.
User is very happy with system and performance.
Installation #2 - Graphic artist's laptop.
Distribution: Ubuntu Studio DVD
Hardware: aging Toshiba laptop. Integrated Intel graphics.
End User: 'Power User' level of experience. Can solve most common problems undirected.
Installation: Problematic. After system upgrade video failed. Problem was with the IGA divers. Uninstalled and system defaulted to VESA and worked. Given that this user doesn't need 3D or direct rendering, this solution was acceptable. Suspend/hibernate not functioning and no time to follow up.
User Experience: More issues tweaking some apps to run under WINE. (notice a theme?) User unable to track down. I'll work later to solve them. Issues running DOS apps. Otherwise pleased. Will probably have to come up with something under QEMU for the DOS stuff.
More stuff:
OpenOffice. A freind was a teacher at tribal schools at an indian reservation. No budget, old PCs and several of them effectively useless because they only had Windows and no apps. I showed him OpenOffice on my computer and provided the Windows installer on a CD. He went from one usable PC in his classroom to five in an afternoon at no cost. Could not have been more pleased.