[AuckLUG] Workshop Evening

[Alan Nicholson]

On Monday 17 July 2006 20:51, Mark wrote:

<A workshop evening. Linux users (esp people newer to the fray) can bring 
in their systems and get assistance from the group.  I know there are probably 
a few people who'd probably take the LUG up on this should it come to 
fruition.>

Wot he said!!!

As a linux newbie I'd be interested. Sure I have managed to get Linux 
installed (currently SUSE 10/KDE on this machine) but I'd love to have a 
practical demo of something like downloading and installing packages,
(Thunderbird, SMART, Wengophone/Skype etc) especially from 
tarballs.Installing a WebCam. I'd also like to know how one can change the 
GUI used from (say) KDE to IceWM(??).  OK newbies - here is a chance to list 
your preferences in basic linux knowledge if it goes ahead!!

Maybe some of these are really simple and I can find out how to do it all in 
time but if I can get help to do it now I can really start to use Linux 
productively rather than Pfaff around getting frustrated.

I know this is probably old hat to most members who'd rather something more 
advanced so maybe one idea may be to have two "streams" if there is enough 
room - one for those who want to hear about Joomla etc and those that need 
guidance on the more "basic" use of Linux.

I'd also be interested in seeing the installation of SMART as a package 
manager in SUSE 10.1. I don't know if the bugs are out of the SUSE package 
manager yet but by all accounts SMART is well worth considering... I have no 
idea but maybe somebody who has installed it could run through an install and 
setup?

I've got a spare Compaq Desktop that I want to install Suse10.1 on (don't have 
a DVD reader... ,just a CD reader) as soon as I can download and burn a CD 
set, and would be happy for that to be used as the install/demo machine. Its 
currently got WINXP loaded but would be *happy* to see that replaced. I can 
deliver it to "whoever" in advance of the evening if necessary.

On a similar note...why is it you can find any number of evening classes 
running "Noddies Guide to learning Windoze" but nothing with a Linux flavour. 
It would be nice if a group of experienced Linux users could put together 
something at a local college. I am sure that one (different) person a night 
per week over a term would not be too much of an imposition on individuals 
time and it would be interesting to see how many members of the public 
actually would be interested enough to sign up for the course and pay money 
for the privilege ...I would for one!!!!! Just  have to find a location with 
a few spare PCs that can be used for Linux (Live CD anyone??)

Alan Nicholson