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On Thu, 2003-08-14 at 19:52, Ed Skinner wrote:
>      Thanks for all the comments. I am accumulating a complete list and w=
ill=20
> post it when the discussion slows.
>      Here are some follow-up questions I have.
>=20
>    1) Instant Messaging (Alan Dayley) - Are we talking AOL for the great=20
> majority of naive users? Do they expect to login to AOL (and does AOL sup=
port=20
> logging in from Linux -- I thought they had special Windows-only software=
?)

My cousin is living with us and uses the same computer as my wife.  He
is HOOKED on GAIM he says it KILLS AIM.  Why? Because in one client he
can do MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger (plus
others, but those are all he uses)  It "merges" his buddy list and makes
it all tabbed.  He is so hooked. ;)

That said you can also use GNU/Linux to dial up to AOL.  You can't use
it to create a "Free AOL Account", but once you have one you can dial
into it. :)

>    2) Concern About Fonts on Linux (Ed Skinner) - Are there fonts commonl=
y=20
> found on Windows machines that are not commonly found with Linux (RedHat =
8.0=20
> is the distribution I'm considering)? If so, Word ".doc" files will look=20
> "funny" on Linux and naive users will panic when trying to exchange ".doc=
"=20
> files with Windows-based users.

It is my understanding you can get microsoft true type fonts for
GNU/Linux.  I have not personally tried, but I believe it is possible.

>    3) GRUB (Marcia Wilbur) - If the machine will be Linux-only, I (Ed Ski=
nner)=20
> think this is moot because the Linux installation program should "do the=20
> right thing." But if the machine will be dual-boot, then yes, the person=20
> doing the Linux install (on the naive user's behalf) may need to "tweak" =
it=20
> to set the appropriate default. Some knowledge of GRUB configuration woul=
d=20
> then be needed by the installer (person). My inclination, however, is to=20
> configure a Linux-only system and remove the temptation of the naive user=
=20
> being tempted by satan (into booting Windows again). [FYI: My sister and =
I=20
> are well into adulthood, and more so than I like to remind myself.]

Unfortunately most GNU/Linux systems don't use GRUB as a default boot
loader.  They should. :)

>    4) PDF Reader (Derek Neighbors) - I (Ed Skinner) will disagree with De=
rek's=20
> wife and add "acroread" to my growing list of requirements of things to a=
dd=20
> (because they're not in RedHat 8.0 - the baseline I'm considering 'cause=20
> that's what I'm running).

You missed my comment.  I think my wife is NUTS for liking ghostview.=20
Thats why I keep install xpdf on accident.  :)  Acroread is bad because
it is not Free Software use xpdf instead. :)

>    5) Office Tools (Derek Neighbors) - Abiword may be preferable to OpenO=
ffice=20
> but I (Ed Skinner) don't know if it exchanges files well with Microsoft W=
ord.=20
> Same for Gnumeric (spreadsheets). Both of my sisters occasionally forward=
=20
> ".doc" files to me (Ed Skinner) and I occasionally send one back.=20
> Interoperability (through ".doc" files) seems important (to me), or is th=
at=20
> just my strange family?

Use .rtf or if your sister moves to Abiword exchange Abiword.  The worst
thing in the world is to exchange .doc files.  It reinforces the notion
that .doc should be the standard.  When people send me .doc files.  I
politely ask them to resend as .rtf eventhough I full well have the
ability to read them. :)

>    6) ActiveX (Derek Neighbors) - My (Ed Skinner's) wife is also heavily =
into=20
> coupons but we haven't run into this restriction (so we're obviously not=20
> getting enough coupons!) -- where is she surfing that she needs ActiveX (=
so=20
> we can go there and get more coupons!)?

She needs to use Coupon Sense. :)  http://www.couponsense.com my wife
can show her how.  They do not require the activex I think it is "smart
source" or "bricks" that has the activeX.  There is an underground
coupon community that cracked the activeX and trades the resulting
pdfs.  If you are interested I will email you off list. :)

--=20
Derek Neighbors
GNU Enterprise
http://www.gnuenterprise.org
derek@gnue.org

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