Just to reiterate, it's probably not best to use actual Microsoft logos/images/etc. as they're all copyrighted, and this could land you in some trouble. That's why in my original post, I mentioned only "Microsoft-like" logos/images/etc. The idea is only to make it look similar to Windows, not identical. Once they're using it, it doesn't really matter if they know it's Windows or not, since they're already on it.

I like the idea of offering unusual services put forward by st3v0. It would also definitely be worth your while learning how to use Ubuntu yourself. That way any trivial problems you can handle yourself, rather than call on your friends again. This will also positively reinforce Ubuntu in the mind of the customer, relative to a Windows problem (which in my experience invariably requires a restart at the very least!).

Good luck!

PCW101 is 10000000% right on this one.. that will work.

I disagree.

Certain people walking into this situation will simply leave. Windows is such a narcotic for some people that they will not even attempt to deal with anything else.

I think the key to this is offering something that makes it attractive to try something new--and including friendly subliminal help.

I also do not agree with making all the Linux machines look "just like Windows"---then people will REALLY get annoyed when some little thing does not do what they expect.

PS:
OP seems to be gone---lost interest? (Or maybe already converted to Windows)

But the thread is still worthwhile......

I would remove the windows computer for now and try to drive people in with special incentives for using your cafe. They are coming in there for a reason to begin with so feed that purpose. However this could be risky. Don't try to do anything that spells out that you are trying to trick or manipulate them as a user but you can dress up the PC's to be more appealing to their likes like backgrounds etc. Yes certainly use KDE no other desktop will appeal to a windows user with as much immediate positive results. The mere fact that it has a menu pop up at the bottom left will help them out to some degree. Also get a wifi set up if you don't already and let them bring in their own laptops if they would like maybe? Integrate in a later time one or two Windows PC's and charge a different pricing structure and have less features. Use this as a testing scenario, ultimately though, this is your business and the bottom line is the most important and you have to accommodate your existing target market. trying to create a niche or target market could prove fatal when timing is of the essence. You might want to bat the idea around of setting it up like a club membership that will offer payouts and prizes over the course of set times and scenarios that you have created. Do whatever it takes to get their minds off of this Windows /Linux thing and let them see it as an entire product or package with real added value.It's a service you are offering not a PC not an operating system.

You might like to look at kiosktool in linux and also kpersonalizer to make the computers more secure and more 'Windows' like, and definitely use KDE not gnome as it is more 'Windows' like. Or get tech person to install vmware and run Windows under linux.

I started the first heterogeneous Windows and Linux cafe in Brisbane, Qld, Australia in 2001. However I spent a year beforehand getting my head around SuSE7.1. I am still learning. Personally I think you rushed into things a bit and needed to do more planning. Security wise your worst nightmare are rootkits, which come in both Windows and Linux varieties. You need to be constantly monitoring the network and have a plan in place regarding how to deal with hackers. Stand up to them and they will leave. They are way more scared than you as what they are doing is illegal and if they know you are monitoring them they will be extra scared. In the US one was actually given a life sentence. Look at vncviewer. Try to get one or two Windows licenses and if business improves buy one a week etc till you have 8. Remember amortize - you don't have to buy a house outright and you don't have to buy 8 licenses at once either.

There is too much to write about this topic, suggest you also look at 'Deep Freeze' for Windows. But really you are in a lot of trouble and need to be doing more than writing to forums for help. Get a good linux system administrator to help you, they are most likely working for an ISP.

i agree - make it look as much windoze-like as possible. people are generally close minded sheep, afraid of novelty or change, and only want what's familiar (especially when it comes to their beloved windoze ) so you have to hold their hands as much as possible. use KDE over Gnome, use familiar apps (firefox, thunderbird, etc), use familiar icons, set it up to look and function as much like 'doze as possible, and so on. maybe even add stock windows wallpaper (not kidding), or a linux version of that grassy green hill with the tree or whatever. but like someone said, be careful it doesn't go too far and "backfire," or they might get resentful because they expected windoze and got something else.

also try some good old fashioned marketing. as i said, people are basically afraid of change, so you have to persuade and sell them on it. put up posters, displays, etc. touting the benefits of your computers as if it's a "cool," "cutting edge" thing, make them feel like they are "special" for being hip enough to be "in the know" on this "new" thing while everyone else is still stuck in the old ways, and so on. iow, basic marketing like apple does to make their users pay more to feel "special." turn a "negative" into a "positive." once you get them used to it, it'll become familiar and they might even start associating your place with "their" favorite internet cafe just because it stands out from the others.

i agree with whats been posted already, make it look as close to xp as possible, you could even write a script making the computer look asthough it has crashed every few hours, that should convince them

lol!




###

The cost of installing MS windows was mentioned. What would be the cost of licensing 7 Windows machines amount to a month? You could give the windows customers what they want, and charge a premium to cover the license fees and extra maintenance. Since these machines don't need periodic data backups, you could make images of the drives and restore the image once a week or month to eliminate any accumulated malware. If these are XP machines and you use guest accounts, they will also be more secure then what the average Windows home use has.

The people suggesting he gets rid of the windows machine & stick with ubuntu are either stupid or just blinded by their fanboyism. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to use ubuntu. Some people just want to use Windows. The owner didn't do the smartest thing by listening to the guy who got him to use ubuntu. He should of, at least, used windows at first with maybe one or two Linux machines, then slowly switched over to mostly Linux or all Linux machines. He should have held training sessions or put signs up over the computers stating that the Linux machines can do the same things that Windows can do.

make sure you are selling good food and coffee ... dont sell your place as a nutrition(or fat or glucose or whatever)-consious place to hangout with a computer ... use good food and coffee to disttract them(get what i mean) as there are more important things than computer things ... people get picky on things that dont belongs to them(in a sense though) ... they just use their machines , no more no less ...


//computer people who use their computer in the wrong way dont patronize your place no matter what you are trying to sell to them ...


>> "... people are basically afraid of change ..."

try thinking like them(maybe you need to try very hard ... i donno) and you may find something terribly contrary to that ...


.

I agree that the best plan would be to give the customers what they want. However if he would have to pay $5,000 a month in licensing charges to MS, then having fewer MS hosts may save a lot of money. Firefox would work the same whether the computer is running Ubuntu or XP. Using Kubuntu or another KDE based distro may look less foreign to most users and allow a larger Linux proportion. Plus offering a discount ( thanks to savings in the license fees) may help out as well.

Keep in mind that packaging is important. It shouldn't look good; it should look fantastic. It should look fresh, enticing, and delicious. A default Ubuntu installation is not all of those things. Thankfully, it's easy to customize a Gnome or KDE desktop. When they see the desktop for the first time, they shouldn't say "what the @#$% is this?," which they're probably doing now. They should say "ooh, what is this, and where can I get it?" The fancy window managers like Compiz will help you here. Also, use a pretty screen saver. You get the idea.

If you expect your customers to forgo the thing they're familiar with and use something new, you'll need to sell it to them. I don't disagree with those who say "give them what they want," or seem to want, i. e., Windows. That's the "easy" way out, the solution that requires the least thought. If you're not prepared to advocate Linux, then that's what you should do. That said, I think a Linux internet cafe can be a viable business if you're willing to sell it.

Giving people what they want is one way to do business. But don't forget that you can also make them want what you're giving them!

Also, I hope you made sure that the specific games and applications you want to provide your customers are available on Linux. (Not all are.)

Know your customers.
Create one taskbar on the bottom of the screen as xubean's first link suggests. Put a different picture on every desktop and change them at least weekly. Put shortcuts to customers most used applications on the desktop. Hang a sign that says, "Linux Powered. You're not a Linux Guru? Just ask. It's easy." Have a short demo you can do prepared.
Do I have any illusions werner1975 has not just bought more copies of Windows? No. Would I be running my internet cafe with Linux. Yes.