Trying to help convert father to Linux
 

Hey all... I'm not really a die-hard linux user like a lot of people are, and I would consider myself to be a novice-amateur kinda person, I know enough to do what I want and know where to look for stuff I don't know how to do. But I would like to help try to convert my father over to Linux. Recently I installed Ubuntu Linux 5.10 on my other computer and it seems pretty easy to use as compared to some distros.

The main question I have is if I'm trying to talk to my dad to convert him to Linux, What could I say to convince him to try it?

He's a stickler when it comes to his computer. He won't let anyone even touch it, (although he sure will go and try to use one of my computers when I'm not working on it). Is there any reason he should switch or should he just stick with win xp?? If it helps a lot of what he does is play mp3's and organize them and stuff with musicmatch, and he plays a lot of solitaire.

Thanks everyone!

Jesse

You have two options:
1. IT dictator--ie you are the sysadmin and you dictate what everyone uses. They dont like it, they set up their own system. Not a very friendly approach, but sometimes its the right one. (My wife and the pet-sitter are now Linux users because of it)

2. Marketing: Help him see the benefits--especially stuff that you can do in Linux that he can't. Depending on his mindset, you might also try the social logic--to wit: Microsoft monopoly is not good for us.

What will not work is trying to force or cajole.