[CLUE-Talk] kuro5hin.org || Are LUGs hurting widespread Linux acceptance?

[Jeffery Cann]

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Kevin,

He makes few valid points.    He tries to say this:

1.  LUGs have install fests.
2.  Because of install fests, Linux must be hard to use ...
therefore, the acceptance of Linux is hindered.  

Maybe Linux is hard to install or configure.  This is a whole nother 
discussion that has little to do with the presence of LUGs.

Unfortunately, he does not compare LUGs to other software user groups.  For 
example, Oracle, Sybase, Java, MS Windows, MS Office all have user groups.  A 
company I used to work for, Interactive Software Systems, used to hold yearly 
user *conferences* where users would travel to wintry Aspen or Vail to 
socialize and share thoughts about the software and the user experience of 
the software.

The history of personal computing was hatched from a user group.  Members of 
the Silicon Valley Homebrew club were the first group to build personal 
computer kits.

I would also argue that unpopular software no longer supports enough interest 
to sustain a user group.  So, by the existence of so many viable LUGs, I 
would submit that it is a sign of the popularity of Linux.

The fact that we like to get together and install Linux does not invalidate 
the acceptance of Linux.  I had been installing and running Linux for 3 years 
before I joined CLUE.  When I started Linux, I could barely login to a UNIX 
system, much less install Linux.  The same was true of my Windows 3.1 
administrator experience.

Later.
Jeff
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