Jack Barnett wrote:
Have an install fest and install Linux on people's computers and give them free distro's (start a Lugi, a lot of companies (caldera, redhat) will give you free stuff to pass out).
I think you should have a SuSE Linux Users Group, and the have a SLUG-fest! ;-)
... take charge and lead them into battle, they will follow and you will make progress, if not win.
One thing George Washington's army did when they took control of "enemy" teritory was to avoid actively attacking Tories (see Freeman, _Washington_). This was important because it served to pursuade the British Loyalists that the "rebels" weren't all that bad. Use this same strategy. Don't attack or condemn users of the other OS. Promote the good points of Linux, and highlight the contrasts between Linux and the other OS. Don't attack civilians!
Don't email them. Make a list of way Linux should be running on this mainframe (what type is it?) and take it directly face to face with them and listen to there side. If linux can do a better job, go for the throat.
Some times it's better to plant the seed of an ideas and leave it to germinate on its own. It may be better to just state the case, and accept that they may not immediately want to shutdown the mainframe, stick a Linux CD in and reboot. If you are combative you may cause them to become more intrenched.
Linux has a lot of good qualities, it can sell it's self, if you can give the staight dope on it, in an educated and well put together speech. Talk to them face to face, it is really simple to delete a crazy Linux users email, but it is harder to walk away from a crazy Linux user that knows his stuff.
Indeed the sound of truth often thunders above the din of lies.
Remember, you are repersenting Linux and the Linux community to these people so try and be really cool about the whole thing. If they got some Linux zealot yelling in their face about how they are going to hell because they use MVS, it is just going to set back Linux and the Linux community.
Yup!
Don't take my advice, I not to good at advocating, the best I can do is say to my boss is "Linux will save you money compared to WindowsNT server" and it ussually works. Schools are a little differant though so this approach probably won't work. Please check up on:
I couldn't honestly say that having my organization do a full scale switchover to Linux would save money. On the other hand, I use Linux on my development system because I can't get procurement to order so much as a freakin' floppy disk, much less a professional software development package. There have been countless times when I have scoured the bookstores, and the internet for products to support a certain project only to find the best product for the job sitting on my SL CD. -- For a look at the future click below: http://www.suse.com || http://www.linuxbase.org http://www.kde.org || http://samba.anu.edu.au http://www.winehq.com || http://www.mozilla.org -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq