Syd Hancock wrote:
Hi All
[SNIP]
GNU/Linux is on the move into the mainstream on the desktop - it already is mainstream in the server world of course - but it may well be that ALUG is not going to be the group of people that is going to take that forward in our area.
Given the amount of time/commitment/dedication etc required to set up and run linux support and training groups for novice users, perhaps it will need to be profit-making not voluntary. I do believe that there are a lot of business opportunities for this with possible massive growth in the next few years.
We already do Linux and SME support commercially (http://www.convergent-ict.com) but for now I see little to suggest that mainstream punters are willing to pay for the transfer of expertise, or that we and others like us will ever have enought slack (time or money) to do this stuff for free. It's even a struggle to get SMEs to pay for consultancy; many seem to think that 30 years of experience has no value, but are happy to pay, say, £100+ an hour for an accountant or a lawyer.
We can do in a few hours what will take them days or even weeks, but they'd rather struggle on wasting time and money to save a few quid. That's the commercial reality...
Cheers, Laurie.