On Fri, Nov 28, 2003 at 11:16:23AM +0000, MJ Ray wrote:
On 2003-11-28 08:32:49 +0000 adam@thebowery.co.uk wrote:
Of other "nearby" groups, there are two that I'd say are prospering and both tend to talk about applications more than system. There are two that I think are struggling and one of those is really just doing installs at every meeting. The other struggler doesn't seem to have met for some time. Most are in a similar "holding pattern" to ALUG.
Talks would be good, I am guilty of not providing a talk at the last meeting but I have been fairly ill the past couple of weeks but seem to be in recovery now. Also having car problems has not helped (but I should be picking up the fixed car this afternoon w00t)
I also figure that the reason we tend to dwell on kernels and drivers etc. is that the biggest problems people get is on their first install when trying to get things setup (hell, I am having lots of "fun" with hardware right now!).
Is there something we can do to avoid continually re-solving this same problem?
Yes, buy explicitly supported hardware ;) also hardware autodetection and configuration needs to be better, but as per your email on Linux kernel 2.6 these problems should hopefully be reduced even more soon.
I don't really see what changing a name and losing recognition [...]
I feel that we are not recognised by most and those who do recognise it are as likely to be put off as encouraged.
One thread does not make a trend, although I was quite happy to see the (two?) music threads after about a month of mostly low-level things. The list traffic doesn't really reflect what happens at meetings. It would have been nice to see some of the discussions from the list carry over to the meeting, but most people from the list aren't at the meeting. What do people want from the meetings?
A quick look through my archives seem to suggest 30% of postings on applications although slanted towards setting them up, 30% towards hardware and 30% towards free software related issues, hosting co. recommendations, diversions from technical talk etc. (and i know it adds up to only 90% :))
I want the lurkers to speak up. We have 250 addresses getting copies of this. Even if we assume that all the meeting venues get different people (definitely untrue IMO), that means we only see about three dozen of them to talk with. How do we get the other seven-eighths involved?
I definetly agree on this, I sometimes wonder how many of these mail boxes are going to /dev/null and why we see many people join the list but never post? are they there? do they really exist?
Do we spend too long grubbing around at the techie level?
Possibly.
Is Laurie right that anyone who manages to install it necessarily tends to become techie?
I think that people who manage to get GNU/Linux installed are possibly/probably more technically competent/aware than your average "normal users" (for want of a better term, sorry I don't like the way it sounds either) but then many of these "normal users" don't really care about what OS they are running or the name or manufacturer of their software, they just want an easy life and they would be just as happy if you gave them a nicely setup linux box with openoffice, mozilla all hardware configured etc. etc. as they would with a windows box or something running Mac OS. More on this below.
Is Syd right that more frequent meetings in each place will build numbers?
Don't know, lets find out :) (I guess that we are finding out tbh, Norwich and Ely evening meetings seem to be a bigger sucess than weekend meetings with hardware)
Do we need to offer some compelling reasons to attend?
Free beer?
Should we go further and effectively split the group geographically?
Lets try and build meetings in particular locations more often, and try and not let them clash. I still don't think splitting the mailing list will necessarily help, but having seperate area groups pages on the website maybe with links to the list?
Can we use Graham's comment about "being different" somehow more?
Hmmmm, maybe. Linux is different like Mac OS is different etc. We need to appeal to more artists :)
Where did the mag I took to the last Norwich meeting go?
Don't know. How are people getting on with the free Linux User and Developer magazines we have been sent? I still have a copy of this months issue but I am loath to give it away as it has a picture of Kirsty and me on the AFFS stand at Linux Expo.
Will the sky stay blue?
I certainly hope so! it was overcast here first thing but the sky has cleared and it looks like we may have a nice day :)
Adam