[Speakers] Transitional/Introductory Presentations

[Bruce Smith]

> We are first looking to collaberately produce an outline or topic sketch
> for these four - five presentations, and then move forward fleshing
> these out into real presentations.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> We are hoping that this list can serve as a forum to develop these
> presentations;  so if you have any ideas or thoughts about what these
> presentations should include please step forward now...

In my experience, a new user presentation should consist of the GUI side
of _using_ Linux.  Not the underlying system, how it works, nor the
command line.

A long time ago we used to have a intro to Linux that focused on the
history of Unix, the filesystem structure, command line and such.  I
gave this presentation at many newbie meetings, and IMO this used to
turn a lot of new users OFF to Linux.  One day I tried my theory and
completely winged a presentation about the GUI and IMO it was the best
received newbie presentation I've ever seen at a KLUG meeting.

I assumed the system was installed and running.  I simply gave them a
tour of the desktop.  Here's how you sign in.  Here's your web browser.
Here's your email.  Here's your word processor (see how much it looks
like M$ Word!).  Here's how to play MP3's.  Here's how you shut down.

We can also mention the advantages of Linux (stability, cost, etc.),
but let's not dwell on them.  The newbies probably already know that,
otherwise they wouldn't be here.  But it's worth mentioning so we can
field questions about the truthfulness of those stories they've heard.

Let's teach newbies how to USE Linux, not bore them with details about
who invented Unix, Linus's childhood, and what files are in /usr ....
We can do that crap on the other 3 meetings of the month!  :-)

 - BS