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More Linux Users...thanks to AOL?
by Matt Williams.
For a while now, people have criticized me for having an AOL account. They say it's too user friendly and won't run normally in Linux. I always agree, citing my laziness as the reason for not quitting (too many things signed up through it). I do fight back, telling them that I use www.freewwweb.com in order to get online in Linux and I am always waiting for affordable high-speed, "always on" access here at home. It appears though, that I may have another weapon to use as firepower in their arguments.
That weapon is the number of Win9x users I have helped convert to or get setup with Linux. Since November of 1999, I've received close to 50 instant messages from AOL users asking all kinds of Linux questions. Some were simple, like where can I find Linux news headlines (www.linuxtoday.com). Others were a bit more complicated, like which distribution is right for me?
Typical AOL users, you see, are relatively new to computers (or at least the internet). They don't know much about Win9x, let alone Linux. This leaves them with many questions. My guess is they start searching through member profiles, find my Linux site mentioned in mine, go to it, and the questions start pouring in; or they search for AOL users with Linux in their profile. They do this because they are hearing about Linux and would like to know more. Unlike most of us who are in contact with geeks (or happen to be geeks ourselves), they don't have a friend they can phone up and ask what Linux is about. They also are nervous about asking for help on message boards, as they may feel intimidated. So, what better way to find out info than from another AOL user?
They ask simple questions to start off (usually, "Are you a Linux expert?" to which I reply "No, but I know a great deal and what I don't know I can probably find out for you."). After they feel comfortable with you, they ask more in depth questions. You end up adding them to your buddy list and several weeks later you receive an IM thanking you for showing them how great Linux is and how they now have it setup on their machine.
How many confirmed users have I converted? Well, out of those 50 or so I've had ask questions, a good 35 or more people were users with questions, so about 12 people now use Linux thanks to my help. Is that a huge number? No. Is anything better than nothing? Yes. If we're ever going to be the dominant OS, we need promotion. What better way to promote Linux (without ad money) than to assist those who need guidance?
So, to all of you Linux users out there without at least an AOL Instant Messanger account: please get one. To those of you who already have accounts: start reaching out to those newbies who need help.
*Even Linux users can use AIM, thanks to GAIM (http://www.marko.net/gaim/) and others like it.
For those of you looking for how to setup FreeWWWeb in Linux, the page that has Windows DUN settings (http://www.freewwweb.com/quick/quick.html) tells all that is needed in order to setup RHPPP Dialer, KPPP, and Gnome PPP. You use the same DNS, IP, phone #'s as the Win9x users would. No ads. 100% free and so far it has been reliable.
Matt Williams, Owner, Linux Interactive.
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