Linux Desktop for university staff

[Robin Laing]

Hodgins Family wrote:
> Good afternoon!
> 
> 
>>My wife who works in micro would like to see Windows based lab 
>>equipment that work and don't crash in the middle of a test run.
>>Talking with the instruments is one thing, actually working is 
>>another.  She has fought with the supplier of a new machine since it 
>>has arrived for not working properly.  For office work she uses a Mac. 
>>  At home we use Linux and she wouldn't let me even think about dual boot.
>>
>>-- 
>>Robin Laing
> 
> 
> Gang! This is an opportunity to make a difference! Let's help Robin's
> wife and her computer.
> 
> Step 1) Take a look at your Linux boxes. At one time, for most of you,
> that case housed an x86 architecture with a Windows "setup" of some sort
> or another.
> 
> Step 2) At some point or another you decided to install Linux (any
> variant) and you had to learn probably more about your box than you, at
> first, thought was necessary.
> 
> Step 3) At some point, you had to ask for help.
> 
> Step 4) You were asked to define your hardware, your software, and your
> problem. Then some helpful souls asked you to try this or that command
> (hdparm, top, cat x.0rg, etc.) And as you interacted with these souls
> and your new OS, you learned more and more about your computer. That
> information not only aided you in your use of Linux, but could also be
> helping other people with other OS's. Now...you/we can help Robin's
> wife!
> 
> So, I'll start off. Robin, tell us about your wife's computer:
> 
> Motherboard, RAM, video card, hard drive, etc.--all the hardware she
> has.
> 
> Is the computer on the Web. If so, is it checked regularly for viruses,
> etc.
> 
> Is regular maintenance done on the computer: defrag, scandisk, etc?
> 
> Next tell us about the operating system (Win ____ fill in the blank).
> 
> Next tell us about the actual package she is having a problems with:
> Name, version, manufacturer and what it is supposed to do.
> 
> Finally, tell us what it isn't doing. Or rather, what it is doing when
> it is supposed to be doing something else.
> 
> While you/she is gathering that information, find out how stable the
> hardware is by booting a Live CD and letting it run for a "long time".
> Find out how stable Windows is by running any software EXCEPT for the
> vendor's package. Find out if a grad student is running Doom in the wee
> hours. 
> 
> To keep this thread Fedora based, we should be able to use Fedora-type
> (or at least Linux-based) tools to determine if the hardware is acting
> up, or the OS, or the package itself. No points allowed for blaming
> Windows before we rule out the hardware or the package!
> 
> Whaddya say, gang? Think we can do this?
> Whaddya say, Robin? Wanna try?
> 
> 
> Rob
> 

Sorry, no help is possible.  Heck, I would love the help and so would 
she.  The problem is that as a contractor she cannot make any changes 
to the hardware or software.  In fact it took ages to allow her to 
call customer support when the machine broke or she had problems, even 
though she was the expert.

The computer runs a piece of lab equipment so there is more than just 
the OS as it also requires all the data gathering and controlling 
software.  I think it is Windows XP but I cannot be sure of that.

I am involved with some hardware interface and design work.  We are 
going to Labview and I was trying to get the Linux version.  The 
problem is that one of the scientist ordered the Windows version :( 
but I did find out that with our talk of going to a site license, we 
may be able to work with both Linux and Windows as well.  :)

We may have a good justification to get her a new work computer to 
replace her Mac and for it to be Linux.  All future documentation must 
be in pdf format.  I made an announcement and converted to pdf on our 
home computer with OOo and she was impressed.  Not to justify it with 
her boss.  She wants a laptop with Fedora.

-- 
Robin Laing