How to Encourage Use of OSS?

Marc Light asks: "I repair computers as a side line cause I want to keep up on what's going on in the world of computer technicians. When someone comes to me with a problem, if I have to reinstall I first try to convince them to install Ubuntu. For now I only have 25% of success, mostly because they usually use an app. or some hardware that would complicate their experience too much. When I install Windows, I also install Firefox, OpenOffice, VLC, Winamp (not open source but if they eventually switch to Linux, XMMS won't scare them), and CDex to drive them off Windows Media Player and DRM. I then take 15 to 30 minutes free of charge to explain to them the basics of their new software. For my part, I mostly got positive response. I'd say 80% of it is positive feedback. My questions to Slashdot readers: Do you think that computer technicians can make a difference in the adoption of OSS? And if they're for OSS, should they try to put some pressure on their users/clients?"

So you give your time (=money) away ...

[Anonymous Coward]

and then you install an OS on their computers that will give you less work in the long term?

Do you want to die a pauper?

Re:Converting

[sponga]

So what you are trying to say is that Slashdot is the church, we have Rev. Taco and the Pope is Linus?

Re:Converting

[thona]

I've heard horror stories of young, presumptuous techs who promise to "fix" a computer, and then proceed to nuke somebody's Windows 95B OEM / Office 97 installation that they've been using for years, and install Ubuntu with OpenOffice. If they worked for my company, I would promptly fire them.

Same here. If that would ever happen, it would be immediate termination, followed by asking them for full payment of the time it takes somene with common sense to redo all the work. Serving the customer is rarely done by such behavior.

Re:Converting

[Anonymous Coward]

Do you mean there are eight of you in your class, or that you are eight years old?