scorp1us's Journal: LiveCD+1 App = Linux Penetration

My tech savy girlfriend (now wife) impressed me while dating with how much about computers she knew. So I asked her: have you eaver heard of Linux? She said "yeah" (brownie points there!) So I asked her what it was... "A program?" she responded. Eh, well it was better than most. I do some consulting for friends, they don't know where the BIOS ends and the OS begins. THey don't know that there is this notion of an "operating system" which runs "programs". Instead they see it more as an embedded device. It works or doesn't work well or is broken. I don't know how many dozens of computer have been puchased by single individuals that were bought just to fix a software problem. Which brings me to my idea of today. I don't claim to be the first to have it but here it goes: A single-function CD of a full linux system that does ONE function. We'll call it an "application CD". It'll be a live CD, but for only a few purposes. The idea is you give it out to everyone. Each does its own special function. But people get to see Linux and what it can do. I specifically need one to normalize My FLAC files, and encode them to MP3. I figure this would be easy to do with FOSS. Start with a live CD and put into the desktop startup a mini GUI that allows them to perform the task they want. It mounts your local drives, and does what you ask. All they have to know is to put the CD in and reboot. That will accomplish several things:

• Introduce 'Linux' and show then that Windows is not the only choice.
• Show them what "Linux" is like (in reality KDE or GNOME)
• Allow then to test out their hardware compatibilty under Linux.
• Perform a function for free - in wondow's they'd need to probably buy something.

So it is a live CD, and has all the features as such. There is nothing to say that they can't close default application (in this case a button panel and a few dialogs to automate my FLAC/MP3 operations) and use it as a regualr desktop. But you get a targeted purpose. You get to slip Linux into their experience like spyware slips into "free" windows' downloads. Aside from the rebooting you'll have a product any user will love.