Hello All. I'm Binny's friend.
As he said I want my neighbourhood internet cafe to migrate to linux.
Activities in the cafe: browsing, chatting [video, voice & text],
saving files, printing [this is done by the cafe owner], playing media
files [video & audio].
Here are the problems to solve.
1. A theme that transforms the linux system to look like windows.
Luckily that appears to be solved. I found XPde at www.xpde.com
Because of the theme, the users may not be able to know that they are
using linux unless they are reminded with ads in cafe and wallpaper.
But when they will know about this they will surely use linux with
XPde because of high security features in linux, the theme of XP,
stablity of linux, no license charge, no viruses, etc. So if this
internet cafe problem gets solved, then there is a high chance that we
can spread linux without much hassle.
2. Chat clients like Yahoo! messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk &
Rediff Bol must be installed and also they must look like the windows
versions.
I'm planning to use them with Wine [there may be problems. I think the
wine community will solve it]. Empathy, Pidgin and other chat pgms in
linux won't offer an immediate sign in procedure.
3. When trying to save files for printing or open files for
transmission, linux type drive letters and folder names are displayed.
This will create confusion. I think that the XPde team should have
solved it too. I don't know for sure.
4. No pendrives are allowed in the client computers. So for mailing or
saving a file in the pendrive, network transmission of the file is
done by the cafe owner. So the owner must be able to use the desktops
and home folders of all client computers for read and write. Will the
linux folder share procedures handle the problem?
5. Palying media files. Video and audio players with sufficient
controls and user friendliness is required. All codecs must be
supported.
Solution: Totem and GStreamer are fine.
6. This is the main part. If we are unable solve this problem, then
this hassle will be for nothing.
Here is the problem.
Now the cafe owner uses a cafe management software that blocks or
provides access to the internet for the client computers. The system
he works with is the server. It is windows xp. The cafe is networked
to provide internet access to all the computers through the server. He
blocks the internet access of a client computer when no-one is using
it. He does this to avoid automated downloading traffic. This is
important.
Binny asked about a cafe management software for linux. But the real
problem is slightly different.
The server of the cafe can't be changed to Linux!
The cafe owner does DTP and Project works. He don't want to switch his
server to linux as this will temporarily halt his DTP & Project works.
He don't know to use DTP software and OpenOffice in linux. And also
the customers want their work to be done in MS-Office, Photoshop,
Pagemaker, etc.
Also some of his client computers [1 or 2] will be using windows for
the purpose of gaming.
So what we want is a software that blocks and allows internet access
to linux and windows clients from a windows server [XP]. Also the
software must be able to read and write the desktop and home folders
of the linux and windows clients [for file transfer].
The cafe owner now uses free/demo antivirus solutions and reinstalls
windows once every month to avoid viruses. If this problem gets solved
then I'm sure that he will switch to Linux.
Do you think that this post is to be posted with a different title.
Then you are free to do so. We want this solved as the future of linux
will become more brighter in trivandrum. Don't forget to link the new
post here.
Freedom Is The Only Law. Share knowledge.
Only the Skilled uses it.
Post by BINNY THOMASHi all.
My friend who is a Linux enthusiast wants to convince a neighborhood
Internet Cafe owner to migrate to Linux. Is there any cafe management
software for Linux. Another requrement is it should look exactly similar to
windows xp. I am planning to use a theme for that but other suggestions are
welcome.There are many other obstacles too. The migration should be
Flawless.
Thanks for your Interest
Binny
