Help with Setting up an Open Source Cybercafe....

[FilledVoid]

Hi all,
Before I start my question here goes. No you don't get to browse for free . . Ok now that that's out of my system let me clear my doubt. I know an internet cafe nearby who is willing to convert all his systems to Ubuntu or any other Linux Distro since hes absolutely had no problem on his newer machines which are running Ubuntu. However there are some problems he faces in setting up the whole internet cafe with Linux.

1. Need for single client messengers. Well since its an internet cafe he can't ask folks to create a profile and leave their profile on the computer and go. He needs something where the person can enter in a User name and their password and chat. No whistles no bells.

2. He needs it to work for his low end machines as well. Most of them have onboard stuff and aren't the most common equipment around now a days.

3. He doesn't want a slow down in his system.

4. He doesn't want the folks to be intimidated for browsing.

Reasons why he wants to change.

Reinstallations - Period
He probably does about 10-20 of them each week.

[infra_red_dude]

The only problem he will face are the IMs; video and voice chat. Tho gyach implements it, its only for yahoo. No msn support. I dunno if msn will run on wine.

Other things are just fine and Xubuntu will be fine on low end systems.

[mehulved]

Find some useful info here http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.ph...sed_Cyber_Cafe

You can enable libjingle on Kopete for voice but alas Kopete doesn't support Single Sign On

[QwertyManiac]

If its like every user logs out of his system, he could keep a script running to delete all user content of ~/.purple/ (Pidgin). Such that each time a user starts it, it shows the wizard automatically.

[FilledVoid]

Chat: Chat applications that can support one time logins, i.e. there should be no need to save account information into the computer to be able to use it. No FOSS chat application fulfills this criterion. It is however possible to customize an application to support it.

Gah he would skin me alive if I told him this. Although his customers who know a bit about computers use Pidgin just fine

[mehulved]

We just tried it out here, webcam works with Kopete. So, only problem is single sign on, and se per the person whom you've quoted it's not too far away. It will be coming early in the next year.

[Choto Cheeta]

Going really off topic...

1st really best wishes for the project...

really not to discourege you, but I have a sad story from my end, I did try to switch to Open source but lack of user knowledge forced me back to MS platform

its just not lack of open source softwrae knowledge, I have seen people just wont shift its just not Open Office they want to avoide, if i try Office 2007, same result people wont simply shift from then Office 2000/XP/2/3 platform !!!

same with the OS or browser also... its not FF they avoide, same result with IE7 too... many wont simply even dare to give IE7 a try

[Faun]

Originally Posted by Choto Cheeta

Going really off topic...

1st really best wishes for the project...

really not to discourege you, but I have a sad story from my end, I did try to switch to Open source but lack of user knowledge forced me back to MS platform

its just not lack of open source softwrae knowledge, I have seen people just wont shift its just not Open Office they want to avoide, if i try Office 2007, same result people wont simply shift from then Office 2000/XP/2/3 platform !!!

same with the OS or browser also... its not FF they avoide, same result with IE7 too... many wont simply even dare to give IE7 a try

yeah they are jaded by the change.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by exx_2000

Need for single client messengers. Well since its an internet cafe he can't ask folks to create a profile and leave their profile on the computer and go. He needs something where the person can enter in a User name and their password and chat. No whistles no bells.

Both Pidgin & Kopete don't support this.

2. He needs it to work for his low end machines as well. Most of them have onboard stuff and aren't the most common equipment around now a days.

Linux will do the job just fine yaar in this case.

4. He doesn't want the folks to be intimidated for browsing.

Then install Opera or make Firefox look like IE 7.

Reasons why he wants to change.

However, why not use Windows but configure & deploy them such that it creats no problem

[FilledVoid]

Then install Opera or make Firefox look like IE 7.

All folks at his cafe mostly use Firefox ( he does his best to remove the use of IE) so its not the browser Im talking about , but the menus being used to reach the programs. Im sure I could probably customize it to get the same results as Windows though.

However, why not use Windows but configure & deploy them such that it creats no problem

Interesting point let me give you a scenario. He cant (won't is more likely) restrict downloads, most of the viewers don't view exactly rated 18 stuff, etc basically he faces a worst case scenario on a day to day basis. He doesnt want to use Deep freeze , Ghost cause basically thats either oodles of discs or re-installation itself. Some of the machines are running Windows 98 . Not good enough to run WinXp. Let me hear your suggestions as well.

its just not lack of open source software knowledge, I have seen people just wont shift its just not Open Office they want to avoided, if i try Office 2007, same result people wont simply shift from then Office 2000/XP/2/3 platform !!!

He has been seeing a different result with regard to Browsing. As I said earlier most of the younger folks or a bit tech oriented folks prefer his Ubuntu systems. Don't know why. However the Office part is a valid point. He didn't mention anything about that and we all know how inter Office compatibility goes.

I was more of hoping of building some kind of live cd that would satisfy the folks need. Don't know if this is possible but I guess it wouldn't hurt to check it out.

[Choto Cheeta]

Originally Posted by exx_2000

He has been seeing a different result with regard to Browsing. As I said earlier most of the younger folks or a bit tech oriented folks prefer his Ubuntu systems.

There comes the difference between 99% Literacy to 60% here at WB

anyway the margine is really low here who would prefer FF over IE !! mostly we have FF as alternate at all systems but rarelly we see some one using FF

Originally Posted by exx_2000

Some of the machines are running Windows 98 . Not good enough to run WinXp. Let me hear your suggestions as well.

Hey if the system configs are that low, not able to run WinXP, then I dont think in that case u would be able to run even the letest Linux distros either....

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by exx_2000

Interesting point let me give you a scenario. He cant (won't is more likely) restrict downloads

Wait, he can restrict downloads using GPedit.

most of the viewers don't view exactly rated 18 stuff,

Webfilter for IE 7/Firefox.

Some of the machines are running Windows 98 . Not good enough to run WinXp. Let me hear your suggestions as well.

Use nLite to strip what u don't need from WIndows XP. I hope he isn't running a Pentium 2 200 MHz CPU with 32 MB RAM cos XP surely won't run on it.

[FilledVoid]

There comes the difference between 99% Literacy to 60% here at WB

I doubt literacy is the factor here. But rather his location is ideal. Hes right next to a college IHRD and there are alot of students itself browsing (we also have an engineering college nearby)

Hey if the system configs are that low, not able to run WinXP, then I dont think in that case u would be able to run even the letest Linux distros either....

very true, Ive been checking out distros like NimbleX . The thing only needs 250 MB and it has KDE on it :O . I have it running on my USB stick and it seems to be ok. I need to get a copy of Puppy and try it though first. but nonetheless not with the above problems.

Wait, he can restrict downloads using GPedit.

I think you misunderstood what I said. He won't disable downloads. And he definitely wont use anything to filter out webpages. I know this might sound gross to some but I bet half of those students at least check websites at least one a week. He wouldn't want to alienate his customers.

Use nLite to strip what u don't need from WIndows XP. I hope he isn't running a Pentium 2 200 MHz CPU with 32 MB RAM cos XP surely won't run on it.

Yes I have definitely being thinking of nLite to make him a Windows copy that would be quite minimalistic for the machine. Personally I would only like to use this only as a last alternative though to help out.

[QwertyManiac]

Too bad there isn't a python binding for libpurple (Pidgin is a GTK frontend of libpurple) yet. Else I could have cooked up a small tailored clone for this purpose.

It exists for C/C++ though, if someone wants to do that.

[praka123]

a very good move.but yeah,when it comes to video chat,there are yet to see options.btw, with lowend system why dont he may use Xubuntu(or Icebuntu) with gtk-apps installed and make a customized windows xp look-alike.it will hopefully run on win98 able systems.

[FilledVoid]

a very good move.but yeah,when it comes to video chat,there are yet to see options

I doubt any of the machines has a webcam at all. But I will need to confirm this.

[praka123]

^not with webcam(although problems with h/w detection!),but with the IM clients supporting Video in Linux!

[FilledVoid]

Yafumoto seems to be promising for Y! and theres a Universal plugin being developed. Or at least thats what someone told me in #ubuntu-in.

[NucleusKore]

*For text chat Pidgin is good. Covers most chat protocols. No need to save passwords on the pc.

*Voice I have tried Skype successfully. Video I do not know.

*Xubuntu as Praka has suggested above +1

*Office Apps - Open Office, but better if they are introduced to Zoho

[FilledVoid]

*For text chat Pidgin is good. Covers most chat protocols. No need to save passwords on the pc.

But it requires you to create a profile, although a minor inconvenience to most.

[blueshift]

offtopic: installation every week??
why?
why don't he install Linux 'also' apart from Windows? so that if customer is eager for Win he can boot into Win.

[FilledVoid]

Originally Posted by blueshift

offtopic: installation every week??
why?
why don't he install Linux 'also' apart from Windows? so that if customer is eager for Win he can boot into Win.

Due to the presence of pretty much every other piece of malware on the computer. Installing Linux with Windows still doesnt solve his concerns though.

[gxsaurav]

Can u tell me here the config of the lowest end computer there?

The best & most compatible option for u is to use Windows XP stripped using nLite, along with Ad muncher, Firefox or IE 7 whatever u like, WIndows Classic skin with XPize, .net runtimes.

I have done this kind of deployment in my friends cyber cafe which as 16 computer all running AthlonXP 2000+ CPU with 512 MB RAM & WIndows XP stripped & custom deployed for his cafe only. This is also my render farm

Just use someone common sense & method we WIndows users are familier with & you can prevent any kind of malware on any computer.

For those who want linux can use a LiveCD.

[blueshift]

yah right.
If he needs to install Windows every week then he is not taking enough security measures to protect against malware.

yah right.
If he needs to install Windows every week then he is not taking enough security measures to protect against malware.

Use Live CD only if u have good amount of RAM..

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Just use someone common sense & method we WIndows users are familier with & you can prevent any kind of malware on any computer.

You think every person that comes to surf in the cyber cafe has "common sense" and is over-cautious as you are? That is the topic of this discussion. He wants to shift to a safer environment because of this problem!

[FilledVoid]

You think every person that comes to surf in the cyber cafe has "common sense" and is over-cautious as you are? That is the topic of this discussion. He wants to shift to a safer environment because of this problem!

I wanted to say this but avoided it cause I didn't want another OS1 vs OS2 comparison thread

[gary4gar]

Originally Posted by Choto Cheeta

There comes the difference between 99% Literacy to 60% here at WB

anyway the margine is really low here who would prefer FF over IE !! mostly we have FF as alternate at all systems but rarelly we see some one using FF

well i suggest you remove IE from one or two pc & install vanilla Firefox(no themes & no addons)
well i suggest you remove IE from one or two pc. and however ask where is IE then say:
cc:sir, there was a virus in Internet explorer, our system guys will fix it as soon as possible
Customer:so what i use to open wwww.orkut.com??
CC:sir then use this(do not say the name, just click & open) & this is alternative of internet explorer
Customer: ok how to use it?
CC: simple, type name in address bar(point to it) & press enter just like internet explorer
now when he have used it 2-3, he will not use IE again(atleast version 6)


also, it reminds a mgt rule, i have learned "Humans always resist change"
so it applies here too

[Choto Cheeta]

Originally Posted by gary4gar

well i suggest you remove IE from one or two pc & install vanilla Firefox(no themes & no addons)
well i suggest you remove IE from one or two pc. and however ask where is IE then say:
cc:sir, there was a virus in Internet explorer, our system guys will fix it as soon as possible
Customer:so what i use to open wwww.orkut.com??
CC:sir then use this(do not say the name, just click & open) & this is alternative of internet explorer
Customer: ok how to use it?
CC: simple, type name in address bar(point to it) & press enter just like internet explorer
now when he have used it 2-3, he will not use IE again(atleast version 6)


also, it reminds a mgt rule, i have learned "Humans always resist change"
so it applies here too

Dont u think we have tried it ??

We did, 1st, I dont attent our cafes... so dont think that our operators are also a exp FireFox user... so any out of the box question will be very tough for them to answer...

So yes I did carrey out few session with all of them to make them comfortable with FF but still, saying IE7 had a virus which our AVS failed detect and then which curropted the system and we are fixing it makes u to lose your trust...

So its out of question to say IE7 has some problem... Simply u cant say you have a problem... Customer will not going to sit in a problemed system...

So what I did is I made FF the default browser and kept IE7 too... so user had option to use FF, operators asked users that this is an alternative to FF where as user can use IE7 too...

apart from tech students no one used FF and that too Tech students used FF only as they ejoyed the FF in built downloader

No one used FF only because they felt it is faster than IE7, to be honest with 2 MBPS any browser runs almost the same...

When I allowed FlashGet / IDM on systems which have FF, once again that pool of FF users shifted towards IE by shifting their download needs to FlashGet or IDM....

Now comes the buniess users who use a lot of Enterprise Web Based portal Applications... once again FF comes with a compatibility issue.. I cant help it.. and I cant ask that pool of users to ask their own company to change their setup

So see for ur self how low the percentage is who liked FF and even those who liked or prefered, look at their reason...

My project ended in a negative way I had to return to MS platform full time

[FilledVoid]

If you just need an alternative look alike this might be interesting

http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/fir...rnet_explorer/

Although the rest of the problems are definitely bad . I guess the crowd we have is either folks who use the internet alot or people who don't use them at all and dont care what they get . not to mention the Internet Cafes 75% income is probably from Students.

[praka123]

@exx:install ies4linux on his systems for those who are "must need IE" users
that solves i suppose!
http://www.tatanka.com.br/