Promotion of boinc to friends?

[Kiska]

As many as 1 billion computers are on all day and night but only a tenth of that is being used for computing, the rest used for email and reading appliances. What about the remaining 99.9%? People don't know how to install boinc or don't know what it is for. That is why people who utilise boinc should attempt to teach what it is for and where security precautions exist. Copied directly off volunteer as a helper page off Berkeley boinc page:

Volunteer computing is contributing to research in many areas of science - biology, medicine, environmental study, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and others. The more computing power is available, the faster these research projects can reach their objectives, and the more new projects will be attracted.
Of the 1 billion PCs in the world today, only 1 million - a tenth of a percent - are participating in volunteer computing. What about the other 99.9%? Many of them are owned by nontechnical people, who use them as web-browsing and email-reading 'appliances'. There are many reasons why such people would resist, or have difficulty, participating in volunteer computing:
Many nontechnical people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with tasks (such as downloading and installing programs, typing a URL into a web browser, and copying and pasting text) that are routine for experienced computer users. As a result, the process of installing and using BOINC seems daunting to them.
Nontechnical people often have (well-founded) concerns about the security aspects of volunteer computing. These concerns can often be addressed by explaining how BOINC prevents the obvious attacks.
The basic function of BOINC - a single program that automatically downloads other programs from the Internet, and switches back and forth between them - is unusual, and may need to be explained.

So if your friends are skeptical about boinc explain it to them. And if they still need convincing then refer them to the help page here: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/help_lang.php?lang=English please advise them against the user hiahia15 please when contacting for help or more information.

[mmstick]

I tried, more than once, none of my friends were interested. The first says his computer is only for gaming and porn, the other says he doesn't want to increase his power consumption, the rest just don't care to take the time to install it. You can pretty your words up, but most people just aren't interested.

[Kiska]

I know but some want to do it like me, eventually they will give in like me.

[EagleKeeper]

I try to get family to install it when I visit.

[geecee]

A lot of people don't actually keep their computers up 24/7, especially some of my older family members/friends. They just turn them on for a few hours when they are using them and then shut down. The laptop users just shut the lid and put them to sleep. I'm not even sure that they would finish some WUs by the deadline for the few hours a day their PCs are on. That said, I know some who spend 12 hours a day updating their Facebook to tell all interested parties what they had for lunch, and what they're up to every minute of the day, but just don't want to be bothered with something worthwhile.

[EagleKeeper]

Originally Posted by geecee

A lot of people don't actually keep their computers up 24/7, especially some of my older family members/friends. They just turn them on for a few hours when they are using them and then shut down. The laptop users just shut the lid and put them to sleep. I'm not even sure that they would finish some WUs by the deadline for the few hours a day their PCs are on. That said, I know some who spend 12 hours a day updating their Facebook to tell all interested parties what they had for lunch, and what they're up to every minute of the day, but just don't want to be bothered with something worthwhile.

I setup the laptops to not go to sleep when the lid is closed.

[ZipSpeed]

I tried to explain to my family and a few friends the worthiness of leaving their computers on in order to benefit human kind. They still don't get how computer simulations can lead to potential cures for cancer, AIDS, malaria, etc. Geecee is absolutely correct that society is more interested in Facebook posts and the lives of the Kardashians. I could secretly borg their computers and most of them wouldn't know any better with all the crapware they install.

[spencers]

Just because the computer is "on" 24/7, doesn't mean it's consuming power.

Running BOINC will increase electricity costs. Tough to convince people that it would be used for good.

[Kiska]

My desktop usage when on idle uses approx. 140 watts per hour while doing boinc doesn't change still at 140 watts. But that desktop is worthless doing said simulations as its a Pentium II.

[blckgrffn]

My parents and sister run it because I asked for it for Christmas