John Hebert wrote: >Howdy, > >I'm looking for feedback to the following questions: > >1. What do newbies really need when it comes to an >introduction to Linux? >2. What are some really good web sites that helped you >to understand what Linux is about? >3. What have you found to be the most difficult >barriers in learning about, installing, or using >Linux? >4. If www.brlug.net or the CCCC Linux SIG were to have >a web page to serve as an introduction to Linux, what >would you recommend to be on it? > >Thanks a bunch for your feedback! Your input will help >new users to Linux get over the difficulties you have >faced in learning about Linux and free software. > >John Hebert > > I'm still a newbie, and there aren't many questions I can answer on this list, but I can give this one a shot.
I would say google is a great answer, but if you don't know anything, even google can be frustrating. Here are the things I would recommend: 1. Have a goal. Why are you interested in Linux in the first place? If you just like the philosophy of free software, you will probably install it, say to yourself "hey this is so cool" and never do anything with it. If you want to learn the nitty gritty stuff and get your hands dirty, or you want an all in one media player/ TIVO or a web server, that's a different thing. If you have a goal, it will force you to work out problems, which might just spark your interest in something else, which leads you to other problems... 2. Don't reinstall every few days. If you screw something up, fix it, don't just reinstall. I was guilty of this one, and I have heard other people are too. 3. I would recommend linuxquestions.org I have found people there to be really nice and helpful, and when you find yourself answering questions instead of asking them, it's great! A bit of advice, and I cannot stress this enough to newbies: search for your question and lurk at a forum for at least a few days before asking your first through fifth questions. Not everyone will be nice to you if you are the fifth person that day to ask which distro to install first or why your brand new $250 video card doesn't work. 4. This one is personal preference: don't dual boot. Someone you know has an old PII sitting in a garage or attic somewhere. Start asking friends and coworkers. Save up your pennies and get one from ebay. If you like it and get it to run, then you can install on something else. If you dual boot you can't search for an answer while working on the problem. Plus, it's cool to really see how much faster and bloat free linux is. 5. Get a book. O'Reilly's Running Linux was good for me, or you could just go with Rute. http://wwwacs.gantep.edu.tr/linux/rute/ 6. Don't worry about being the coolest kid on your block. Start with Mandrake, Red Hat, or Knoppix. Don't try to install Debian first. I know several people who have tried this and decided Linux was too hard for them. Well, I hope this helps. Michael Dolan
