--- Karthik Poobalasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 1. What do newbies really need when it comes to an > > introduction to Linux? > > simple and concise information. I know tldp.org is > there with a lot of > documentation but I am sure *most* of the newbies > would be flabbergasted by > the amount of information available. If you ask me > its more information > overload if you point each and every query to tldp > or even google.I am not > sure how the dummies series on linux is but I guess > we need something of that > sort to make people comfortable around linux.
Some instruction using MS as an example would help them too. As in, In windows you did xwz because..., well, in Linux you do abc because... We tend to resist that due to our own bias, but it doesn't help the newbie to know we are biased. > > > > 2. What are some really good web sites that helped > you > > to understand what Linux is about? > websites... > 1. tldp.org (local ldp at http://ldp.lsu.edu/) > 2. google.com/linux (only hits that are related to > linux. well that's atleast > how it supposed to work) > 3. list archives. you can find links to mini-howtos > and *unofficial* howtos > that are not on tldp > 4. http://www.linux-laptop.net/ proved to be a good > source for finding which > distros work out of the box on my laptop and which > involves considerable > amount of work. Nothing to add here. > > > > 3. What have you found to be the most difficult > > barriers in learning about, installing, or using > > Linux? > for most part it was the hardware that I had was > somewhat designed for > MSWindows. I really wish I had some kind of hardware > compatibility list with > me when I started shopping for hardware. IMHO, The jargon is one of the main hurdles. > > > 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? > > http://status.lsu.edu/security/start/index.php > This is a good intro to Linux. though i would very > much NOT like to see a > comparison with MSWindows, I think its necessary to > help people, who are > familiar with MSWindows, understand how Linux works. > > I would like to add one more question. > > 5. What do newbies really NOT need to hear when it > comes to an giving an intro > to Linux? > Microsoft Bashing when it comes to their software. I > know, I know I have done > it and even now I am tempted to do it. But i don't > think saying "F/OSS is > better than evil M$ software" (even if its true) > helps in anyway for F/OSS. > In-fact, I think it would backfire if the F/OSS > community keeps doing it. What do they not need to hear? RTFM and other negative jargon. Clear, concise, accurate instructions written in geek. To a savy windows user there are differences between directories and files. Root just meean C:\. Grep, Awk and Cat have something to do with hairballs. There is no way to "hit the ground running" in Linux without a bit of homework, but learning a foreign language is tough. They need the instructions in long-hand. > > > hope my ramblings help > Karthik > > Ditto. ===== Warmest Regards, Doug Riddle Capital punishment makes the state a murderer. On the other hand, life in prison makes the state a gay dungeon master. -- Rev. Jesse Jackson "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions..." - Doug Riddle __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/
