This is pretty interesting.... I never got any books or anything on Linux.
I've used UNIX through a telnet connection, which made me familiar with
legacy applications such as pine and lynx, but the CLI was difficult,
admittedly, the first time I went to use it. I had used DOS forever, and
so was famiar with the "type, <ENTER>" way of doing things-- but there's
so much more power to Linux. That's why I use it now. BTW.... I didn't
go to /usr/bin to learn commands... I learn them as I need to. And I've
now been using Linux for 2 years.
As for my age... I'm 16 =). (And I just got a Ford Escort! =/)
- Mike
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Michael B. Trausch [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.wcnet.org/~mtrausch 100% Microsoft Free on a PC!
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On Wed, 24 Mar 1999, George Richard Russell wrote:
GRR>Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 19:39:29 +0000
GRR>From: George Richard Russell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
GRR>To: dnoack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
GRR>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
GRR>Subject: Re: Seeking Linux Story Comments
GRR>
GRR>dnoack wrote:
GRR>
GRR>> 1. How long have you been using Linux and which distribution do you use?
GRR>
GRR>3 Years? Slackware 96 --> Redhat 4.2 -- 5.1 --> Suse 5.2 -- 5.3 -->
GRR>Debian 2.0--> planning back to new Suse
GRR>
GRR>> 2. Have distributions that have been packaged such as Red Hat and SuSe,
GRR>> made it easier for the average user to install and run the OS and
GRR>> applications?
GRR>
GRR>No one has installed and run Linux for years without using a
GRR>distribution.
GRR>
GRR>> Is this an OS, at least in its present form, a general
GRR>> purpose of OS that you buy, install and within no time your up and
GRR>> running? Or is LInux being over-hyped, possibly giving users false hopes
GRR>> of ease of use?
GRR>
GRR>The hype is about power, flexibility and freedom, not ease of use. It
GRR>can be usedas a general purpose OS, but is not generally regarded as
GRR>such. Its a server / software development platform OS with the desktop
GRR>as a future goal.
GRR>
GRR>> 3. Before a new users goes out and buys or downloads one of the
GRR>> distributions, what do they need to know? Should they take some computer
GRR>> programming or maybe a Unix course? If you they know DOS and the command
GRR>> line does it really matter and is that analogy accurate?
GRR>
GRR>Know your hardware, the settings and components installed. Ie, what the
GRR>soundcard is, not just that its a SB16 clone. Video card details (
GRR>Video ram and chipset)
GRR>
GRR>Be familiar with a commandline (not DOS - Linux has a better commandline
GRR>than that)
GRR>
GRR>Be familiar with more than the Windows interface - understand what goes
GRR>on underneath, even at a basiclevel (if you think its done by magic, you
GRR>won't like Linux)
GRR>
GRR>Computer programming is entirely unecessary. A Unix user course would
GRR>be handy - but most trouble is not using, but administrating the
GRR>machine.
GRR>
GRR>> 4. What would be the greatest advantages and disadvantages to a Mac or
GRR>> Windows users going over to Linux? How long would it take them to get up
GRR>> to speed before they could install programs, compile the kernel, etc.
GRR>
GRR>3-6 months? On and off, thats how long it took me. Learning would have
GRR>gone faster had I bought a book about linux or discovered a searchable
GRR>help system. (I spent a long time in /usr/bin doing "command --help |
GRR>less" .
GRR>
GRR>Installing programs off the Linux CD is easy - the distro has a tool or
GRR>interface ie glint, pkgtool, yast, dselect to name a few.
GRR>
GRR>Off the net is not so easy, since the newbie is confused over source
GRR>code vs binary, library requirements etc.
GRR>
GRR>> What is the greatest challenge facing new Linux users? Did you
GRR>> experience any problems in installing, running or figuring out how to
GRR>> install applications?
GRR>
GRR>The greatest challenge is the difference of Windows 95 / Mac from
GRR>Linux. Users of DOS/ Windows 3.1 are more familiar with seperate GUI /
GRR>OS like Linux, and probably did deal with hardware drivers,
GRR>configuration in a more advanced manner than running a wizard.
GRR>
GRR>> 5. What kind of learning curve is involved in learning Linux for someone
GRR>> that has never had any experience in this OS before? If the learning
GRR>> curve is too steep might that scare away folks? What is the best way to
GRR>> learn, books, classes a guru?
GRR>
GRR>Steep curve for computer novices.
GRR>
GRR>Best way to learn - try, fail, ask on net, ask guru, buy book, redo as
GRR>necessary.
GRR>
GRR>> 6, If you get questions for new Linux users, what kinds of questions do
GRR>> you get the most? Do new users know how to mount their CD-ROM or a
GRR>> floppy drive. Does a lack of easy to use apps hurt the popularity of
GRR>> Linux?
GRR>
GRR>Two most popular questions - how do I get X Windows working and how do I
GRR>setup PPP.
GRR>
GRR>Users don't usually know howto do these things, but its in the
GRR>documentation (how many people read it? SuSE's docs are really good)
GRR>
GRR>Linux is easy to use.
GRR>
GRR>Getting it easy to use is the hard part.
GRR>
GRR>There are planty of easy applications. Its the OS thats hard.
GRR>
GRR>> 7. By making Linux too easy to install and use, is that a case of
GRR>> "dumbing it down" so everyone can use it? Should Linux be an elite OS
GRR>> for serious computer users?
GRR>
GRR>No. Everyone starts somewhere, and ease of install means power can be
GRR>found by the user when the user wants or needs to use it.
GRR>
GRR>> Please include your name, state or city where you live, and if you care
GRR>> too your age.
GRR>
GRR>George Russell
GRR>Strathclyde, Scotland
GRR>Aged 19 years.
GRR>--
GRR>One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
GRR>One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them,
GRR>In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.
GRR>
