Don't take my comments below the wrong way, I am not arguing with you, just pointing a few things out. The other thing - you obviously did these things in windows - how did you learn them?
On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 10:43:10 +1200 Ralph Stoker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks again to all who commented. > > I am more than happy to ask questions. My concern was / still is to a > certain extent that Newbies are very 'resource hungry' and typing (for me at > least) results in a transfer / assimulation of information at leat twenty > times slower than I could have achieved verbally or visually. on the other hand typing up a request to the list is wonderful for getting the thinking in order. often i finish typing a question for the list and realise that the process of getting it down "on paper" has clarified my thinking to the point of working it out for myself. That will not always be the case, but it can often force you to analyse the problem. >If there are > other true Newbies out there and they , like me start to ask a multitude of > questions all at the same time then this post will no doubt suffer from > 'overload' or worse still a 'them and us' mentality. no question is too stoopid for the list, but people are expected to at least try to resolve the problem themselves, even a little looking finds many answers. >Any mechanism put in > place to alleviate this peak in demand on CLUG's resources would IMHO be a > good thing to have. > true. > With respect to the suggestions for the re-introduction of trouble-shooting > nights I believe that these would be a good idea... > > However they were not quite what I had in mind for Newbies and pose > significant headaches for organisers given the variations in user ability / > sytem configuration / distros. > > To me the Installfest was the perfect platform to have started the > introduction / education of Linux Newbies in a systematic / controlable > manner. The event could have (and I believe did) set up Newbies with a new > operating system, correctly configured computer (to enable swapping of > existing Windows files) and at least a connection to the internet. From this > equal footing (everyone would have installed SuSE ) I would have expected of > a CLUG meeting at least some time spent in the weeks following a 'BYO intro > course' where a teacher(s) goes through the very basic tasks such as: who are these teachers? most people in the LUG have put hours and hours into the installfest and are have spent too much time ignoring their families to put the required effort into what would be a day or half day seminar. > > Where things are? > How to set up Kontact / Kmail. pretty intuitive - isn't there a wizard that asks for all the info that is needed? > How to transfer personal information across from windows. do you mean emails and address books and the like? don't forget there are dozens of windows email/pim programs and even more linux ones - which ones should be accomodated. > How to install and run a new program a) With YaST b) Downloading a tarball > / rpm. yes but what about the people who don't have suse? they have a different mechanism for installing ? this can be accommodated, but can make the deminar two or three times longer... > How to install / mount new hardware (printer)/ drives. > Simple shell commands > Connecting to another computer - The DSE 802.11b discussion recently and > wi-fi networking with a wok antennae looked like a great fun and highly > educational project. what has this to do with linux? - ok its a great linux project :) >..Does anyone work in one of the high-rise office > buildings in town?? > well second floor with line of sight to clarendon tower :) I don't want a wok in my office to explain to every client though. presently more interested in someone with line of sight to my house in Lyttelton :) > If there is the worry of someone using starting with a different distro have > two or more distro specialists on hand...but try to stick with one for the > 'training' if at all possible. > Video the on-screen demonstration to allow Newbies to go over at their > leisure the new concepts / procedures....and allow other Newbies arriving > between installfests to get a head start. > > Just some thoughts....it seems a shame to have such a comprehensive group > skill set and not to use it in a more evangelical / passionate manner. Yes maybe I see too many problems instead of solutions, my newbie talk will go ahead on 14 october. I will use your list as part of my starting point. > > You can knock Bill Gates' operating stystems for a lot of things but he did > at least put the computer into the 'reach' of the average user! (no feedback > required on this last point...please)...so who will carry the flag for Linux > in this part of the world? you will, i will, we already are. how many converts have you made? if none, you are behind on quota! get to it. > > Ralph > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ralph Stoker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 4:33 PM > Subject: What is CLUG? > > > > I've been reading up heavily from the recommended readings posted > previously > > (many thanks) but still feel woefully inadequate in actually getting any > > hands-on experience (and making progress) with my SuSe Linux. I've had > very > > limited success in attempting to emulate some of the exercises shown in > the > > literature..and there is a limit to how long I am prepared to spend > > constantly hitting my head against a never ending brick wall...the wall > will > > eventually break...but will I be conscious enough to know that I am > through? > > > > Being new to CLUG events / posts I still don't have a grasp on what CLUG's > > 'remit' is in respect to introducing newbies to Linux: > > > > Is it's main function to bounce 'How to info..' > > Is it just a group of highly skilled techies, for techies...talking techie > > stuff? > > Does it desire to grow financially / physically through the introduction > of > > new members? > > Has a structured introduction program ever been considered? > > Is Google the answer to everything? > > > > The reason for asking such questions is that as a Newbie I have needs that > > are significantly different to those of 'established' CLUG members. I do > not > > wish to enflame or harrass the existing CLUG membership...yet I do wish > to > > develop my Linux skill set. In reviewing a number of posts I have to > > question whether or not CLUG is the correct medium for me to achieve my > > desired goal... > > > > Comments?.... > > > > Regards > > Ralph > > > > > > Would have liked to attend tonight but unfortunately I've been roped into > a > > Korfball Referee's course for the next two Thursday nights. > > > > -- Nick Rout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
