On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:56, Douglas Royds wrote: > Christopher Sawtell wrote: > >On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:10, Nick Rout wrote: > >>2. A "General Public" Installfest. This has been mooted at various times > >>- but hasn't happenned this year. I suspect most epople can't be > >>bothered and this is why it hasn't happenned! Comments? > > > >imho, it hasn't happened simply because all the distributions have been > >improved so much that it is now quite easy to install Linux. Now-a-days, > >anybody with more than half a dozen computer oriented brain cells can do > > it for themselves. ergo no need for the huge fests we used to have when > > it was actually quite difficult to install Linux and get it going > > properly. > > Couldn't agree less, I'm sorry Chris. The distro's may indeed be much > improved (I have to take others' words for this, as I'm still a relative > newcomer), but the overall Linux learning curve remains somewhat steep. > I can personally lay claim to some 12 or more computer-oriented brain > cells, but I couldn't have got as far as I have without the enormous > amount of help that I've received from this list, both via the mailing > list and face-to-face. Witness the never-ending torrent of questions > about Winmodems, video cards, wireless networking, and DVD and video > play-back. It may easier now to install Linux, but to "get it going > properly" is quite another kettle of fish. I still have a daunting climb > ahead of me.
I'm talking about installing the basic O/S - which is what generally happens at InstallFests. I agree that setting up and configuring some of the more complex applications can be a real trial. ( My sound has suddenly disappeared and I have absolutely no idea why. ) Google, and distro oriented wikis & web forums together with IRC channels are wonderful sources of help with the lore. The thing I like about Linux is that to configure things you just pop the settings you need in some pretty well defined config file using your favourite editor, whereas on the other system you have to go on a extensive expedition and treasure hunt through through a veritable maze of panels and click-on thingies of one sort and another. Eventually you find the setting you wish to change. Then you have to reboot the whole machine half a dozen times. Now remember that sequence of quite possibly a dozen or more mouse movements and clicks so you can get the task done quickly a second time months later. Well I ask you? Anybody who can do that has my real admiration! -- CS
