John, >>I need something which will advise me on how to set a machine from scratch >>for basic email and word processing use...<<
This is absolutely the primary roadblock for large scale adoption of Linux in my opinion. Installing and configuring the operating system needs to be easy before the average user is going to change their machine. I have talked to many really smart and technical people over the last five years who have struggled and even failed to get Linux installed. I watched at Whilfest one night when there was the Linux install party, and the experts struggled and even failed on several boxes. Back in the day (less than five years ago) the average distro was too complicated, and it was intentional. Yes, I believe the Linux distro folks wanted it to be hard so it would not have a massive adoption. Kind of like a secret club kids create with only their friends. It is getting much better today. I watched as my son set me up a Linux box and it was really not all that difficult. If the distros get easier to install then it will be adopted faster. The new problem is actually a byproduct of the freedom we all hear with respect to Linux. There are too many choices which is confusing to the marketplace in my opinion. Rick White Light Computing, Inc. www.whitelightcomputing.com www.rickschummer.com 586.254.2530 - office 586.254.2539 - fax _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
