"Steven C. Darnold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [...] > So I say to the readers of survPC: embrace the Linux CLI, do > not be afraid. Yes, there is a learning curve. Yes, you will > have months of frustration. Yes, you will smash the keyboard > with your fist. But this is where you want to be. This is > where the action is. At the coalface.
Steven, I don't disagree with your underlying philosophy. The power that Linux (and BSD etc.) offer is unparallelled, and one should work directly with the system to make the most of it. However, when someone indicates they're already given up once on Linux and only have a limited time to try it out, starting with a working system improves the odds they'll stick with it. I hope everyone GETS to the point "where the action is", but I can also understand why some might want a more gentle entry. Keep in mind that installing a distribution with an installer that improves the odds for success doesn't mean that the user is trapped in a GUI. I'd recommend a simplified installation to get everything working. Then, the user can decide how to work. Even if one does a full-bloat GUI install of RedHat or Mandrake, one can still get to the the underlying innards easily. X doesn't make that all go away. This is completely unlike the typical Windows or Macintosh user experience (OSX notwithstanding). Most users I know who've started with a GUI Linux install start out using mindless point-n-click tools, but they eventually catch on to the power of working directly with the OS, at least at some level. Before you know it, they've got more xterms open than anything else. So yeah, I'm all for the extreme approach to Linux. But I also recommend kneepads to folks learning to rollerblade. :) Again, not to argue. I think we all want to see enlightened Linux users in ever-growing numbers. - Bob To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
