Actually, if a new user reads the contents of debian-reference before doing much else with Debian they'll solve that problem. The problem behind that is that debian-reference doesn't install by default on systems. A question like "Are you new to Linux (y/n)? in the install script might not only install that package by default but also configure boot up sequence such that once all was finished booting the user would land inside the debian-reference application. I can't really predict what amount of pain would be reduced by such steps so am not recommending them unless testing gets done with a significant sample size of users new to Linux first. If follow up study shows these users progress faster on their learning curves, then I'd recommend making these modifications. The bsd system has a learn utility that teaches several topics once set up correctly using computer-assisted instruction and if that were ever successfully ported to Linux (maybe some on this list remember using it), that might also be a good utility to use to get more knowledge in areas where debian-reference is missing or goes lightly through. I know I certainly got lots from it back in late '80's and it's command line too.
On Sat, 16 Apr 2011, shawn wilson wrote: > On Apr 16, 2011 11:18 AM, <foldingst...@theowned.org> wrote: > > > > > Like I said, "A Lot has changed in 12 years". Debian is more friendly > > > today than yesterday as are most distros, but there are others that are > > > friendlier, a lot friendlier. > > > > > > So, I stand by my initial statement that Debian is not suitable for the > > > Linux firsttimer. I would never recommend it to a noobie. With Debian, > > > you need to know, at least somewhat, what you're doing. > > > > > > B > > > > > > > I think if someone is capable of reading and comprehending the excellent > > documentation available, there should be no problem using Debian. This is > > how many people have learned. > > > > The debian documentation is among the best (along with gentoo and FreeBSD). > That said, when I want to get something done this isn't the first place I > look - I google and what I find there. I don't suppose I could consider > myself 'new' anymore and it did take me a year to figure out how to find > things on the net. > > I think that any distro that doesn't do quirky things is good for beginners > (ie, sles having aliases and definitions for everything is just stupid). If > a distro keeps its etc pretty standard, puts things in the right place in > the directory tree, and has a good user base, it should be good to learn on. > (the first and second reason are why I hate mandrake) > > There is also the issue of how you use linux. If you want a free OS that > just works, you can install debian or ubuntu (or maybe fedora - idk) and > most things should pretty much work. You can use this environment and that's > great. However I don't think you really learn linux like this. > > Otoh, you can run mac or windows and just access linux through putty or > terminal.app and get tons of experience. > > In the end, I suppose it just depends what you want to get out of it. > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/alpine.bsf.2.00.1104161353080.67...@freire1.furyyjbeyq.arg
