I've certainly encountered the type described above, but he's not one of them (as evidenced by his reluctance to simply re-install when he's helped me over the past four years with my troublesome Win98SE and WinME computers...often finding more focused solutions). I feel that I can trust him to help me with my Mandrake installation, as he has a lot of experience with not only Windows, but also Linux distros and Mac. Before he went into business for himself, he was for many years the computer hardware/OS/network guy for Boeing, and dealt with everything from mainframes to the various flavors of PCs and laptops with a variety of OSs.
He custom built my new computer for me, and I know that he also builds computers and installs OSs for people who use only Linux distros. In each case, he installs only hardware he's sure will work well with the intended OS. That said, he built this computer with WinXP in mind, so we'll see what happens when the Mandrake installation takes place.
I am thinking that I would be more comfortable with him here to help me with the installation, because he would have a better chance than I of understanding and dealing with any obscure technical issue if it pops up during installation. I'll certainly be watching over his shoulder (or asking him to look over mine), so I don't think I'll really miss any learning opportunity by just having him here. More likely, just the opposite, as he can explain to me as we go along just what might be happening.
If you have somebody of that kind of experience to hand your'd be mad
not to take advantage of the persons expertese, and by all means do so,
most of us don't have anyone so well informed and proficient to guide us
through the first experiences, myself included and I managed it OK.
Remember Melisa, if Linux users sometimes come across frequently as
[Stop reading here if you don't want to bother with some tangential rambling.]
Being naturally inclined to digress, I do want to make a *general* comment or two (or three or more!) with regards to the attitudes often expressed by "loyalists" of one OS or another (not at all pointed at you, John, though this digression is certainly inspired by a concept alluded to in your comment quoted above)...
As a long-time Windows user who reads just about everything I can get ahold of when I'm curious about something, I very often encounter - from Linux users more than others - comments that seem uncomfortably elitist (regardless of how possibly justified, or offered with some humor). Because of that, enhanced by the often self-styled perception amongst many Linux users that one must be sufficiently "with a clue" (as opposed to being "clueless Windows wimps") in order to truly appreciate the superiority of Linux over Windows, I see many fellow "Windows wimps" become discouraged and decide not to even try a Linux distribution. Unfortunately, that's the kind of thing that happens when this sort of rivalry becomes an almost religious issue, and it does nothing for the wider migration of the "unwashed masses" from Windows to Linux (perhaps a very reasonable and desirable thing).
The same sort of religious debate can happen in many areas...even in sea kayaking (those who believe in rudders versus those who don't, etc.). Just for the record, I believe the only true path to enlightenment is rudderless! ;-)
I am one to speak my mind, especially if I feel some kind of "truth" is on my side, and I can also easily understand and even appreciate the humor in comments I often read from Linux users with regards to Windows (and its users...myself included), but other people might be more sensitive to what they consider elitism of any sort, and if you really do want more people to consider alternatives to Windows - and Linux disros in particular - perhaps even the *appearance* of elitism is something to consider avoiding. Ironically, isn't Linux supposed to be more of a "for the people" thing than Windows? If so, elitism really has no place in its culture...especially in places like news groups and mail lists where curious "Windows wimps" might be exploring the idea of a possible migration to Linux based OSs.
Whew!...got my little "rant-o-the-day" out of the way, so I can now climb into my kayak and go visit my whale friends (who don't care one way or the other about Linux or Windows! :-)).
-- Melissa
elitist one can also say that windblows users often portray us a mere
geeks and nurds ,and some sort of performing computer circus act . It is
an understandable human trait that those who will not open their minds
to alternatives, simply because they don't want to think outside of
their peer group custom, often create the elusion that those who do, and
can, are not normal. Sad but true. I don't defend linux elitism but I do
understand where the degative trait is coming from. All I can say though
is if we seem that to you , more is the pitty on us. For as you say
Linux is not an elitist user club, you are free to join and be one or
leave as you wish.
John
-- John Richard Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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