On Saturday 22 January 2005 11:15 am, Angus Auld wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: JR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: newbie@linux-mandrake.com > Subject: Re: [newbie] Playing god with friends new laptop (Moral question) > Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 15:42:12 -0500 > > > On Saturday 22 January 2005 09:38 am, Duncan Anderson wrote: > > > There should be no problem. The lady in question is a "computer > > > newbie". She will most likely want to use email and word-processing > > > initially, so there should be absolutely no issue, since all such > > > programs are standard on Mandrake at no extra charge. > > > > > > Most importantly, she will not have to bother with the time-wasting and > > > expensive activities which surround Windows in its capacity of virus > > > magnet. How any newbie copes with the whole vicious circle of > > > infection, re-installation, protection, updates, etc., defeats me. > > > > I agree here whole heartedly. I dont know how to teach her about updates, > > when to turn on and off autoprotect etc. > > > > > I have installed Mandrake on several senior citizens' computers and > > > generally a bit of help is required every now and then, but it is > > > normally sorted out over the phone, or for a few minutes, accompanied > > > by a cup of tea and a chat. > > > > > > There is also no problem getting Mandrake to see wireless networks. We > > > don't have such luxuries where I live, but when I was in Europe on > > > holiday, I had no trouble connecting to the hotels' access points with > > > Mandrake 10.1beta2 (at the time, August last year). I was using an > > > Orinoco PCMCIA card. Unfortunately the ADSL infrastructure does not > > > exist yet in our beautiful seaside village. I believe it is due in > > > 2006. > > > > > > cheers > > > Duncan > > > > <snip> > > > > I think what I'll do is make her windows environment as linux-like as > > possiblel firefox, thunderbird and so forth. Then I'll install linux (she > > has plenty of disk space) and show her how easy it is. She will always > > have the choice - but she will surely find linux easier. I dread going > > near her laptop with windows on it and it's brand new! What a shame. > > > > Regards, > > > > Jarlath > > ******************************************** > As far as wireless goes, it definitely depends on what sort of wireless nic > you have. I have a Dell Inspiron with a Broadcom wireless card, and I came > just sort of smashing it to bits out of utter and complete frustration > trying to get that thing to connect under Mandrake 10.1. 8>| The Broadcom > ethernet card on the other hand, was a snap to set up. I tried both > "ndiswrapper" and Linuxants "driverloader" with the wireless.....no joy in > Mudville at all. > > I agree with your decisions to use as few MS programs as possible, and to > set her up a dual-boot. Dual-booting is what I had to settle with, and now > I can go wireless if need be, albeit with MS, and I can stick with my > beloved Mandrake most of the time by plugging in to the internet. My > decision to buy this Dell, with it's linux un-friendly Broadcom wireless > card, is just one of those little learning experiences that comes along > once in a while. ;-) "Too soon old and too late smart" comes to mind. > > Best regards to you. > --Angus Thanks Angus, I managed to get my USR wireless pcmcia card working fine on a dell I4000. Linuxant.com allow you to upload the windows driver on your CD, and in return they give you a linux driver - if they have it.
Finally, configuration was a nightmare at first, but this guy sorted out everything in a few posts. http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=260990&highlight=final+step+wifi Regards, Jarlath -- Copyrighting allows people to benefit from their labours, but software patents allow the companies with the largest legal departments to benefit from everyone else's work. Andrew Brown, The Guardian.
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