I was musing to my brother the other day that I have spent more money on
linux books in the past nine months then I have cumulatively spent on
windows software in my whole life. I'm not a programmer nor am I
particularly a geek, I simply enjoy being in controll of the elements of
my life. Windows forces me into a sort of a
cut-off-the-chickens-head-and-dance-naked-in-a-pentagram-while-I-smear-its-blood-all-over-my-body-and-chant-the-national-anthem-backwards
kind of controll while linux actually gives me more control then my
meager knowledge is ready to have. Since I like learning and am
fascinated by computer hardware and software linux really appeals to me.
Just my .02
Abe
John Rye wrote:
>
> Philomena wrote:
> >
> > I fall into the "used to be a programmer and unfortunately fell up into
> > management" type, but I still try to keep myself current.
> >
> > I'm curious also - what type of question during the install would you think
> > is confounding to a new user ? It seems to me that every question during
> > the installs at any level are clearly outlined in the documentation you get
> > with the software. I doubt a new user would be downloading the distro from
> > an FTP site, so I am guessing the package was purchased. Seemed to me that
> > you can click on a few options and then go away and come back to find the
> > OS just about installed. What do you see as being difficult ?
> >
> > cheers,
> > philomena
>
> That makes at least two of us... <grin>
>
> I agree with your sentiment, however it seems from the content of many
> of the shouts for assistance are from those who didn't download the
> documentation when the pulled their ISO's down the tube.
>
> Many are migrating from Windows and I suggest that the vast majority
> don't have our backgrounds in systems; that their machines came pre-
> installed; that the day has long passed since software or hardware
> suppliers supplied re-constituted Pinus Radiata with their products,
> which in my case are still causing several walls to lean in an alarming
> manner. <grin>
>
> As a result these new immigrants don't have any idea about documentation
> nor how or where to go looking.
>
> I for one, get frustrated with the standard 4-letter salutation which
> is often offered by other list members. We all forget that when we
> started in this industry that our first task was read and digest the
> 'The Unix Programmer's Manual - 1st 2nd and 3rd Editions' _BEFORE_ the
> sys-admin let us anywhere near the terminal. In my case I was sent out
> of the Computer Hall to a little room in the basement with instruction
> 'Do not return here until you have memorised the entire index on those
> books' - I can't remember how many volumes it was - but I was certainly
> 'down the hole' for about 3 weeks!!!
>
> I'm returning *nix after a break of about 10 years, I find the
> transition
> quite difficult at times. There appear to have been a few changes from
> the Berkeley (spelling??) version I started on in 1977 for some reason
> !!
>
> I obtained my original Macmillian ver 6.5 while browsing in a Staples
> store somewhere in New Hampshire last Christmas. Since then I sure have
> learned a bit. However - despite my background I still have to ask
> dumb questions, questions about things for which I can't find docs
> which are written in a manner that my rusty neurons can cope with.
>
> I have no doubt that L-M, RH and the other 'commercial' distributors
> are doing a tremendous job in marketing this product, but we still
> have to remember that if it costs $1.99 from 'Cheapbytes' then that
> 'purchaser' can't see why he/she should go and spent a couple of
> hundred dollars for the manuals.
>
> This situation is somewhat of a conundrum -
>
> Cheers
>
> John
>
> --
> ICQ# 89345394 Mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> And 23:59:59 ahead of most of the rest of the world
>
> >
> > At 09:11 AM 9/20/2000 -0500, you wrote:
> > >Just curious, how many of y'all:
> > >
> > > * are programmer folk
> > > * are IT folk
> > > * are plain user folk
> > >
> > >Don't get me wrong, I really like Linux and hope it flourishes. And I'm not
> > >saying that Linux sucks in any way!
> > >
> > >But I'm just wondering because, without getting into a flame war, I'm
> > >surprised how bad the installation of Mandrake is. I got Mandrake because it
> > >was supposed to be the most friendly distribution to install and no doubt
> > >it's better than RedHat or Debian and for all intents and purpose it's a
> > >good installation process. But some of the questions the installer would
> > >ask were just confounding to a new user and the method that you select
> > >packages were a bit disconcerting. I know that Linux is not for the timid,
> > >but there seem to be just little things that could be changed to faciliate
> > >the whole "experience." I doubt a first time Linux user would click on
> > >Expert, the "psychology" of Linux seems a little wacked but I guess it's not
> > >an OS that's intended for the general population.
> > >
> > >Let me reiterate: Don't get me wrong, I really like Linux and hope it
> > >flourishes. And I'm not saying that Linux sucks in any way!
> > >
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: patrick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > >Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 2:34 PM
> > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >Subject: Re: [newbie] Mandrake...too many apps?
> > >
> > >
> > >On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, you wrote:
> > > > Have you tried doing an expert install and selecting the applications
> > > > yourself ? That way, you know exctly what you have installed on your
> > > > system.
> > > >
> > > > cheers,
> > > > philomena
> > >
> > >yea, theres about a thousand of em. have fun :)
> > >
> > > >
> > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > One of the few things I don't care for with Mandrake is the large number
> > > > > of apps it installs by default that are of little use to me. Couple this
> > > > > the seeming all or nothing selection process and
> > > > > the lack of documnetation (that I can find) on exactly what is included
> > > > > in the Misc category or not installed with the available
> > > > > percentage of options and I always wind up with a very cluttered menu
> > > > > stucture. I was wondering if the boxed set includes any more app
> > > > > selection information...if so it would certinly be worth the price to
> > > > > me.
> > > > > --
> > > > > Paul Bary
> > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >
