To All Kind, Learned Linux User Responders, I'll respond to your advice individually in order to avoid any confusion.
First of all, Carl, I loved your allusion to the "real computer" because in many ways using Linux is reminiscent of the computing of yesteryear, where you really had to know what you're doing in order to achieve complete functionality of your system, whether it be an ancient high level language like Fortran, Cobol or BASIC, or a real operating system like CPM, or pre-Windows MS-DOS. I prefer to call myself as a Linux "newborn" [even less advanced than a "newbie"], and for people like me the Gnome desktop makes life a lot easier because I can function with my netbook while I'm learning BASH and the more esoteric Linux command functions. Those weekly LUG meetings sound like an excellent idea, but unfortunately I don't have Internet access at home, so I wouldn't be able to commit to regular participation. Jan, thanks for the info concerning HOWTO documents. I've actually examined a few already, and they're clearly written and very instructive. Jim, I'll check out Perl, which I've actually seen as highly recommended before by other users. Yes, from the little studying I've done, BASH syntax is strange, conpared with MS-DOS and even BASIC, both of which I've used extensively. Some of the command names don't even seem appropriate to what they do. However, I think I should become at least comfortable with Linux before I experience a new learning curve with yet another language. I've also considered learning Java, which I understand is multiplatform, and which, therefore, would conceivably allow scripts that I write on my netbook to work on my Windows systems with the J.R.E. installed. However, both of these are future projects. It's really great to see how many available options there are, and even more amazing that most of them are absolutely free because, being retired, I'm a bit "financially challenged"! Joe, I've looked through the Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide, which was recommend by someone on one of the Linux forums. It does, indeed, appear to be comprehensive--in fact in many ways far too advanced for me. I only wish I could download the entire thing for reference at my liesure, only because I don't always have access to the Internet. Peter, I actually have played around with BASH's autocomplete feature, except that I was using the <up> and <down> arrow keys. The later versions of MS-DOS offered a similar feature. I haven't tried Nano, but I'll play with it when I get a chance. I actually installed VLC, but I must confess that did it the "lazy" way, allowing Gnome's package install the RPM. I wasn't paying attention to the messages during the package downloads and installs, so I can't be certain that the Win32 codec was installed with everything else, but VLC DOES play the .mov test video I loaded, just not smoothly. If I slow down the play speed slightly, it plays it fine. Finally, I never heard of IRCs, but I'll give 'em a try--great suggestion! Sveinn, those are great suggestions. From what you and Jim Ford explained, I'm now convinced that I'll have to check other repositories to try to get more/better codecs--that is, once I . Not for nothing, but I couldn't get MANY media players to play .mov files in Windows, either. On some systems Windows Media Player would work, provided that I downloaded and installed the codecs. On other systems only Media Player Classic Home Cinema would work. Even QuickTime didn't work, and .mov is supposed to be its native, proprietary format!!! John, I'll download and study "Slackware Linux Essentials", as you suggested. I assume that any differences in syntax, command switches, etc. between Slackware's kernel and OpenSUSE's won't prevent it from still being a good study reference for me! Yes, my local public library also contains a small supply of decent Linux/Unix references. In fact, I recently withdrew a book entitled, "UNIX ? Visual Quick Start Guide" by Deborah S. & Eric J. Ray, which takes you from learning basic commands to writing scripts. Unfortunately, some of the commands they list don't appear when I use BASH's "man" command in openSUSE. I deeply appreciate the time you've ALL taken and the effort you've all extended to come to the aid of this Linux "Newborn" with such excellent and well-considered advice, especially considering that none of it is directly Scribus-related. At the risk of repeating myself, I also wish to apologize to all of the other participants in this mailing list if my Linux-related issues have appeared to dominate valuable time and space on this site, especially since it is international in scope. As Joe Zeff pointed out, it IS a "little off-topic". I've indicated in previous posts that I fully intend to install Ghostscript and Scribus [possibly Inkscape and a few other "goodies", as well], which eventually will make my requests and the excellent responses I've received at least somewhat relevent. Hopefully, some day I also will be competent enough to write a few useful scripts of my own. That said, I'll try not to bother any of you again for awhile--at least not until I've finally installed and begun using Scribus. Hopefully, by then I'll have more intelligent questions to ask and perhaps even a suggestion or two of my own to help some other Newbie or "Newborn", somewhat after the fashion of the theme of the movie, "Pay It Forward". Also, as many of you have pointed out, there are more than enough forums that exist specifically to offer assistance in learning and in resolving problems with various Linux distros. Thank you all again. You're all super. Bob Marma [ Scribus "Newbie" and Linux "Newborn" ]
