[BadVista Advocate] Linux for Newbies

[Ringo Kamens]

I think that with things like Ubuntu (the free version) coming out,
this isn't a real issue. Ubuntu is very newbie-friendly and of all the
computer-illiterates I've switched I haven't had any major problems.
But this is something we need to continue considering.
Comrade Ringo Kamens

On 6/20/07, member greenarrow1 <greenarrow1 at opensuse.us> wrote:
> I just finished reading a interesting article about Linux and newbies.
>  Rather then rendering the link and boring everyone with the whole
> writing I will iterate one area I felt was very true.  I even did a
> internet search like the writer did and I was amazed of the lack of up
> to date tutorials for helping newbies find material or installing, or
> just using Linux.  I mean I found some but they were not written for a
> newbie or they were so lackadasical I could not even understand them.
> Plus the fact they kept referring to computers with 128MB RAM and P2
> computers, I found if I was a windows user I would think that Linux is
> old and no one with new computers use it.  Why we keep stating this
> fact is beyond me since most window users now have at least P4 or
> better AMD computers with minimum of 526MB (most 1G now), better video
> and sound.
>
> Search led me to sites that were for Linux users to Linux users and
> not for newbies, written only for a knowledgeable Linux user, etc.  I
> admit if I go through page after page I find information but this
> should be on the first page they search.  Now if the user knew exactly
> what distro they wanted there was some information but for a user who
> did not know anything about Linux and wanting to learn the basics
> where they would understand what is written there is really not much
> available.  A lot of the information I did find was very poorly
> designed, very out dated, and was detrimental in attracting a window
> user.
>
> Now do not start pointing me to links but show me where this info is
> that the person searching doesnt have to flip page after page to find
> it.  A newbie is not going to do that and like was written in what I
> was reading I agree that if it is not on the first or second page the
> newbie is going to lose interest or if he read info that he does not
> understand he will leave also.
>
> We want people to switch but we are also not making it easy for them
> to find current and updated material.  How many window users really
> even know how to search?  They going to enter Linux, Linux Newbie,
> Linux tutorials.  Seriously do the latter and then read what is there.
>  Not very well written or it is dated material.  Here we are updating
> Linux everywhere but no one is looking at tutorials for new users that
> a new user can read.  We seem to have forgotten that a new user does
> not have the know how of developers and most window users have never
> had to install a operating system before.
>
> George
> greenarrow1
> InNetInvestigations-Forensic
> SuSe 10.2/TriStar/Apache
> GoBoLinux
>
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