[Cialug] new to this group, and Linux

Thu Jun 2 13:14:35 CDT 2005

... speaking as a formerly married geek, I think DH is has the correct 
answer here. :)

-dc

Dave J. Hala Jr. wrote:
> Who cares how much it costs, as long as the wife is happy!!!
> 
> On Thu, 2005-06-02 at 12:17, Theron Conrey wrote:
> 
>>I agree but mac-mini equates non-free home (noble reason) and new hardware (more realistic reason)
>>Theron
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: "Dave J. Hala Jr." <dave at 58ghz.net>
>>To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group <cialug at cialug.org>
>>Date: Thu, 02 Jun 2005 12:00:46 -0500
>>Subject: Re: Re: Re: [Cialug] new to this group, and Linux
>>
>>I'd put the wife on a Mac-Mini....
>>
>>On Thu, 2005-06-02 at 11:29, Theron Conrey wrote:
>>
>>>Not rude at all, because you've missed the point.  His wife wants to use a computer that just works. Linux vs. Windows unimportant to the non techie.  However if the only thing a non techie uses for work is windows, and you have to live with that person and fix thier computer problems, it helps to be proficient.  I am (nor the spouse of the author of that article) not a windows admin. or a user.  So when things broke on my wife's laptop the beratment was severe since I earn a living as a "computer guy" and should know how to fix these "simple" problems.  So when windows problems occured I was the guy that had to fix it in my home.    
>>>The issue is about 2 things:
>>>
>>>One: most computer users (emph. users) assume that all computers behave as windows does and when they don't thier broken.  Nasty truth.
>>>Two: the guy want's to get his (and i did with mine) wife on a different platform so that I work less on fixing her computer.  Saying that however does not imply anything about liking anything.  It merely states that what the user is "used too" is windows, simply because thats all they've seen.   
>>>
>>>Theron
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: chris129 at cs.iastate.edu
>>>To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group <cialug at cialug.org>
>>>Date: Thu,  2 Jun 2005 11:16:07 -0500
>>>Subject: Re: Re: [Cialug] new to this group, and Linux
>>>
>>>Am I the only one who saw lots of characters on that page that don't exist in my
>>>set?  Lots of "A^" all over the place with an occasional epsilon...
>>>
>>>Anyway, the reviews are ok.  But this part is a bit obnoxious:
>>>"Remember, I am the average Windows user and I want things to work just like
>>>they would in Windows."
>>>Frankly, when people have that attitude I tell them the perfect "distro" for
>>>them is Windows ;).
>>>Not to be rude, but if you like Windows you might as well use it!
>>>
>>>
>>>Quoting Theron Conrey <theron at conrey.org>:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Adding to what is posted below there is a great article about different 
>>>>distros and thier ease of use written by a Geeks spouse.  Not saying that
>>>>it's a bad thing but similar articles helped my house (wife chose not to
>>>>veto) become free.
>>>>Theron
>>>>
>>>>I believe that this forum will snip me, but here goes
>>>>http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/categories/4-Reviews
>>>>
>>>>and if it does it's at the linux-blog.org site under reviews...  Good stuff.
>>>>Theron
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: David Champion <dave at visionary.com>
>>>>To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group <cialug at cialug.org>
>>>>Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:55:34 -0500
>>>>Subject: Re: [Cialug] new to this group, and Linux
>>>>
>>>>Welcome to the list.
>>>>
>>>>FYI, there are Linux / Free Unix groups in Ames and Cedar Falls:
>>>>http://www.amesfug.org
>>>>http://www.cedarlug.org
>>>>
>>>>We should plan some joint meetings with AmesFUG for this summer! 
>>>>Actually, stay tuned for an announcement for the June 15th meeting, I'm 
>>>>guessing some of the Ames people may be interested in something we have 
>>>>in the works.
>>>>
>>>>For you new users, here's my quick rundown of newbie friendly 
>>>>distributions in order of friendliness:
>>>>
>>>>Knoppix (bootable "live cd", no install needed)
>>>>Mandriva (was: Mandrake)
>>>>Ubuntu (has either a "live" cd or an installable CD)
>>>>Suse (the "free" version requires an FTP install, which is a pain)
>>>>Fedora (the free redhat)
>>>>Debian
>>>>....
>>>>Slackware
>>>>....
>>>>Writing your own distro from scratch
>>>>Gentoo
>>>>
>>>>I'm sure if you ask, someone will burn you a CD of the latest version of 
>>>>any of those. I personally have the latest Mandriva 2005 LE (aka 
>>>>Mandrake 10.2), and I have a bunch of the previous version of Ubuntu.
>>>>
>>>>p.s. :
>>>>We're supposed to be planning an Installfest, which would be handy for 
>>>>all of these n00bs, but don't have a location or a date yet. Get on the 
>>>>stick, you Installfest planners! Let me know if you need the contact 
>>>>info for the Nevlyn Center in Ankeny.
>>>>
>>>>-dc
>>>>
>>>>Jim Asbille wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On Wednesday 01 June 2005 17:45, Travis Beaty wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm also fond of SuSE.  I use 9.3, I purchased a copy for $12.  I started
>>>>
>>>>with 
>>>>
>>>>>Debian and then Red Hat but as a newbie I had trouble so I purchased SuSE
>>>>
>>>>9.0 
>>>>
>>>>>which I heard had a great install and excellent out of the box hardware 
>>>>>support.  I'm hooked now because I'm getting better at using Yast and I'm 
>>>>>comfortable with how well everything works.  
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Wednesday 01 June 2005 06:01 pm, albus wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Welcome Michael.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hello All!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Since we are introducing ourselves, I suppose it is time for me to come
>>>>
>>>>out
>>>>
>>>>>>of lurker mode and say "Hi!"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm from the teeny weenie town of Osage, northeast of Mason City.   I
>>>>>>signed up as I was out looking for lugs close to me -- there is only one
>>>>>>that I am aware of which is closer to me than Des Moines.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>As far as my knowledge of Linux, I guess I would characterize myself as on
>>>>>>the "high side of newbie."  My story of how I was introduced to Linux is
>>>>>>embarrassing and humorous, as I am probably the only person in the known
>>>>>>universe who has ever *accidentally* installed Linux.  This happened in
>>>>>>2000, and I was so impressed with what I saw, I've never gone back to
>>>>>>Windows. (FYI, it was Mandrake 7.2 that I installed.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It's really embarrassing.  My machismo commands me to shut up about it
>>>>
>>>>now.
>>>>
>>>>>>At any rate, I would suggest looking at SuSE.  I am now currently running
>>>>>>9.2 on my laptop, and it is very nice.  9.3 is out, but I haven't upgraded
>>>>>>yet, apart from installing KDE 3.4 on my system.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm sure there will be others that would argue pro or con about SuSE. 
>>>>
>>>>And,
>>>>
>>>>>>that great!  It's really a personal thing, what I've gained from my own
>>>>>>personal experiences with Linux.  If [insert Linux distro here] works for
>>>>>>you, that's super!!  But keep in mind too that there are MANY high quality
>>>>>>distros out there that are free, and very good.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Welcome to the Linux world.  I think you will like it here!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Travis Beaty
>>>>>>
>>>>>>P.S.  At some point, I'll try to get to a meeting, but it is quite a ways
>>>>>>to drive for me.