[Cialug] new to this group, and Linux

chris129 at cs.iastate.edu chris129 at cs.iastate.edu
Thu Jun 2 13:16:10 CDT 2005 

Most people solve your wife's problem by paying a mechanic $60 an hour (even
though the mechanic only gets maybe $20ish) ;).  I'm not suggesting that by any
stretch though.
The only thing not elegant about installing Java and flash in a distro by
default is political; so that's not too big a deal.  I'm surprised Mandrake
doesn't do this actually.
Maybe we'll see jre and flash autopackages soon!

Quoting Theron Conrey <theron at conrey.org>:

> I would agree with your first statement slightly revised:
> 
> I'm correct but that doesn't make it right.
> 
> My wife cares nought about the OS she only needs to accomplish tasks 
> A,B, and C.  She dosen't want nor need to learn anything else.  When I 
> buy a standard transmission toyota, I'd like to take the skills I've 
> learned in operating that vehicle and believe that I can use the basics 
> when learning to drive a standard lambourghini.  The more different it 
> is, the longer it takes me to learn how to use the car.  That dosen't 
> mean that I need to work "under the hood" to get it from point A to 
> point "B".  The fact is that the article (as are all good projects) 
> requirement based.  if a requirement is to have basic windows users 
> comfortable with the system, the closer it looks to windows the 
> likelyhood of it's success increases.   Not saying that it's an ideal 
> solution or an elegant one, just that it's the reality that's upon us.
> BTW, my wife thinks that if she needs to learn how to change the oil or 
> adjust the timimg of a vehicle to drive, then she'd rather 
> walk..............  It translate = to computers.....
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> chris129 at cs.iastate.edu wrote:
> 
> >You're right, but that doesn't make it ok ;).
> >One:  People who believe this should be exposed to the outside world.  There
> was
> >a time when most people thought involuntary-debtless slavery was normal;
> that
> >never made it optimal, right, ok, truly legal, or anything else.  This is
> not
> >such a big deal, after all it's just a computer not a human; but sometimes
> you
> >have to make drastic analogies to get people's attention.
> >My point is that it's very rude to come to someone and say:  "Your product
> or
> >tool of choice is not good because it doesn't behave like the other
> product." 
> >Like telling someone their Lambourghini is awful because it's a stick shift
> (if
> >I'm up to speed these only come in manual)...
> >
> >People should be willing to read and learn compact things (and how to
> execute
> >shells, and all other executables in unix is very compact) to get something
> new
> >or different. 
> >
> >She is right about Java installs though, if your distribution doesn't do it
> for
> >you it is a very hairy process for the newb (although I've seen newbs do
> >it)...
> >
> >
> >Quoting Theron Conrey <theron at conrey.org>:
> >
> >  
> >
> >>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.
> >>>>>          
> >>>>>
> >>>>        
> >>>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>Cialug mailing list
> >>>Cialug at cialug.org
> >>>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>Cialug mailing list
> >>>Cialug at cialug.org
> >>>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Cialug mailing list
> >>Cialug at cialug.org
> >>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Cialug mailing list
> >>Cialug at cialug.org
> >>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Cialug mailing list
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> >http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >
> >  
> >
> 
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