[Cialug] Wives

Rocket Robin Hood jason at benalto.com
Thu Jun 2 11:01:37 CDT 2005 

My wife is even more computer illiterate than myself. When I got real sick of 
windows and changed over to Linux she just about had a fit...so many times 
during my trial by fire she kept threatening to throw me and/or the computer 
our of the house. But at least with Linux, once I DID get everything setup it 
worked all the time....none of this constant maintenance. She refuses to open 
term windows and stuff like that, but I just set her up with KDE and icons 
for her newsgroups/chat/mail/web and off she goes.

-jason

On Thursday 02 June 2005 13:16, chris129 at cs.iastate.edu wrote:
> 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.
> > >>>
> > >>>_______________________________________________
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> > >>>Cialug at cialug.org
> > >>>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>_______________________________________________
> > >>>Cialug mailing list
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> > >>>http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> > >>
> > >>_______________________________________________
> > >>Cialug mailing list
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
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> >
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