KZUPAN@LSTC2VM.stortek.com
Date: 08/22/93


From: KZUPAN@LSTC2VM.stortek.com
Subject: Re: Tractatus Linuxicus Newbius
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1993 17:37:40 GMT

In article <255ljc$5jm@ionews.io.org>
las@io.org (Laszlo Herczeg) writes:
 
>
>Folks, I still think though that the original poster had an valid
>point: will Linux ever be accessible to those outside of the CS circle.
>
> He was asking for "philosophy student-proof" installation instructions,
>and you started throwing Unix-for -Dummies book titles at him.
>
> I am a philosopher myself, and I really think no one should be allowed
>to wield power over technology who cannot pass a course in literary
>criticism.
> The Linux system administrator's guide (SAG) was a very good first
>step in making Linux more accessible, but it is in .ps format, and how
>do you expect someone coming to Linux from the PC world to be able
>to read .ps if they don't even know what a compiler is ?
>Sure, Linux isn't for everyone, but if someone is smart enough to have
>heard of Linux in the DOS world, they will be smart enough to learn Linux
>_provided_ they are shown the ropes to make the first couple moves.
> There is much that is arcane and intimidating to a newbie, for example,
>they have to repartition their hard drive, etc., so at least there should
>be a very "handholding" manual explaining things step-by-step, with
>as little techie jargon as possible. You all had your initiation to Un*x,
>and I am more than sure that you appreciated straight talk when you were
>learning Un*x.
>--
>================================================================================
>Laszlo Herczeg E-mail: las@io.org
>Be careful : our subnet is being run on the (as yet) unreliable net-2 code
>================================================================================
Such a manual does exist, or at least pretty close to it. The Linux
Installation and Getting Started guide was just recently released by Matt
Walsh. He worked very hard on this book and came up with IMHO a very good
piece of literature to get newbies on their way. You really should check it
out. It is available in .ps, .dvi and stantard text mode. You will find the
book on tsx-11.mit.edu in the /pub/linux/docs/LDP directory (also available
on other known linux sites and mirrors). It goes through all the basics and
a general intro to unix and linux operation. It really is a fine book.
                    Hail the Linux Document Project
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| L IIIII NN N U U X X Having Problems? Be sure to pick |
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| L I N N N U U X and Getting Started' by Matt Walsh |
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| LLLLL X X /pub/linux/docs/LDP and other sites|
| -Kevin Zupan |
| Out to fix what Windoze MS'd up! Kzupan@lstc2vm.stortek.com |
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